A youth and community body is in talks over the future of a youth centre in Ilkley, amid plans by Bradford Council to slash spending.

The voluntary sector may have to step in to continue running services such as Ilkley’s Warehouse youth centre on Little Lane, and maintain other youth work in the area.

Bradford Council’s budget proposals, currently out to consultation, would see youth services cut by 79 per cent in the next two years, and universal provision of youth workers in every council ward would end.

Plans include retaining two youth workers for the whole Keighley Constituency, working to priorities set by Keighley Area Committee.

Chairman of Ilkley Youth and Community Association chairman, ward councillor Martin Smith, had talks this week with Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services, Councillor Ralph Berry.

Coun Smith said the proposed budget would see youth services spending cut from £4 million to £800,000. “Ilkley Youth and Community Association will be looking at other options,” he said. “We need to consider a way forward with a view to maintaining the youth facilities and hopefully enhancing them in Ilkley.”

And he confirmed plans to develop facilities further at the rear of the Warehouse are currently on hold.

The Warehouse operates three sessions a week, providing a meeting place and activities for 25 to 30 young people per session.

Bradford Council Youth Services also work with young people across the wider community A Council budget consultation document says management costs would be cut, enabling as much as possible to be targeted at frontline service provision where it is most needed.

It said the council currently delivers a significant amount of provision compared with other authorities.

The document said: “The proposal represents a big reduction in youth work directly delivered by the council, however a significant amount of youth work, estimated to be worth £15m a year is undertaken by the voluntary and community sector and the council will seek to strengthen relationships with that sector, building capacity where necessary and commissioning additional services.”