Barking and Dagenham residents are being asked to have their say on the latest budget proposals for the borough.

The council's 2023/24 budget plan proposes a five per cent increase in council tax, including 2pc ringfenced for social care.

This would add around £1.33 per week onto the average band D property (excluding the Greater London Authority element) from next April.

READ MORE: Deputy leader defends Barking and Dagenham council tax hike

According to the council, the plans are being announced against a backdrop of "sustained" funding cuts to local government.

When inflation is taken into account, the council says the funding it received for 2022 is equivalent to £57 million compared to £103 million in 2010.

Cllr Dominic Twomey, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, growth and core services, said: "This is a budget determined to deliver the best services we can for the residents of Barking and Dagenham.

"Right now, our residents are disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis, with as many as one in four residents having less than £100 in savings and almost half of all children living in poverty.

"We’ve reshaped our council from top to bottom and we’ve worked tirelessly to unlock our borough’s potential. 

"However, that cannot paper over the financial pressures we face and without further backing from the government, like many councils, we are left with no choice but to raise council tax to help ease the pressures on our budget."

The Post reported last month that the council is forecasting a general fund overspend of £16.6m for this financial year, and has previously predicted a budget gap of £14.6million over the next four years.

Cllr Twomey added: "We’ve repeatedly made our case [to the government] – and will continue to push them – to provide more funding, but until they do, we have to take these really tough decisions."

The consultation will close on Sunday, February 5. 

You can have your say on the council's 2023/24 budget proposals here: oneboroughvoice.lbbd.gov.uk/hub-page/lbbd-budget-consultation-2023-24.