CONCERNS have been raised that Citizens Advice centres across Trafford are ‘under serious threat of closure’ – after it emerged that the council are pulling the plug on their current contract.

Trafford Council plan to terminate the present arrangement with Citizens Advice Trafford, operated by the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) from June 30 and invite bidders to run services for less.

CAB, a charity that has operated in Trafford for 75 years and last year helped 5,295 people, has expressed their concern over the ‘very short timescale’ of the move, which comes on the back of £22.5 million budget cuts.

Labour has accused the Tories of keeping people ‘in the dark’ over the plans before forthcoming elections – a claim the Conservatives strenuously deny.

A Labour spokesman said the move ‘cut people adrift in the seas of economic crisis’ and put advice centres ‘under serious threat of closure’.

Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Andrew Western, added: “There is no doubt that we were all kept in the dark because of the forthcoming elections.

“The Tories knew the outcry there would be when the public learned of the prospect of no Citizen’s Advice Bureaus in Trafford.

“More than any other organisation the CAB has witnessed the impact of welfare reform and the continuous cuts to the most vulnerable in society.

“They are the frontline support for the poor and vulnerable and people with disabilities.”

Leader of Trafford Council, Sean Anstee, said: “The council agreed it's budget savings in February this year and as part of that process committed to ensure we achieve best value from council contracts, which is patently a sensible move to sustain services and avoid making cuts elsewhere.”

He added: “People should see through the Labour party and their flimsy promises to balance the books, as on each and every occasion they oppose any savings proposal put forward.

“Be in no doubt, a Labour council would lead to higher taxes, overspends and more debt - the same position as when they last controlled Trafford which is no way to sustain and protect services.”

A CAB spokesman said they would be bidding for the re-tendered contract and hoped their staff and 130 skilled volunteers would be chosen to keep delivering services.

The spokesman added: “We understand that the council needs to cut its budget and we understand that the council believes that a competitive tender is the best way of securing value for money.

“However, we are concerned at the very short timescale for the tender process. We are also concerned that the scope of the review and tender is limited to voluntary sector groups.

“We are concerned that this approach will not produce the best outcome for Trafford residents.”

A spokesman from Trafford Council said providers were notified of the review in March and that the process was open and transparent throughout, with public documentation available on the council’s website and CAB offered the opportunity to meet with council officers on May 1 to discuss the process and receive support.

The spokesman added: “We recognise any tender process presents risks and is difficult for existing providers.

“However it is important that we focus on the needs of our communities and service specifications will ensure future provision is able to do so.

“The procurement process will enable providers to submit bids to a refreshed set of specifications in order to meet the changing needs of the Trafford population.

“We will manage any risks or transition through this period in the same way as we do with all commissioned services.

Citizens Advice Trafford said they supported 5,295 people in 2015/15.

Their figures indicate that last year they:-

Solved 3,495 people’s problems.

Supported people with over 10,647 issues.

Solved the benefit issues of 1,155 people.

Solved the debt issues of 725 people.

Solved housing issues of 390 people.

Solved legally complicated employment issues of 378 people.

Supported more than 448 people with challenging relationship and family issues.