THREE Blaenau Gwent community buildings which could no longer be run because of budget cuts have been saved by the council.

Aneurin Leisure Trust revealed they could no longer afford to run Blaina Institute, Brynteg Youth Centre and Brynmawr Community Centre because of Welsh Government budget reductions.

The trust has run the borough’s leisure, learning and cultural services since October last year but has now asked councillors to take back the three buildings.

At a meeting of the council’s executive committee on Wednesday, September 30, councillors voted in favour of the idea.

All running costs for the two centres and institute will be covered by the council until March next year, by which time the council hopes it will have completed a community asset transfer for each.

Councillor Stephen Thomas, deputy leader of the council, said the council will now 'continue to explore the possibilities' of transfers, as it has done on other occasions.

A report, submitted to the executive committee last week, revealed there had been cuts in the amount of money the trust receives for its adult and community learning services from the Welsh government, as well as cuts from the council.

The report said Aneurin Leisure Trust wants the council to regain control of the three buildings 'to achieve financial savings'.

But the report also revealed there will be five redundancies because of the changes, which include a reduction in the management fee the council pays the trust.

A council spokesman said: “The Council holds regular strategic meetings about the services it commissions through Aneurin Leisure Trust.

“At the council’s executive meeting on the 30 September 2015 it was approved that the three buildings in question be returned back to the Council.

“Officers are now actively working with community organisations with respect to alternative delivery options for each of the buildings including Community Asset Transfer (CAT’s) in line with Council strategies and policies.”