Lewisham Council will need to find a further £55 million worth of savings, with £24 million to be found in the next year, as the council faces “large-scale, system-wide cuts.”

Newly-elected cabinet member for finance, skills and jobs Amanda de Ryk said the council was facing “the hardest squeeze since anyone can remember,” in an address at the council’s first meeting for the year.

She said there was a real concern that local authorities – including Lewisham – would run out of money due to central government funding cuts.

“Since 2010 when I was first elected we have so far been forced to reduce our overall budget by £160 million pounds through cutting services and like others around the country, raiding our reserves,” she said.

“In three years we will need to find a further £55 million pound of savings with 24 million to be identified this year.

“My priority in this role is simple: keep the lights on. I want to keep the staff paid, the bins empty, the vulnerable safe and well, the young educated, the homeless housed, and the street lights on.”

Ms de Ryk did not specify what services would need to be cut, but said cuts would effect the entire organisation.

“We are beyond slicing off the edge of services or reducing back office function,” she said.

“In order to avoid financial breaking point in the next four years we will need to make large-scale, system-wide cuts that will affect the whole organisation.

“If there ever was any low-hanging fruit then eight years on there is simply none left to pick.”

She said the council would campaign about the effects of austerity – a pressure which had been passed on to local authorities.

“I want to keep the council able to serve the residents who put their trust in us,” she said.