A dramatic U-turn over tax credits, a possible rise in council tax to fund social care and no expected cuts to police funding will impact on Epsom and Ewell but some are waiting for more details before celebrating the Government's Autumn Statement yesterday.

An Epsom and Ewell borough councillor said residents should "hold their breath" and await finer details after Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne revealed the details yesterday.

Mr Osborne’s Spending Review will perhaps be best remembered for his dramatic U-turn over cuts to tax credits.

October 27: Tax credits: Chris Grayling MP launches attack on Labour and Lib Dem Lords after they block George Osborne's reforms

But the Autumn Statement touched upon a wide range of areas from rural affairs to small businesses, and from funding to local authorities to mental health - all of which are likely to impact on the borough.

Councillor Neil Dallen of the Residents’ Association was cautiously optimistic about the statement, but said he would reserve judgement until finer details were available.

He said: "They are not cutting the police budget, which is good news - but if not there, where else?

"Really, we need to know the details of how these measures will work."

Conservative councillor and health campaigner Jane Race, meanwhile, was thrilled about the extra £600million allocated for mental health funding nationwide.

She said: "It’s great that we’re getting extra funding for mental health as it is urgently needed."

Surrey Police’s Crime Commissioner Kevin Hurley was also pleased after Mr Osborne promised no cuts to the police budget.

He said: "I am very pleased and proud that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been listening to the outcry from me and others in the past few weeks, and has made a complete U-turn on police spending cuts.

"In Surrey, as everywhere else in the country, we are experiencing dramatic and extreme changes in the nature of crime.

"Increased resources are needed not only in public protection, but also in online crime and visible policing."

Budget plans were also announced for tax credits, rural affairs, small businesses, housing, mental health, local economic partnerships, and policing.

This is how they may impact on Epsom and Ewell Residents:

- In a surprising U-turn, Mr Osborne announced he would scrap his proposed £4.4billion cuts to tax credits.

Epsom and Ewell MP Chris Grayling defended the controversial proposal last month after the House of Lords voted to block the cuts.

- Mr Osborne said that people in areas liable to be affected by flooding - as Epsom and Ewell was two winters ago - should feel more secure, after he pledged £2bn to protect 300,000 homes nationwide.

However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' day-to-day budget is set to fall by 15 per cent.

- Epsom and Ewell residents could soon be paying more in order to cover the £12billion to be cut from national welfare spending.

Local authorities such as Epsom and Ewell Borough Council would be able to levy a new precept of up to two per cent in council tax, which must be exclusively spent on social care.

- The council will also receive some of the £1.5billion given to local authorities through the Better Care Fund.

Mr Osborne also announced that £12bn of welfare savings would be delivered in a way that "helps families as we make our way to a National Living wage".

- Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s new town centres manager Alanna Coombes recently revealed her plan for the borough would rely on the collaboration of local businesses.

And the chancellor believes such small businesses could benefit from the competitive taxes and rate-relief scheme announced in his Spending Review.

- Those on the housing list in Epsom and Ewell may be helped by the creation of "400,000 affordable new homes" to rent and buy nationwide before 2020.

Mr Osborne said he would double the housing budget to £2billion a year in order to build the new homes.

- The borough’s thriving mental health sector - Love Me, Love My Mind, and the Sunnybank Trust, Age Concern, Alzheimer’s Society and Central Surrey Health all have roots in Epsom and Ewell - could be helped by an extra £600million in funding.

- The council will be granted a "big package of new powers" after Mr Osborne set aside £12billion for local economic partnerships (LEPs).

Epsom and Ewell is part of the Gatwick Diamond LEP which can apply for funding from this pot to improve infrastructure and economic growth south of London.

- Mr Osborne vowed to keep police on the streets of Epsom and Ewell by protecting the police budgets from the cuts.

He said: "The police protect us and we are going to protect the police."

What do you think? Comment below or email letters@epsomguardian.co.uk.