HARD up residents already struggling to pay their bills will have to stump up an extra £3.58 per month on average.

Redbridge Council cabinet members agreed to reduce financial support for council tax benefit recipients on Tuesday, December 12.

Vulnerable people on low income and welfare must pay an average of 83p more per week if the decision is approved by the full council in January.

Conservative councillor Emma Best, who represents the Church End ward, said the council has got its spending priorities wrong.

She says it proves the Labour led council is “more interested in vanity projects” than protecting the poor.

She said: “It’s unfair and the wrong thing to do when you look at what else they’re willing to fund – they’re making the wrong choices.

“If you look at Cllr Rai’s budget it’s his decision to fund a new communications officer. They have to take responsibility for the decisions they make.

“Nobody’s saying it’s easy but they have a responsibility to protect the vulnerable but they’re more interested in vanity projects.

“I think it will have a massive impact – if you look at how the administration has cut council tax benefit over their time in office I don’t think they've thought about the effects on the most vulnerable.”

Cllr Best, who sits on the council’s overview committee, added that single parent families and carers should be excluded from the cut.

Cllr Kam Rai, cabinet member for finance and support services, says those who claim the council is punishing vulnerable people have forced them into this position.

He said: “People who say we’re punishing the most vulnerable are people who pushed austerity and carry on the cuts. I won’t be lectured by Tories and Lib Dems on this. We strike a balance between cuts and where residents can pay.

“These aren’t easy decisions. They’re tough. We have a hardship fund in place.”

“I’m glad we aren’t passing on the full level of cuts from government. If we did, we’d ask people to pay half, not 25 per cent.

“If government is going to make cuts we’re not going to pass on the full level. We will do our best to get those people in employment.”

Cllr Rai said continuing council tax subsidies will cost the council £2.5 million more than the revenue support grant given by central Government.

He added: “We’ve debated this within cabinet and it isn’t easy. At the same time, funding is being cut. There’s a lot of pressure on adult social care and children’s services. We don’t take any joy in doing this.”

The council claims the alternative to capping support would be to raise council tax or cut spending on other public services.

Any approved changes will come into force in April.