Cuts to council funding in east London and west Essex next year are higher than the national average, it has been announced.

Yesterday’s local government finance settlement announcement saw a 1.8 per cent average drop in funding for local authorities in the next financial year.

But Waltham Forest council and Epping Forest District council will see funding fall by 4.2 per cent and 4.3 per cent respectively.

This follows significant cuts in previous years as the government aims to reduce the budget deficit, which currently stands at 90bn.

Redbridge council will receive 2.5 per cent less funding in 2015/16.

The government’s settlement accounts for about 75 per cent of the money councils receive, with council tax making up the remainder.

The cuts were announced yesterday by Local Government Minister Kris Hopkins, who advised councils to make “sensible savings” while protecting frontline services.

However, councils have warned some services, many of which are already under strain, cannot be maintained with the current funding levels.

Essex County Council said its independent assessment shows a loss of £49million funding next year.