The leader of Harrow Council has called on the Government to do more for local authorities following the latest Budget.

Cllr Graham Henson said the funding decisions failed to confront what he views as serious issues at council level.

This lack of consideration, he said, has left his administration – and many others around the country – facing a series of dilemmas.

He said: “I am seriously disappointed that the chancellor has again failed to take the necessary steps to address the funding crisis in local government.

“The government’s ad hoc approach continues to leave Harrow with under-funded public services and an uncertain future which prevents the council from being able to make long-term investments in the services that our residents rely on.

“I once again urge the government to come up with a fairer and long-term funding settlement for local government, our schools, our health services and our police.”

Several local authorities have complained about what they see as severe restrictions on both financial grants and freedom on decision-making.

In neighbouring Brent, council leader Cllr Muhammed Butt pointed out that, since 2010, its government funding has been cut by around £164 million.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said the 2018 Budget might ease the pressure on councils in the short-term but argued that much more is required to ensure longstanding improvements.

“The Budget shows the Government has started to listen to the LGA’s call for desperately-needed investment in our under-pressure local services but falls short of what we need in the long-term,” said its chairman, Lord Porter.

“While this funding will ease some of the immediate financial pressure facing councils and our local services, it is clear that this cannot be a one-off.”

He added that the “real test” will come during next year’s Spending Review.

Philip Hammond, delivering the Budget, said £650 million would be made available to local authorities to help fund social care.

There will also be £450 million set aside for road and bridge maintenance and other minor works.

The chancellor said the Budget was one “for hard-working families”, the “strivers, the grafters and the carers who are the backbone of the community and the economy”.

He added that, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the Government would have to devise a new budget that would “set out a different strategy for the future”.