Lib Dems invest in Sutton's roads

1.57.00pm GMT Thu 19th Mar 2009

Sutton's Lib Dem Council has moved quickly to make good the roads in Sutton damaged by severe frost during February's freak spell of weather.

An extra £250,000 has been earmarked in this year's budget for urgent repairs to the worst affected roads around the borough.

Extremes of cold weather cause substantial damage to road surfaces which quickly become problem potholes.

The Lib Dem lead councillor for resources, Cllr John Drage, said it was essential to carry out repairs to prevent further damage to the roads, and to vehicles.

Cllr Drage made the announcement during the 2009/10 budget debate in full Council on 2 March. It brings to total allocated to highways maintenance and resurfacing for the coming year to £1.6mn.

Cllr Drage also outlined the Liberal Democrats' intention to keep the council tax increase as low as possible - with bills to go up by just 62 pence a week for a typical household - while protecting vital services, particularly for the elderly and more vulnerable members of the community.

During the debate Cllr Drage emphasised Sutton's achievement in providing high quality services and being a low spending council.

Cllr Drage challenged the Conservative opposition's reckless approach to the budget, saying they wanted to use council balances for political points scoring.

"To spend the balances to subsidise our day to day spending is a short term fix that runs out after a year.

"After that residents would be hit either with drastic cuts in their services, or a large hit on their council tax.

"The Conservative's policy will be as much of a real boost to the money in people's pockets as Gordon's Brown VAT cut," Cllr Drage said.

Instead, the Liberal Democrats have agreed to use £5mn of reserves to support investment in the borough's infrastructure and boost economic development.

This will be part of the Council's Capital Programme which is expected to result in over £140mn of new investment in the Borough over the next three years.

Note:

Sutton spends £731 for each resident, well under the average for the whole of London of £886, and for outer London of £794.

The Council's high performance is reflected in the Audit Commission giving Sutton a top score of 4 for use of resources, including 4 out of 4, for value for money.