COUNCIL tax bills will rise by three per cent to help the borough's most vulnerable people.

People in Band D, who currently pay £1,184.32 per year, will now start paying £1,234.45 But the extra cash, which should bring in £2.7million, can only be used for social care.

The suggestion was put forward by Haringey Council's cabinet this week and will have to be approved by full council.

Other recommendations include £2million investment in libraries, shelving an earlier suggestion to reduce opening hours. £1.8million will be used to help support elderly and disabled residents and £200,000 for outdoor gyms.

The authority needs to make £20million worth of cuts.

Cllr Jason Arthur, Haringey Council cabinet member for finance and health, said: “We’ve recommended that the government’s social care levy be added to council tax bills in Haringey, but we need to be clear that this additional funding will be a drop in the ocean.

"While the government has cut our budget year-on-year, we have seen an unprecedented increase in cost and demand for services for the most vulnerable residents in our borough.

“The £20 million savings forced on us mean we face some very difficult decisions, but we remain determined to do everything we can to protect the frontline services that residents most depend on. That’s why roughly half of the proposed savings will come from central overhead budgets, including cutting the cost of senior management.”