Police officers will be on standby tonight as councillors debate next year’s budget.

Richmond Council contacted Richmond police to tell them about the full council meeting at York House, Twickenham.

Councillors will also debate the controversial closure of Tangley Hall day centre at 6.30pm.

Superintendent Jim Davis, of Richmond police, said both the council and the Metropolitan Police’s public order unit told the force to be aware campaigners could turn up.

More than 100 protesters stormed Lambeth Town Hall last week as the authority there finalised budget cuts in an effort to save £79m.

Richmond Council plans to make cuts worth £35m over four years.

Supt Davis said: “We’ve got a contingency plan associated with the local authority meeting this evening, and we have sufficient resources available should we require them.

“What I have to stress is the responsibility for management and policing of the meeting is that of the chairman. If called upon to assist, there’s legislation that allows officers to do so.

“We are not anticipating significant issues at the moment. There are plans to have a couple of officers there in the local vicinity, and additional resources have already been identified from the rest of the borough to be used and deployed there if necessary.

“We have no direct intelligence to say there will be any disruption to the meeting whatsoever.”

Are you planning to protest outside tonight's meeting? Call the newsroom on 020 8744 4271.