Lobbying for more cash for London boroughs has become “critical” as the capital’s councils feel the squeeze on funding.

Last week Bromley Council’s cabinet signed off on a draft budget for next year ahead of a final approval by full council on Monday (February 25).

Bromley Council, like many in London, faces uncertain and challenging years ahead as it looks to balance its books with less central government grant.

Government austerity measures have meant Bromley Council has had more than £90m taken out of its budget per year, however it does remain “debt-free”.

The council is set to file a balanced budget this year but needs to find savings of over £40m over the next four years.

MORE - Bromley Council schools funding: High-needs budget 'not enough'

Speaking of the budget last week, councillors said it was imperative the authority lobbies for fairer funding.

Leader Colin Smith said: “There is no other alternative. One of the things that is encouraging is that despite the different make-up of the different parts of London, one of the benefits that has occurred in the last six months is that apolitically we are fighting for a better deal for London.

“It is quite clear that the shires are running rings in terms of lobbying around London, and it is absolutely critical that we get that right.”

It comes weeks after the government announced it was redrawing its funding formula, giving weighting to rurality rather than deprivation and poverty – a move critics say will take cash from inner-city councils to rural areas.

Bromley has the second lowest settlement funding per head compared to the rest of the capital, despite being London’s biggest borough with a large elderly population.

The council’s director of finance Peter Turner wrote to the Ministry of Local Government last month lobbying for a fairer settlement in the next four-year cycle of funding.

MORE - Bromley council tax could rise by 4.9 per cent from April 2019

His letter, published with the council’s financial plans, said: “Local government has borne the brunt of austerity and savings compared with other areas of government expenditure.

“Despite the announcements that ‘austerity is over’, local government funding remains ‘unprotected’ and the impact of additional funding for the NHS and other services results in likely real-term funding reductions remaining for local government.”

Bromley Council’s executive recommended proposals to up council tax by just under three per cent, ahead of a final sign-off later this month.

Another increase of just under two per cent, which is specifically for adult social care – would see taxpayers forking out just under five per cent more from April.