Harrow Council's cabinet member for finance has warned the authority is not even half way through cuts it has to make and that it faces “difficult decisions” in the future.

Cllr Sachin Shah blamed the previous Conservative administration during Harrow Borough Council’s cabinet meeting last week, at which the Labour administration’s draft budget was approved.

Proposals put forward include an increase of council tax by 1.99 per cent, a charge of £75 a year for fortnightly collections of garden waste, and an investment £715,000 in social workers, creating 15 new posts at the authority.

On top of this, libraries may have to close and there will be cuts in funding to the voluntary sector as part of cuts of £25million in next year’s budget, and £75million over the next three years.

Cllr Shah said: “It was only after we came to power that we saw the real damage that had been done by Susan Hall and her comrades in the Conservative group during their time in office.

“As I said at the time, their budget earlier this year was reckless, irresponsible and unfair. We have started to right the wrongs of the previous Tory administration, but we have had to make some difficult decisions.

“I know I have said this in the past but I do not think we are half way through these cuts and there will be difficult decisions to make in the coming few years.”

Conservative group spokesman for finance Cllr Barry Macleod-Cullinane says the Labour group is making the wrong decisions.

He said: “It’s a budget of the same old Labour stuff – council tax up, service cuts across the board, no plans for proper service reform now or in the future.

He added: “What really matters are local choices, and Labour are making the wrong choices for Harrow.

“As well as making massive cuts to public realm services, Labour seem very comfortable breaking their promise to support the vulnerable – as they’re set to continue with the harshest council tax benefit scheme in London and plan to cut over 30 per cent of the funding for voluntary organisations who provide care services for disabled residents.

“In fact, at cabinet, Cllr Shah patronisingly praised these organisations for convincing Labour not to cut 100 per cent of their money, which is rather like a hitman congratulating their victim for only getting wounded.”