THE CHANCELLOR’s budget contained “nothing” for local councils contending with spending restraints.

Councillor Kam Rai, cabinet member for finance and support services, slammed Philip Hammond’s speech in the House of Commons, which he believes did not help the people of Redbridge.

The criticism comes as Redbridge Council forecasts £73 million worth of cuts in the next five years and the revenue support grant (RSG) continues to diminish.

A total of £17.9 million of the £73 million has been identified over the next five years and £7.3 million has been earmarked for 2018/19.

Cllr Rai said: “There is very little in Philip Hammond’s budget for local authorities. Local authorities have had the biggest burden of government austerity.

“The budget offered nothing. They might loosen up councils’ ability to build more homes but we don’t know which ones will be able to do that.

“We have to look at the national picture and see that councils’ hands are tied by national policy.

“There was nothing for public sector workers or social housing. There was no sign that there will be any respite for local authorities and the issues they have to deal with. Local authorities are having to respond to cuts from central government.”

Redbridge’s RSG, which it receives from central government, is £16.8 million over 2018/19, £10.2 million in 2019/20 and then comes to an end.

The RSG has been cut by 40-50 per cent since 2010. The final budget will be prepared for the council meeting at the end of next February.

Cllr Rai defended council staff and claimed most services have been protected despite cuts.

He said: “We haven’t seen libraries close or street cleaning stopped. Some places only have collections once a month. The basic services may have changed slightly but they are still in place. Staff have delivered on keeping most of the services people expect.

“We need residents to work with us on issues that are important to them. It can’t be done by the council alone, it must be done by all of us, including councillors, who are residents.

He conceded that the forecast is “a huge challenge” but the council had a duty to maintain services people do not use on a daily basis.

Cllr Rai said: “The forecast is a huge challenge. It’s important our residents remember the amount of cuts our borough has had to make.

“The things that cost us most are the things we don’t use every day, for example a child with specialist care which could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds per year.

“We need to get the message across about the statutory and moral duty we have to maintain those services.”