Harrow Council was accused of "broken promises" as a budget bringing in years of cuts was pushed through tonight.

Councillors met at the Civic Centre this evening to debate the Labour administration's budget, which includes £83 million worth of cuts.

Topping the list of cuts were plans to cut library funding and close branches, along with cuts to the voluntary sector.

Opposition leader Councillor Susan Hall told the meeting: "This is a budget of broken promises to Harrow's most vulnerable people. You are cutting across the board.

"Your words are hollow and meaningless and you are not listening to the residents. If you are the listening party and people party, you absolutely would not be taking money from the voluntary sector that look after the most vulnerable. It is a disgrace.

"Where are those poorer residents going to report to the council if they don't have their own computers? They are desperate that their library does not close - it is disgraceful that we are even looking to close libraries."

A strategy meeting about cuts to libraries will be held in March, when all ideas to help save or regenerate libraries will be heard.

Petititions were presented including campaigns to save libraries and to stop a charge on emptying brown bins.

Cllr Sachin Shah, who is responsible for finance, said: "I am proud of this budget that yes, makes difficult descions, but also adds money to social care and domestic violence services.

"Today is about seeing who stands up for decisions and who ducks decisions. Residents understand the difficult decisions we have to make.

"No choice is perfect or ideal. I accept that for some people the choices make them uncomfortable but we have to give the answer, not just an answer but the answer and do what we believe is genuinely right."

Despite oppostion from the Conservative Party and Independent councillors, the budget was passed, with the vote split along party lines.