Council tax could be frozen despite a large planned cut to the budget for supporting vulnerable adults.

The Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition in Redbridge is proposing to freeze the household levy for the fifth year in a row, but wants to cut the budget for the department which includes social services by £1.9million.

This is the largest cut to a single department and compares to a £722,000 cut last financial year.

Deputy leader of Redbridge Council, Ian Bond, said adult services had been cut by less than other departments in previous years.

He said: "We have been investing much money in adult services for the last two or three years so these savings are needed.

"We are working to have less people in residential care and this will save around £40,000 per person, if targets are reached. These savings could be extensive.

"There are obviously pressures and the outlook is challenging. Freezing council tax cannot continue forever, but for this year we should be keeping it at the same amount.

“The government are supporting us but this is not indefinite support."

The council is aiming to saving £21million over the next two years.

The budget will be debated at a meeting on March 6.