Cabinet members from Tower Hamlets Council t have vowed that frontline services will be protected while savings of £30m are made after approving a three year budget plan last week.

Cabinet members from Tower Hamlets Council have vowed that frontline services will be protected while savings of £30m are made after approving a three year budget plan last week.

Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s Independent cabinet put forward proposals to ‘balance the books’ and make the savings during the period up to the 2015/16 budget.

Key measures in the plan include a freeze on council tax for the fourth consecutive year, and a £1million fund to help families in Tower Hamlets cope with the government’s forthcoming welfare reforms.

Lead member for resources councillor Alibor Choudhury said: “By taking a proactive approach and anticipating further savings, we’ve been able to plan ahead and make difficult decisions that deliver what we need to while serving residents’ interests.

“This doesn’t mean we can be complacent. We’ll continue to monitor these plans as government policy continues to develop and the welfare reforms kick in.”

Cabinet members approved ongoing funding for students over the age of 16 to continue education after the government scrapped the Education Maintenance Allowance.

There was also a boost for advocates of the regeneration of Roman Road, with councillors approving plans to introduce a town centre manager to help breathe new life into the area.

Cuts in government funding to Town Halls are set to continue until 2017, and Labour councillors have previously warned that current spending levels in Tower Hamlets are unsustainable, risking a £44m deficit within four years.

Residents will be able to have their say on the proposals at an event at the Whitechapel Road Idea Store on January 29, from 5.30-6.30pm.

The plan will then be considered by the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on February 6, before full council votes on it at a meeting on February 20.