Sutton Council propose cuts for adult social care and children’s services

Members of Sutton Council’s strategy and resources committee have backed a budget that freezes council tax for 2014/15 but outlines cuts to care services.

Spending cuts have been proposed in adult social care and children’s care and a report by officers highlighted these cuts could prove risky if there are significant changes in demand from residents.

Sutton plans to use the savings to ensure it can freeze council tax and car parking charges, provide £200,000 of rates relief to businesses, invest £20m in housing stock, and pay the London Living Wage to all its employees.

Councillor Simon Wales, the council’s lead member for finance, assets and the voluntary sector, said: “We are doing all we can to support people in a difficult economic climate where our Government grant continues to be cut.

“That means having to prioritise our spending wisely and we have chosen to invest in areas that our residents and businesses have told us matter the most – school places, new homes and supporting our local economy.”

The budget is still subject to a debate and vote at the next full council meeting.