Councillors will review the results of their budget consultation and a proposed increase in council tax at a cabinet meeting next week.

Romford Recorder: Romford Town centre. Havering Town HallRomford Town centre. Havering Town Hall (Image: Archant)

Havering Council’s medium term financial strategy and their 2018/19 budget will also be up for discussion at the meeting on Wednesday, February 7.

The proposals include an increase in council tax of 1.5pc and an increase of 2pc in the adult social precept, resulting in a total increase of 3.5pc.

Havering Council launched its budget consultation early in January to understand residents’ views on some of the savings proposals, including council tax charges.

The consultation ends on Friday, February 2 and will be evaluated by the cabinet ahead of the budget and council tax setting decision at the full council meeting on Wednesday, February 21.

Leader of the council, Cllr Roger Ramsey said: “We aim to keep the increase in Havering as low as possible, as we understand that there are a variety of financial burdens upon families across the borough.

“By law we must balance our budget each year and we aim to make savings that protect the front line services to the community as far as possible to support families.

“We must therefore put forward savings proposals totalling £2.175m in 2018/19 and increase the Havering Council Tax by 3.5pc in order to set a legal budget.”

Havering’s budget gap has been affected by the reduction in funding from central government, along with an increase in the demand of services which support the most vulnerable in the community, such as adults and children’s social care, and homelessness.

Havering has made savings of more than £56m since 2014/15, in order to meet these service pressures and balance the budget.