Sheffield Green Party members have taken part in the Government’s Advice Review of the Not-for-Profit sector, at an event held in Sheffield.

Councillor Jillian Creasy contributed to the meeting organised by Justice for All, the national campaign group for access for free legal advice, at an event held at The Circle on 20th January.

The Advice Review is being carried out by the Cabinet Office because of the way the massive cuts in legal aid fall far more heavily on charities and the voluntary sector – such as Sharrow CAB in Central Ward which Councillors Jillian Creasy and Rob Murphy represent.

Councillor Creasy told the Advice Review :

“As a City Councillor, I see how advice services such at Citizens’ Advice Bureaux and the Law Centre help with individual problems, but also contribute to the life of the city by training volunteers, supporting other voluntary organisations and using their expertise to tackle the causes of poverty and debt.”

Notes

The Green Party has two councillors in Sheffield – Rob Murphy and Jillian Creasy, who both represent Central Ward, which has levels of serious deprivation.

Sheffield Green Party opposed the cuts to legal aid proposed by the Government because of the need for everyone to have access to basic information and advice about their legal rights.

Under the Government’s proposals, the voluntary advice sector – Citizens Advice Bureaux, Law Centres and independent advice centres – are set to lose 77% of their legal aid funding.

The motion of Councillors Creasy and Murphy was agreed by Sheffield City Council on 7th September 2011, including the text: that this council: “commits to all possible steps to support the local advice sector, which has established itself as providing excellent service for the citizens of Sheffield; therefore resolves to support the Justice for All campaign for free legal advice, which aims to ensure everyone is treated fairly under the law, and directs the Chief Executive to sign up this Council to the campaign”