Councillors urged Sajid Javid to rethink government funding for rough sleepers when he visited Waltham Forest last week.

During the Secretary of State’s visit, which was to discuss adult services and education provision, Cllr Clyde Loakes took Mr Javid aside.

The deputy leader of the council asked the MP to reassess the levels of funding given to local governments to provide for vulnerable people sleeping rough.

Cllr Loakes plans to send a follow up letter to Mr Javid to reiterate his plea. That letter will be sent later this week.

The request comes in the wake of the council winning a £50 million grant as part of the government’s Integrated Communities Strategy to tackle segregation within the borough.

Since 2010, £2 million of Waltham Forest Council’s budget for supporting vulnerable people has been cut.

Cllr Loakes said: “Resources being put into rough sleeping aren’t adequate. In this day and age with our perceived level of civilisation and democracy, it’s obscene that anyone is left out to sleep rough.

“I know there is a lot of good work going on with charity workers, the council and others, but there needs to be the resources.

“During the recent tragic cold weather, we provided three times the required number of beds for rough sleepers. We’re not going to leave anyone out that wants accommodation, but we can’t just bring them in during the cold snap, we need to be getting them off the streets for good.”

The deputy leader blames years of Conservative austerity for the financial short fall.

He added: “With resources, we can get them off the streets and help them put their lives back on track. But that money just doesn’t exist anymore.”