DOZENS of protesters failed to stop millions of pounds of cuts being signed off by the majority of Redbridge Council last night.

Representatives from the Unison, Unite and GMB unions waved banners outside Redbridge Town Hall, High Road, Ilford, ahead of the meeting.

More than 50 people crammed into the public gallery as about �15million of cuts for the 2011/12 budget, and a further �11million of cuts for the following two financial years, were debated.

The Labour group was criticised for not proposing an alternative budget, but group leader Cllr Bob Littlewood said it was not his party’s job to propose one.

The cuts were agreed by 31 councillors, with 24 voting against.

Two – independent Cllr Harold Moth and Liberal Democrat Cllr Richard Hoskins – abstained from the crunch vote.

Campaigners against cuts to four public toilets and to Redbridge Drama Centre both made appeals for the proposals to be overturned before the vote.

Council leader Cllr Keith Prince told his colleagues: “We’re going as far as we can to protest frontline services.

“It’s been a big ask of the cabinet but they have risen to it.”