The cuts to local authority budgets are falling on some of the most deprived areas, which will prevent many councils from doing more to help their most in need residents.

This is forcing them into debt and rent arrears with many hardworking families on low incomes struggling to make ends meet and relying on in work benefits.

Here in Newham, we face significant challenges and we are doing all we can to meet them. Our grant funding from government has been cut by almost half since 2010 and as a result the council has been forced to make £173.8m of savings. A further £1.171m of savings is identified in the 2018/19 budget.

Despite this, my budget for 2018-19 which was agreed by cabinet and full council sees us with a balanced book and will help our residents on the lowest incomes in the years to come.

We have frozen the Newham element of council tax for the 10th year running, Newham’s B and D Council Tax precept will be kept at £945.63 for 2018/19 and there are no cuts to frontline services.

Money will be set aside from this year’s budget to pay for a plan to be implemented in 2019/20 that would see Newham residents on the lowest incomes only having to pay half of what they would be expected to pay in council tax.

In addition, from April 1, young people leaving the care of the council will pay no council tax until they reach 25 and that grieving families will not have to pay burial and cremation charges for children and young people under 18.

We will also continue to invest in the things residents say are important to them. These include:

• continuing to renew our roads, pavements and street lights;

• paying for 40 additional police officers to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour issues including those that are gang and youth-related;

• an enhanced enforcement presence;

• free school meals for primary school pupils;

• a renewed focus on young people, including investing in skills and training;

• an expanded Every Child programme;

• a pilot Newham Living Well programme that explores new ways of delivering more personalised home care for older people and those with complex needs.

I remain committed to standing up for residents and making sure they are not bearing the brunt of the government’s cuts.

The traditional ways of doing things no longer work and the council has saved money by being innovative and efficient and changing how we operate. That includes our family of small businesses which have generated substantial income, and a sensible investment strategy in commercial property which will bring in £4.4m next year. Our work is changing people’s lives and the level of trust in us is at the highest level ever.

But more than that, we are making sure our services are protected from cuts and continuing to invest in areas and new programmes. That means more properties for homeless households, pilot schemes in adult social care and opportunities for our young people.