A CHARITY which helps thousands of the most needy people across Castle Point may still face closure despite a £7,000 cash boost.

Castle Point Citizens Advice Bureau, which is struggling to fill a £40,000 shortfall in its finances, appeared to be saved after Castle Point Council agreed to the one-off grant earlier this month.

But leaked emails reveal the charity is not in the clear as it expected to receive more cash.

In heated exchanges, deputy council leader Bill Sharp accused the charity’s treasurer, Ken Payne, of “biting the hand that feeds you” after Mr Payne emailed other stakeholders claiming the Tory council had reneged on an offer of £12,000.

Mr Payne claims the council, which is the bureau’s biggest benefactor, had offered the charity one-year’s free rent at the Whitehouse, behind the council offices in Kiln Road, Thundersley, worth £12,000, if it cut costs.

The charity’s two permanent staff have agreed to reduce their hours to cut the wage bill, but it still cannot balance the books.

The branch, which also offers an outreach programme from the Paddocks, in Long Road, Canvey, is struggling to secure grants as Castle Point is judged to be too affluent.

In an email to Mr Sharp, Mr Payne said: “Although we are grateful to Castle Point Council for the one-off donation, this does not put us in the clear.

“It is our responsibility to find that shortfall, but it is also our responsibility to keep the council informed as our core funder.”

Mr Sharp told the Echo: “I never offered him a year rent free – that is a fact.

“What I said was, I would attempt to get him a one-off sum to assist him in sorting out their staffing issues, so they could reduce their expenditure to comply with their income. I managed to get him £7,000 and, when I told him, he was delighted and agreed it would work for CAB.

“Then an email was sent to all and sundry, falsely stating I had offered £12,000 and then withdrawn it.”

No one from the Citizens Advice Bureau was available for comment.