The struggle to ensure Ealing community centres survive £302,000 worth of cuts continues as the council works with the groups to source alternative income.

A scrutiny panel meeting on Thursday (September 24) heard updates on the ongoing consultation with the centres, some of which fear for their future and are striving to find revenue from elsewhere.

One of the options is for the centres to seek charity status, which could cut their costs, while sustainable energy officers look into the possibility of making the buildings more efficient by installing solar panels and light sensors.

Sites have also been offered the opportunity to buy into the council’s corporate energy contract, which could further reduce the unit price of energy paid at the sites.

Greenford community centre is one of the centres most affected by the cuts and is not confident of replacing the £88,000 per year they currently receive.

“We are exploring all ways of increasing our revenue and getting more people to use the centre,” said chairman Malcolm Ede.

“But I am not sure how much longer we will last. We need the staff to stay to discharge our trustee responsibilities and our health and safety responsibilities properly.”

He added he has “no doubt” that the policies of austerity pursued by the Conservative government are to blame, saying: “They [the Conservative government] are suffering these cuts and you can see the implication of that happening here on the ground now.”

The cuts are part of plans to deliver savings of £96m by 2018/2019.

The funding will be removed over three years, meaning the centres will receive no financial support by 2017/2018.

A council spokesman told getwestlondon: “The decision to gradually reduce the council’s subsidy was taken at the end of last year to help towards finding £96 million of savings by 2018.

“We are continuing to work with the community associations affected as part of the consultation to help them identify ways to make changes in order to make the centres self-sustaining and remain open to the public in the long term.”

A capital request has been made, on behalf of the community centres within Environment and Customer Services.

The council is currently going through its budget setting process and the outcome of this process will be reported to Cabinet for a decision.