Tory austerity guided the council’s hand in approving an annual budget funded by multi-million pound borrowing, and increases in council tax and fees and charges across the borough, the majority Residents’ Association group claimed.

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council approved a 2.7 per cent council tax rise alongside increased rates for car parking, cemeteries, and waste refusal, in order to make savings of £381,000 last night.

The council also pledged to borrow an additional £60 million towards buying commercial properties, to increase revenue streams.

Current estimates suggest the council is on course to finish the 2016/17 financial year £94,000 under budget - but loss of government funding meant savings needed to be made, according to Councillor Eber Kington, Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee.

From December 2016: Tory cuts to Epsom and Ewell 'unfair' and 'disproportionate', borough councillor claims

Announcing the budget, Cllr Kington, said loss of government funding created financial challenges and uncertainties for the council.

The government withdrew £417,000 of core funding (Revenue Support Grant) from the council ahead of the next financial year.

The council also missed out on the £700,000 new homes bonus. It was on track to meet the house-building criteria and receive the funding until the government changed the criteria, reducing the qualifying period for the grant, Cllr Kington said.

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But Conservative Councillor Alexander Clarke criticised the council for not exhausting alternatives to putting up car parking charges and said an increased cost of living would, in the long-term, harm residents and the town.

Labour Councillor Vince Romagnuolo, meanwhile, criticised the settlement from the government, and suggested the abolition of Surrey County Council and of councillors’ allowances as a more “modest” alternative to increasing tax and charges.

Cllr Kington, in his budget speech, also announced several policy announcements:

• The introduction of a weekly recycling service;

• The roll-out of a new transport vehicles and Routecall Flexi Route scheduling system;

• The council would work with private sector landlords to increase the supply of affordable housing;

• A £70,000 refurbishment of Longmead Social Centre;

• £174,000 improvement works at Depot Road car park, and replacing the pay and display machines at Depot Road and Upper High Street;

• £110,000 refurbishment of the pond in Roseberry Park;

• £46,000 refurbishment of tennis and basketball courts in Alexander Recreation Ground;

• The provision of Disabled Facility Grants, using £535,000 to help people live independently in their own homes;

• The provision of £25,000 to the East Surrey Outreach Service to assist with rough sleepers, a sum money previously funded from government grant but which has now ceased;

• Borrowing an additional £60 million of borrowing to fund commercial acquisitions to help generate income;

• Using £172,000 of the net income from two recently-purchased commercial properties to balance the budget and support services;

• Looking to buy three residential properties to be used as temporary emergency accommodation;

• Generating new income from a pest control referral service.

Councillors voted by 26 votes (the Residents’ Association group, excluding Councillor Hannah Dalton, who was absent) to six (the opposition Conservative and Labour factions, excluding Councillor Jane Race, who was absent) to accept the budget.

From September 2016: Epsom businesses working towards Business Improvement District

Conservative Cllr Clarke said: “If we really have to put the prices up, then absolutely must exhaust every avenue to mitigate these increases in the most viable way possible, both for the benefit of the borough and its residents, but also as a sign of good faith to the BID (Business Improvement District), which much future development depends upon.”

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Labour Cllr Romagnuolo added: “Today may be Valentine’s Day but I’m sure you and everyone here tonight will not be feeling much love for this terrible Tory government.

“I have a certain amount of sympathy with the Chair of Strategy & Resources when he says that there are painful decisions to make. But my sympathy only goes so far.

“We can still remember that the old, the frail and the young mums with their small children who use the Wells Centre have been badly let down by this council.”

From February 2017: Surrey County Council bows to public fury and scraps 15 per cent tax increase

Council tax funds three bodies: 76 per cent goes to Surrey County Council, Surrey Police receive 13 per cent and Epsom & Ewell Borough Council receives 11 per cent.

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