Residents are invited to share their thoughts on plans to raise council tax by almost four per cent next year.

The bill is already going up by 2pc due to the government’s Adult Social Care precept.

However, as this money is ringfenced, councillors are suggesting an additional 1.99pc increase for other issues such as helping the homeless and maintaining roads and parks.

Together, the two raises would mean that a household in Council Tax Band D who paid £1,354.03 this year would see their council tax bill increase by £54.02 to £1,408.56 next year.

Deputy leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Cllr Dominic Twomey, said: “Yet again we have been clobbered with massive government cuts but, as ever, we will just have to get on with it and mitigate the impact on our community.

“It means we want to keep an increase in council tax to the minimum while investing in local infrastructure and providing more funds for older and homeless people.

“But it’s hugely important local people make their views known and tell us what their priorities are before we go-ahead and set our budget next year.”

You can have your say at consultation roadshows at Barking Learning Centre on Friday from 11am to 12.30pm, Dagenham Library on Tuesday from 2pm to 3.30pm, Chadwell Heath Community Library on January 6 from 5.30pm or Barking and Dagenham College on January 13 from 2.30pm to 4pm.

You can also fill in the online consultation until January 25 at consult.lbbd.gov.uk/public/budget_201718