On Monday 4 March Sutton Council had its annual budget meeting.

Richard and Heather both contributed to the debate – Heather talking about social service provision and the loneliness and isolation project she is leading in the Ward, Richard talking about the Opportunity Sutton programme and the fact that we had found money to provide a hardship fund for those in difficulty as a result of changes to the Council tax support scheme.

The full text of Richard’s speech is on his blog, on this site (see 4 March).

The Council adopted the budget proposed, which freezes Council tax for a fourth year while finding resources for a number of key priorities such as the “Opportunity Sutton” programme to attract jobs and businesses. Council tax in Sutton remains below the level in Conservative-controlled Croydon, our neighbouring Borough, which has increased Council tax this year.