Voluntary sector organisations could be wiped out of the borough by Richmond Council, it has been claimed.

The warning was issued by Richmond’s Liberal Democrat party after the council’s cabinet members agreed grants for charities that provide services for adults in the area should be withdrawn and put out to competitive tendering, at a meeting on Thursday, July 21.

Leader of the opposition, Councillor Stephen Knight, said: “It would be a disaster for our community if this process were to result in a collapse of our local voluntary sector.

“I am concerned that the process being followed is overly formulaic, removes the scope of good judgement, and could simply reward large organisations that are expert at presenting bids that meet commissioning criteria.”

However, council deputy leader Councillor Geoffrey Samuel, said the council was working to ensure big charities did not “crowd out” local providers.

He said: “The council is providing advice and training on how to tender [to local organisations].

“The key to all of this is the procurement processes so designed as to ensure the small local players get a fair crack of the whip.”

Coun Knight raised the example of longstanding Twickenham charity Off the Record which lost its contract to deliver counselling services to young people to the Westminister-based Catholic Children’s Society earlier this year, and asked for the council to halt its move to commission out adult services for a year.