Labour and Conservative opposition councillors slammed the claim by the Residents’ Association (RA) it had managed to protect all services in this year’s budget.

In his budget speech last night, town centre Councillor Neil Dallen said the RA had managed to balance the books in the face of ‘draconian’ Government cuts by increasing council tax by 1.9 per cent, increasing fees and charges across the board, ‘streamlining’ services and dipping into £273,000 of council reserves.

The budget passed easily on a vote of 31 to five.

However leaders of the two opposition parties argued the re-location of community services from the Wells Centre to the Epsom Centre in Longmead would leave elderly and isolated people in Wells facing an effective service cutback.

Epsom and Ewell Labour leader Vince Romagnuolo said the RA – which holds 31 of 38 Epsom and Ewell borough seats – was carrying out Conservative austerity on the most vulnerable residents.

He said: “Councillor Dallen follows the same failed philosophy and visits austerity on those members of our community who he thinks won’t fight back.

“Like the old and the frail and the young mums with their small children who use the Wells Centre.”

Cllr Romagnuolo also criticised the RA for spending money on projects like the restored Ewell Court House and funding the Epsom Playhouse in austere times.

Cllr Dallen defended the budget, saying it showed Espom and Ewell was one of the few councils in the country which could balance the books – while maintaining services – while its Government funding was being halved in five years.

And RA Councillor Eber Kington later gave a speech drawing applause across the council chamber, saying he was proud residents would prefer to pay more tax than lose services.

Epsom and Ewell Conservatives leader Alex Clarke argued the RA should not have increased fees and charges or council tax while also paying for the mayor’s chauffeur-driven car.

Cllr Clarke said: “The problem with keeping raising fees, like keep raising council tax, is that eventually the price becomes too much to pay.

“Eventually the raises on parking fees damage the number of shoppers coming to the town, causing shops and businesses to close, meaning a drop in another source of income: business rates.

“Eventually council tax raises make it too expensive for the key workers we need to teach in our schools, to care for us in our hospital, to patrol and prevent crime, to respond in emergencies, to live here, to benefit and be part of the community they serve.”

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