COMMUNITY centres run by volunteers have been warned they could close without extra financial support.

Nine community centre buildings have been transferred to local groups by Blackburn with Darwen Council since 2011 in an effort to save cash.

Now Cllr Damian Talbot, borough leisure boss, admits they may need additional subsidy from the authority or even be taken back under direct control to avoid closure.

In the short-term, the six smallest will get a payment of £5,000-a-year to run additional community services and ensure their future financial viability.

Cllr John Slater, leader of the borough Conservative group, branded the cash 'a stealth subsidy'.

While Liberal Democrat councillor Roy Davies called for the borough to take back direct control of the centres to ensure their future.

The warning was buried in a council report to Cllr Talbot debated at the borough's ruling Executive Board.

It said: "In order to deliver effective financial sustainability for the centres it is clear that without ongoing financial support to the volunteer-run centres the council may be faced with risks of these centres not being able to operate, thus posing difficult decisions in the near future."

Sayyed Osman, director of localities, suggested the centres should provide 'informal preventative programmes' to support services the council is legally-obliged to provide including groups for the elderly, socially isolated and those with mental health issues.

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He told senior councillors: "The list of activities needs to be agreed but a small fund of support per centre would help the volunteers to meet needs to support ‘step-down’ of formal care, create opportunities to invest in preventative services and support sustainability."

The new arrangements will kick in following a review of the 'asset transfers' at the end of next year.

The six smaller volunteer-run 'community hubs' operated under licence from the council are Ivy Street, Mill Hill, Accrington Road, Little Harwood, Greenfields, and Darwen Valley formerly Sudellside.

The three larger ones, where the groups have taken a lease on the buildings, are Bangor Street, Energy Zone formerly Roman Road, and Audley.

Cllr Talbot said: "It would be true to say that there is a possibility that without additional council cash help, some of these community centres could face closure.

"What we are talking about is a small sum of up to £5,000 a year paid out of underspending in our leisure services budget.

"It would be aimed primarily at the six smaller centres operating under licence with lower income generation opportunities but could apply to the three larger ones as well.

"If necessary we would take centres facing closure back under full council control and find the money to keep them open.

"This is what we did briefly last year when the group running Greenfields pulled out at short notice and we had to find an alternative.

"The message we want to send out was that the transfer of these centres to community groups has been a huge success, keeping them open to serve more than 10,000 people who use them each year.

"It has reduced the annual cost to the council from £250,000 to £20,000 and the review is connected with the final tapering off of council subsidy to the voluntary groups."

Cllr Slater said: "I support the successful transfer of these centres but I am concerned about their future financial viability.

"This looks like a stealth subsidy and Cllr Talbot should be upfront about any extra council taxpayers' cash needed."

Cllr Davies, whose Sudell ward includes Darwen Valley, said: "I am concerned about the centres' financial future.

"I would like them back under full council control so we can be confident they will not close."

Mr Osman's report suggests services the council could pay for include weekly breakfast clubs, 'moderate exercise sessions', and 'digital first' public access to computers.

A spokesman for Bangor Street Community Centre said: “At present the community centre is running smoothly. However, it is good to know the local authority is there to support local community centres should they require it.”