YOUTH groups in Congresbury are to hold crisis talks to look at ways that services in the village can be maintained in the face of funding cuts.

North Somerset Council announced earlier this year that it intends to slash its youth service budget from £1.142 million to £282,736 by 2013.

Youth worker jobs will be deleted and funding allocated to a number of clubs across the district cut, with the authority asking community groups, parents, churches, schools, parish and town councils to step in.

The move has left a question mark hanging over the future of Congresbury Youth Club.

The club is based at the old library car park at Kent Road and is normally open two nights a week. It is aimed at youngsters aged 13 to 19 and costs the authority £16,000 a year. It employs one part-time youth worker and a number of sessional youth workers.

Congresbury Youth Partnership also runs youth services including the village's Cybercafe, a summer playscheme and a weekly Saturday club, based at the village youth club. The youth partnership, which employs youth worker Sam Perry, is mainly funded by Congresbury Parish Council which allocates £14,000 a year, plus fundraising and grants. St Andrew's Church also runs a youth club and employs two part-time youth workers.

Representatives from youth organisations in the village have now formed a working party to look at how services can be maintained.

Congresbury Youth Partnership member Alex Ballard, Congresbury Youth Club management committee secretary and a part-time youth worker, said: "I do not see the community being able to manage and support the eight to 13 age group without professional help. Personally I do not feel it can just be run by volunteers as this particular age group needs professional support.

"The working party also fears that pressure to take over funding of the 13-19 age group will inevitably put pressure on work being done with younger age groups."

Congresbury Parish Council has written to North Somerset Council asking for funding cuts to be deferred for a year to allow a plan of action – and funding proposals – to be drawn up. Congresbury has one of the highest precepts – £99,000 a year – in the district, with parish councillors voicing concern at raising it any further.

Congresbury Parish Council clerk, Jo Duffy, pictured, said: "We are faced with an unsatisfactory timetable to enable the parish council to engage with the relevant people and organisations.

"The proposed cut backs must be delayed for the coming year to enable proper planning, meaningful consultation and negotiation."