A FORMER Council leader has told a group of young people that tightening budgets mean youth service can’t be guaranteed.

Councillor David Green (Lab, Wibsey) is also Chair of the Bradford South Area Committee – which recently welcomed a group of young people to talk about the city’s youth service.

When Cllr Green asked if the young people had any questions, the Committee was asked if they could guarantee that vital youth services would remain – despite looming budget cuts to Councils across the country.

The young people present feared vital services could be cut to balance budgets.

Youth services funding cut by 73% in less than a decade – YMCA

Cllr Green replied: “Can I give you a guarantee? No. If anyone gave you that guarantee they would be lying.

“Councils have been hit incredibly hard in the last decade. It terms of Council spend, we have a budget of about 50 per cent less than we had in 2010.

“We recognise the importance of the youth service, and we would all argue strongly that it would be retained.

“Unfortunately it is not a statutory service, and statutory services have to come first.

“We’ll be doing our damndest to protect the youth service, but that is the best answer I can give you.”