Tower Hamlets Council braced for �23m government funding cuts

Funding cuts of �23m over two years from the government will not affect frontline services, Tower Hamlets council insists.

The final sum set to be allocated to councils was decided on by the government last week – including an 11 per cent reduction in cash for Tower Hamlets.

But the council insists it is well placed to cope with the cuts, and claims it has identified savings of �25m for the 2013/14 financial year.

Cabinet member for resources, Cllr Alibor Choudhury said: “We will always seek to make efficiencies to protect our frontline services and vulnerable residents.

“We know that the council will still need long-term savings strategies and systems are in place to deliver these”.

The council claims it will save money from the vacation of its Anchorage House office block at East India, and generating income from commercial sources. It has attracted heavy criticism in recent months following its decision to sell off Henry Moore’s ‘Draped Seated Woman’ sculpture.