Plans to scrap school uniform grants as part of an expected council tax freeze have been abandoned, it has emerged.

Leader of Hounslow Council, Councillor Peter Thompson, this week introduced proposals not to raise council tax for the fourth year on the trot – and promised the grants would not be reduced, nor would community groups be denied use of school facilities on Saturday mornings.

Both suggestions were savaged when it emerged they were being considered in November last year.

But ahead of the budget proposals’ final approval – due at a Hounslow Council meeting on Tuesday – critics are already warning the move is “not possible and not responsible”.

Coun Thompson admitted next year’s budget was “ambitious” but claimed as well as freezing council tax it would “ensure growth in vital services and provide protection for frontline services”.

He said: “It is right we rule out now suggestions for reductions in school uniform grants, and guarantee that school facilities will remain available to community groups on Saturday mornings.

“I am particularly pleased we are able to commit £700,000 to replace our social workers’ IT system.

“It can’t be right that 80 per cent of their time is spent putting data into a computer when they should be dealing face-to-face with families in need. On top of this we are planning to spend a further £2.2m to ensure that we put our children’s services on a strong financial footing.”

Coun Thompson added he wanted to pump an extra £200,000 into the voluntary sector, despite making savings of £8.2m overall.

However, Lib Dem councillor Andrew Dakers slammed some of the proposed cuts, including a move to skim £100,000 from the borough’s social care budget.

He said: “Our view is it’s not possible and not responsible to have another zero per cent budget. What we are looking at is a 0.75 per cent increase in council tax, which will cost taxpayers in Hounslow an extra 16p a week.”

Coun Dakers claimed the budget being proposed by Coun Thompson would not devote sufficient funds to deal with the area’s unemployment, fight Heathrow expansion plans and assist with the regeneration of Gunnersbury Park.

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