CULTURAL programmes are to be cut at a Bicester youth arts centre after plans to make it a “hub” for issues such as drug abuse, pregnancy and antisocial behaviour were revealed.

Cherwell District Council is to pull most of its arts cash funding from the Courtyard Youth Arts Centre after owner Oxfordshire County Council announced the changes.

The county council plans to use the centre in Launton Road as a base for youngsters in “most need” because it is closing 21 other youth centres which currently provide such services.

The district council said because this differed from the 1999 funding agreement, it did not need to contribute £43,901 a year. It will instead put in £5,901.

Former mayor Les Sibley branded the move a “slap in the face for the youth of our town”.

Mr Sibley, a member of the district council and Bicester Town Council, said: “By taking money away it will have a negative impact on services provided by The Courtyard.”

Current activities include gig nights, plays, after-school clubs, a blog project and dance sessions.

Activities including weekend and evening sessions will remain, the district council said.

The Arts Council gave £491,603 to build the centre on the condition the councils fund it for 20 years.

But the district and county could have to pay this back if there is a major change in activities, the district council said.

George Reynolds, district council executive member for recreation, said: “We were unaware the county wanted to turn it into a hub.

“We had to relook at it and as a result we decided to remove core funding if we can’t provide the service it provided before.”

Yet the county council said the change would not breach the original agreement as some arts activity would remain.

Spokesman Paul Smith said: “The changes would involve reshaping current services to create a new innovative early intervention service, designed to provide real focus on those children, young people and their families in most need in the county.”

It currently puts in about £80,000 to the centre but it could not say how much it would provide for the new look “hub”.

Arts Council spokesman Amy Riley said it had not been informed of the plans.

She added: “We will be looking further into this matter.”

None of the 21 youth centres set to lose county council fuding are in Cherwell.

There would be six other hubs in Oxford, Witney, Abingdon, Didcot and Banbury.