Finance bosses admitted on Thursday (July 18) that the cutbacks were 'not ideal', but essential if Dacorum Borough Council was to balance its books.

The overall budget has been reduced to just £407,000 and mostly earmarked for essential health and safety repairs.

Councillors discussed the cutbacks at a meeting of the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee (SOSC) on Wednesday, July 16.

Committee members raised concern for the effect the reduction could have on funding security gates, lighting and CCTV cameras.

Money for these security measures usually totals £100,000, but will be slashed by more than two thirds to £30,000.

Also being pulled from the budget is cash for water main renewals, that will lose half of its allocated £60,000 and the replacement of fences, reduced from £300,000 to £50,000.

Council money used to renew roofs and guttering will shrink from £100,000 to £35,000, and just £12,000 of the £100,000 previously allocated to replacing entry phones will be available.

These changes will be in effect 'at least' until the end of the next financial year.

A report received by the SOSC noted that the reductions were likely to lead to an 'increase in tenants complaints'.