Harrow Council is proposing more than £15 million of cuts and a council tax increase of 3.99 per cent to help achieve a balanced budget.

It released a draft report for 2020/21, which will be subject to consultation and review by cabinet, outlining the difficult situation ahead.

Children’s services could be cut by £410,000 next year, while the council’s communities department could lose more than £150,000.

The council noted that it does “not have large cash reserves” while it has had to undertake “robust financial management” to achieve balanced budgets in recent times.

It added that its support grant from central government has been consistently cut, leaving it more than £50 million worse off when compared with eight years ago.

A spokesman for Harrow Council said: “With ongoing pressure from government cuts, Harrow Council has to make difficult decisions on where to make savings, grow our income, and invest in your priorities.

“We are proposing a budget that will keep our neighbourhoods clean, crack down on crime, look after people in need, house the homeless and make our services more efficient.”

It urged everyone in Harrow to get involved with the consultation on the draft budget, which runs until January 10.

Visit www.consult.harrow.gov.uk/consult.ti/budgetconsultation2021/consultationHome to have your say.