Youth clubs fall victim to council cuts

Councillor Steve Houghton, who leads Barnsley Council, said “moving away from fixed youth provision” would save £4.6m.

The authority has been told by the Government that it must save £18.7 in 2013/14 which comes on top of previous cuts of tens of millions in previous years.

Coun Houghton said the authority will either hand the 11 youth clubs it currently runs over to the community or close them.

He added: “The council will focus on outreach youth services with mobile units or commission services from outside providers.

“It’s not something we want to do – our youth services are well regarded, but it is a discretionary not a mandatory service and we have to save money.”

Coun Houghton said it was inevitable that the decision would have an effect on jobs, but suggested that some staff may want to form small businesses which could then offer youth services to the council.

No libraries or children’s centres will close next year, Coun Houghton confirmed.