REDBRIDGE will suffer because of a “mass exodus” of families hit by the proposed housing benefit cuts from central London into the borough, it was claimed.
A Labour motion tabled on Thursday at a full council meeting in Redbridge Town Hall, High Road, Ilford, called on the Conservative/Lib Dem council coalition to write to the housing minister urging him to cancel the plans.
Labour Cllr James Hatfull said: “It will have a devastating effect on Redbridge’s social services budget, it will have a devastating effect on education and it will have a devastating effect on out health needs.”
Answering calls London should be considered a special case in government plans to trim housing benefits, deputy council leader and Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Ian Bond said: “Suggestions you’re going to have masses of people moving out of central London are absurd.”
A majority of councillors voted against Labour’s motion.
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