News Insight: Young people in Bath bear brunt of cuts

The local population enjoys a strong economy, healthy employment rates and their school performance rates are above the national average. B&NES's position in the prioritisation table for local authorities in the Building Schools for the Future project came 64th in a list of 70. But despite this, there are pockets of deprivation in its city centre and rural areas.

The Tory-led council was hit with in-year spending reductions of more than £1m from its area-based grant in June, of which £798,000 fell on the council's children's service department. This included a £138,000 reduction to Connexions services and £50,000 for 16 to 19 commissioning. When the comprehensive spending review (CSR) is announced on 20 October, the council is planning for a four per cent saving in children's services for April 2011 - a reduction of £984,000 - and a similar level of reduction in 2012/13 and 2013/14. Within this, the budget for youth services is being reduced by 40 per cent. With just £655,000 left in the pot to run six major youth centres, as well as detached projects, emotions are running high.