Government plans to localise control of Council Tax Benefit (CTB) have been branded as 'unfair, impractical and likely to have a negative impact' by one of London's most deprived boroughs.

In a letter to communities secretary Eric Pickles, the leader of Barking and Dagenham LBC, Cllr Liam Smith, has called on the Government to re-think it's plan amid fears it could lead to an increase in the number of families living in poverty.