The public is being called to give their opinions on how Redbridge council can save £70 million by 2018.

Online budget consultation, Redbridge Conversation, has been launched for residents to tell the council what its priorities should be. 

A third of the council's budget, £70 million, is needed to be saved in four years.

Since 2010 the funding to local authorities by central government has been cut by £57 million and this will rise to nearly £100 million by 2018, a reduction of £927 per household in the borough.

Despite these reductions, the council needs to provide school places, care for vulnerable people, and housing for a rising population.

The council estimates the cost of all these pressures will increase spending by £30million a year by 2018.

Cllr Jas Athwal, leader of Redbridge council, said:  “We know the scale of these savings will pose the biggest challenge to the way the council delivers the services that residents rely on day-in day-out.

“We have already approached the point where we can’t squeeze much more out of the back office, and this means we have some very difficult decisions to make.

“I want to make sure we hear from as many local residents as possible before we start making these decisions. 

To take part in the online consultation visit the council website.