Council tax in Waltham Forest has been frozen for the sixth time.

The freeze was voted through at a town hall budget meeting last night (March 5).

In his budget speech, council leader Chris Robbins announced plans to invest £750,000 in the social fund to "offset the hardship" caused by government cuts to the council tax support scheme.

The government has giving councils the power to set how much of annual bills will be covered by benefits.

Some authorities have maintained 100 per cent cover, but Waltham Forest council opted to increase annual tenants' liability to 15 per cent - three times more than neighbouring Redbridge.

The council has decided to increase this amount to 16 per cent from April and 24 percent in 2016.

Cllr Robbins pledged an additional £1million to invest in the boroughs parks and announced plans to build 12,000 new homes by 2020.

Savings of £67million have been made since 2010.

Cllr Robbins said: “It’s important that we deliver the better quality of life that our residents expect.

"That means keeping council tax low, building new homes for our growing borough and investing in the parks and facilities that will make Waltham Forest a great place to live.”