Cuts to front-line council services and council tax increases for residents following Autumn Statement, warns deputy leader

Council tax could rise by at least 2 per cent each year, with a further 2 per cent increase expected due to adult social services financial responsibility being handed over to councils.

Major front-line services will be hit hardest by the imminent Richmond Council cuts programme, as well as a steep increase in fees and charges throughout the borough.

The Government's grant to the council has been slashed by 53 per cent, according to the council cabinet member for finance, Councillor Geoffrey Samuel.

Richmond Council, based at York House, Twickenham, must find an extra £12m in savings

He said: "It is a big cut - the figure I heard was 35 per cent so it is certainly more than I was expecting.

"There is extremely good news for residents in that the Government has promised to keep police funding at the present level throughout this parliament and it is good news for those who receive tax credits.

"However, there has been five years of Conservative rule in Richmond, with council tax freezes and not a single cut to a major front-line service.

"That era is now over."

The full details of the cuts will not become clear until December 16, when the Chancellor's budget is broken down, but the deputy leader said "the burden will shift to council tax payers".

The council estimates £10m will be saved from the administrative merger with Wandsworth (Councillor Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council, pictured above)

Coun Samuel also said the council needs to reduce net expenditure by £30m, although he says £8m has been saved already with a further £10m expected to be saved from the shared staffing arrangement with Wandsworth.

He added: "The £10m saved from the Wandsworth deal is an absolute lifeline but this leaves £12m to save.

"This will be from raising more money and by cutting services - the increase in fees and charges will rise markedly above inflation.

"There will be a council tax increase and we cannot protect every single service.

"Overall, the Autumn Statement is extremely good news for residents but grim news for council tax payers."

Councillor Gareth Roberts has warned that he expects "the devil to be deeply buried within the detail" of the Autumn Statement

Leader of Richmond's Liberal Democrats Councillor Gareth Roberts said he expects "the devil to be buried within the detail" of the budget.

He said: "As for the he impact that the Autumn Statement will have on local government, we wait on the detailed analysis which will emerge over the coming days and weeks.

"With any statement from George Osborne, the devil is always deeply buried within the detail."

• What do you think about the council increasing council tax and cutting front-line services? Email lettersrtt@london.newsquest.co.uk.