Households will face a council tax rise of 3.99 per cent as the borough tackles a ‘continued onslaught’ from central government, according to a Liberal Democrat councillor.

Councillors approved the highest possible increase without triggering a referendum during a full council meeting at the Sutton Civic Offices on Monday, March 6.

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Read more: Confirmed - Sutton Council tax bills to rise 3.99 per cent

The hike is comprises the two per cent adult social care ‘precept’, which was approved by former Chancellor George Osborne to mitigate the social care funding crisis, and an additional 1.99 increase for general purposes.

Council tax increase after taking into both Sutton Council and the General London Authority precept.

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Between 2010 and 2019 the council will aim to save £74million from its budget and has said cuts have put pressure on adult social care services.

Although, councillor Tim Crowley, leader of the Conservative opposition at Sutton Council, said money used on projects across the borough could be better spent and would not have resulted in the same degree of cuts.

Lib Dem Cllr Simon Wales, lead member for finance, assets and the voluntary sector, said: “Once again this year there has been no let up for local government with the continued onslaught on local autonomy by the national government.

“We have seen new ways of delivering services, as well as sharing services with neighbouring local authorities. South London Waste Partnership, which has procured waste collection, winter maintenance, street cleansing, vehicle maintenance and parks and grounds maintenance, which will save Sutton residents more than £10m over eight years.

“We are proposing in this budget additional investment and growth. We will spend over £1m towards the increase of children in foster care or residential placements. £275,000 pounds will go towards safeguarding staffing, £500,000 for special guardianship orders and £500,000 for joint-funded SEN clients. 

“In broad terms this budget reflects a 32 per cent government grant reduction of £7.9m, other net reductions of £1.7m and other costs. All of which is proposed to be balanced by savings of £10m, a council tax increase of £7m, an use of the adult care surcharge of £1.7m and the use of reserves of £1.2m.”

Cllr Crowley said: “The party opposite have to realise that they have to work with what they have been given, rather than moan at every opportunity. Perhaps if they paid attention in certain areas then we would have more money to use on local services.

“£1m was lost by Sutton Housing Partnership, we have officers who sit on this body and indeed in this chamber we have told that the council actively sought to remove members of their senior management once this became known. Why didn’t we work quicker?

“We have no money, but we sold the Lodge at a £1m discount using the excuse that we could not build it ourselves as we suggested on this side of the chamber, yet two years later you’ve taken up that suggestion and decided to do what we asked for with the rectory next door.

“The people of this borough deserve better air quality, transport links and healthcare to name but a few issues and we will show there is a different way and a better way to achieve these costs.”

Lib Dem councillors and Independent councillor for Cheam, Graham Witham voted to approve the budget, while the Conservatives and Independent councillor for Beddington North, Nick Mattey, abstained.