A massive £61million could be slashed from Hammersmith and Fulham Council's public spending by 2012, claims the area's Labour group.

Last week, the ruling Conservative group published details of April's budget, which shows spending cuts of £12m for the next financial year.

It also shows planned reductions of £11m and £8m in the following two years, if the Conservatives are re-elected in 2010.

Labour leader Cllr Steve Cowan believes these figures mean that between the Tories' first budget in 2007 and 2012, £61m will have been pruned from the borough's budget.

He said: "This year's budget includes a raft of new stealth taxes, decreasing youth services and charging for garden waste collection.

"The budget shows there will also be cuts to care for the elderly, sick and disabled.

"Most concerning of all is the fact that by 2012, the total amount removed from public spending will reach £61m."

A council spokesman said that although there were reductions in the next budget, there was almost the same amount of increases in spending.

One area that been earmarked for financial aid in the April budget is the council's raft of debt, which will benefit from a £750,000 plug. At the same time, £680,000 will be saved by charging for home care for disabled and frail people.

Cllr Cowan also says further savings will be made by increasing heating bills for elderly people by 20 per cent.

He added: "This is just a stealth tax on old people who want to keep warm.

"All these cuts, to achieve a three per cent cut in council tax each year. For band D properties that is just over £20."

A council spokeswoman said rising fuel costs meant heating bills had to increase. She added: "It is true there are £12m of reductions in spending, but there is also growth."

A spokesman admitted that there is just £4.7m of new growth, but an extra £8m has been set aside for inflation.

Cllr Cowan said: "The growth is largely made up of salary and pension increases and other back office costs the council cannot avoid."

The budget shows more money will be spent on parks and a partnership with the Metropolitan Police to get more officers patrolling the borough's streets.

H&F Council is planning to use £1.1m from reserves over each of the next two financial years to pay for the extra officers.