Children's centres could be closed and litter picking cut back as town hall bosses try to find extra savings of almost £4 million over the coming year.

Extra savings totalling almost £4 million are planned for next year, with around half expected to be made to children’s and education services.

Hackney Council says that it has an estimated budget gap of £22 million in 2024/25, forcing it to make wide-ranging savings.

Increased income from parking and estate charges as well as savings announced in December are expected to make up almost £9 million of this shortfall.

But at its most recent cabinet meeting on January 22, councillors approved further savings.

Notably, Fernbank and Sebright Children’s Centres could be closed by August 2025 as part of a £1.1 million restructuring of nursery provision in the borough.

Almost £200,000 in savings have also been identified from the temporary two year closure of Stoke Newington library for repairs later this year.

Ongoing security, staffing and building upkeep can cease once works start, although the council has warned that a library in the borough may still need to close, or library hours be reduced by 2027 due to budget pressures.

Other changes proposed include saving £70,000 by removing seasonal planting and stopping summer evening litter collections in Hackney’s parks and green spaces.

This would be accompanied by a new garden waste collection subscription charge of £85, expected to save the council £350,000 as the service is currently free.

The council also plans to reduce staffing at its enforcement service, which deals with issues such as antisocial behaviour and fly-tipping, with total savings estimated at just over £300,000.

Hackney Council says the changes are necessary due to "inadequate" government funding amid high inflation.

Council tax rates for the next financial year are set to be decided at a cabinet meeting later this month (February 26).