Councillors and officers face an "agonising process" of deciding where cuts may fall in Hertsmere according to the leader of the borough's Liberal Democrats.

Following the comprehensive spending review announced by Chancellor George Osborne on Wednesday, Councillor Roger Kutchinsky said it was “inevitable”

council expenditure would have to be “sharply reduced”.

Councillor Kutchinsky explained Hertsmere is likely to suffer a reduction in its revenue support grant from central government of about a quarter, meaning the council's total income could be reduced by around 13 per cent.

The Bushey North councillor said: “I fear that this will lead to a reduction in some, if not all of the council's services.

“I know the senior financial officers of the council and its executive are going through the agonising process of deciding just where the cuts will fall and I have every sympathy for them.

“I understand it will be a painful task with few rewards and every likelihood they will stand to be criticised whatever course they decide to take."

Councillor Kutchinsky said he hoped the measures taken by the coalition Government would “restore the health of the nation's economy” but feared the “worst may be yet to come”.

He added: “My hope is that the greatest burden will fall upon those who have the greatest ability to pay and not upon those who are in no position to accept any further reduction in their standard of living.”