A town centre fireworks display could be at risk if sponsorship is not secured.

Gravesham council needs to find a new backer for the annual event at the Gordon Promenade Leisure Area, in Gravesend, which attracts thousands of people each year.

The local authority has not funded the display for the past few years and has relied on sponsorship. But the most recent deal came to an end last year so a new sponsor needs to be found “to fund the event for this and future years”.

In a report, council officers said the event will “continue to require an external sponsor to cover all costs and delivery”.

The matter was discussed at a council meeting last night (June 27) when cabinet members decided to reduce the borough’s events programme to save the local authority more than £100,000 per year.

It was proposed by council officers to deliver a reduced programme at Christmas, but keeping the light switch-on, continue to fund the St George’s Day parade, Remembrance and Memorial Days and the Riverside Festival.

The Light Festival, community events such as big lunches, street parties, Lunar celebrations and other events would also require external funding and delivery.

A small provision has also been made for ad-hoc events.

The current council budget for events is £185,950 with £57,000 of this coming from income generated from business rates from the Enterprise Zone – part of the government’s scheme to support businesses and local growth.

In their report, officers stated: “With the significant financial challenges the council faces, it is necessary to review and rationalise discretionary programmes as far as possible.”

They recommended councillors arrange an increased budget from the Enterprise Zone Funding of an additional £63,000 per year.

It suggested if their proposals are approved, the local authority could still maintain a programme of events but reduce its spending by up to £103,950 a year.

Members agreed to go forward with the officers’ recommendations following the meeting but the decisions could still be called into the Overview Scrutiny Committee.

Cllr John Burden, leader of Gravesham council, said: “Our free events are very important to our community and to ourselves, and this review of how we stage them is designed to ensure our programme is delivering what people want at the same time as being funded in a way that helps us meet the financial challenges the council faces over the coming years.

“The use of Enterprise Zone funds will help us continue with some of our key events while keeping the burden on our council tax payers to the minimum possible.

“Enterprise Zone funds are designed to be used to support local businesses, and putting on free events to increase the numbers of visitors to the town is just one of many ways we look to do that here in Gravesham.

“Of our main events, the annual fireworks display in the Gravesend riverside area has been funded by external sponsorship for a number of years now, and not through council budgets.

“The most recent deal came to an end last year and we are looking for a new sponsor to fund the event for this and future years.”