THE council's cabinet has rubber stamped proposals to slash the budget of its children and young people's department by £1.7million, after a reduction in Government funding.
Proposals to cut nearly £200,000 from adult services and £335,000 from environment and regeneration work were also nodded through as part of a £2.6million package of reductions for this year approved earlier tonight.
Campaigners from the newly-established Waltham Forest Anti-Cuts Union, whose membership includes left wing activists such as former Socialist Party MP candidate Nancy Taaffe, held a protest outside Walthamstow Town Hall before the meeting.
The group were denied access to the council chamber to speak because council leader Chris Robbins said they had not made a request in advance in writing.
A spokeswoman for the group said they wanted the council to "stand up" to Government's cuts.
The recommendations were passed without comment by cabinet councillors.
The proposed cuts will now go before the full council on Thursday (July 22) for final approval.
The Waltham Forest Anti-Cuts Union also plans to hold a protest and lobby councillors before that meeting as well.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here