A decision on plans to cut funding for a senior citizens’ day care centre has been delayed.

Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) is considering cutting funds for the Douglas Drive Senior Citizens Day Centre and various community associations by a total of £35,265.

The centre is currently used to provide day care and therapy for stroke patients, offering them opportunities to take part in recreational activites such as bingo and film screenings.

The council has seen a reduction in its community funding programme, which is used to fund three areas: the Citizens Advice Bureau, “carer support, volunteer brokerage and infrastructure support”, and centres such as the one on Douglas Drive.

Councillors agreed to protect funding for the first two at a meeting last week, leaving the future of the centre, and others like it, uncertain.

A spokesman for SBC said: “Council officers are undertaking a strategic review of the current community centre management and maintenance arrangements. Through recently commissioned health checks it has been identified that the quality and breadth of services offered by the Community Associations varies significantly.

“Also the reduced levels of funding available for these associations taken together with the on-going cost of capital maintenance works highlights the need for a more sustainable model for the management and maintenance of the community centres. Officers are in the process of developing a community centre strategy for future consideration.”

A regular visitor to the centre, who asked not to be named, said: “The cuts would be devastating to everyone who makes use of these services. Every resident who come benefits massively from the activites on offer and it really helps to take the strain off of hardworking families. I appreciate the need for cuts but I hope the council does everything it can to avoid approving these measures.”

Councillors are set to report their findings and make a decision at a council meeting on February 26.