Council Tax bills could be increased and further cuts to youth services and social care may go ahead in Brent, residents are being warned.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Cllr John Warren (pic credit: Jonathan Goldberg)Cllr John Warren (pic credit: Jonathan Goldberg) (Image: Jonathan Goldberg)

Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of the council, has admitted that further cuts are in the pipeline as the borough prepares to make up to £55million worth of savings from 2017-2019.

A more accurate figure will be revealed after the Chancellor George Osborne announced the nation’s spending review tomorrow.

Cllr Butt said “efficiencies can only take you so far” during a full council meeting at the Brent Civic Centre, in Engineers Way, yesterday evening.

He said cuts would be “considered” for the Connexion service, which provides support for young people, considered for reductions in day care and also cuts in respite services for carers.

He continued: “You know how hard many residents in Brent need to work to support their families. That task is about to become even harder with cuts to tax credits.

“This is without knowing the full details of the spending review which will no doubt hit Brent very hard.

“Council tax must be an option when faced with these awful central government cuts.”

“This Labour administration will stand with the people of Brent and that means taking a look at all options, including whether we free or raise council tax in the coming years.

Adding that the borough must “stand united”, he said: “Our messages to our residents must be you are not on your own. Our message must be together united with our residents we can we must protect much that we hold dear. By using the power of our communities together we can turn the challenges we face into opportunities.”

During the meeting Cllr John Warren, leader of the Brondesbury Park Conservatives, accused the council of wasting money in the past and said his party would reduce Council Tax by 2.5 per cent.