ABERYSTWYTH’S drug and alcohol counselling service has been secured for another month, but a dispute between authorities still poses a threat to the service, it has been warned.

Ceredigion County Council Cabinet members agreed a “stop-gap” solution to protect the drug and alcohol counselling service, which is based in North Parade (pictured), while they try and broker an agreement and allow a Welsh Government grant to be secured.

However, a report by the council has warned that if the dispute, which centres on whether the grant should be considered as a revenue grant or a capital grant within the council’s finances, is not settled there is a risk the service would be forced to close, leaving the nearest alternative counselling service in Cardigan.

The grant would pay for the rental costs for the premises in North Parade, but a report by Louise Harries, a council solicitor, said advice from the Welsh Audit Office had insisted the council’s assessment that the grant should be considered as revenue funding was correct, despite NHS Finance telling the Welsh Government the money should be categorised as capital funding.

That had led to the Welsh Government refusing to release the grant, threatening the future of the service in Aberystwyth.

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