WOODLEY councillors are hoping to nearly double a donation to the town’s Citizens Advice Bureau as part of an annual grants package to community organisations.

On Tuesday night members of the community services committee agreed to ask the council’s strategy and resources team for an extra £3,000 to support the work done by the branch, which is an extension of the Wokingham bureau.

The council is provisionally set to pledge £4,000 as part of its 2015/16 budget, but Lib Dem councillor Coling Lawley fears that if the bureau is put under more financial strain it will close its Woodley branch, rather than reduce its services in the town and in Wokingham.

He also believes the council could afford the extra cash as it is saving money from handing over the control of Bulmershe Leisure Centre to Wokingham Borough Council last year.

Cllr Lawley said: “The Citzen’s Advice Bureau helped 794 people in Woodley last year as they are struggling and seeking help.

“I realise it’s a difficult choice and you can’t spend your money twice. We’re not having to maintain the Bulmershe Leisure Centre so we are awash with extra funds to dish out this year.

“Other groups are getting what they asked for. I think this is money that would be well spent.”

Community services committee chairman Cllr David Smith believes the council should give the extra £3,000 on top of the £4,000 already intended for the bureau, as long as other causes on the grants list do not lose out.

Other organisations listed include ReadiBus and counselling service ARC, which are set to receive £17,000 and £5,000 respectively.

Clr Smith said: “I recognise the fact that their funding has been reduced, and if we go ahead with £4,000 they’ll have to find that extra funding from somewhere else.

“We may have to consider if we can find the money from anywhere else to fund it further. I do think there may be some merit in improving their grant.

“I don’t see why we couldn’t ask for some more additional funds.”

The town council’s strategy and resources committee will discuss the funding at its next meeting this coming Tuesday at the Oakwood Centre, in Headley Road.