Cuts of £70 million may not be achievable without significant impact on frontline services, the leader of Redbridge Council has said.
Within his leader’s blog, published on the council’s website, Cllr Jas Athwal warned that the borough needed “to get real about the size of the challenge” faced.
The £70 million of savings needed by 2018 were a driving factor behind abolishing area committees, Cllr Athwal explains.
However, further sacrifices will be required.
Cllr Athwal added: “These savings pose the biggest challenge to the way the council delivers the services that residents rely on day-in day-out.
“Unfortunately, we’re already approaching the point where we can’t squeeze any more out of the back office.”
“We’re not alone in this, two thirds of councils across the country report that they are deeply concerned that further cuts can’t be delivered without significantly affecting frontline services.”
The savings faced by the Labour group are almost double those faced by the previous administration.
Read more in Thursday’s Recorder.
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