Towards the end of 2016, amidst some small headlines from America that anyone could have missed, the results from Merton Council’s county tax consultation were released. The results from the consultation came back with 77% supporting a raise in council tax with 81% saying adult social care was their highest priority as well. This revelation should mean Merton Council defying an election pledge to keep council tax frozen until 2018.

This revelation came after months of controversy surrounding the possible increase in council tax. Last year, Councillor Stephen Alambritis and the Merton labour group, refused to raise council taxes as to not backtrack on one of his election pledges even when given the opportunity, as all local authorities were, to raise council taxes by up to 1.99 per cent, with the option of a further two per cent specifically to fund adult social care.

Instead they chose to implement £5 million pounds of cuts to the Adult Social Care sector which caused strain to party ranks as Labour Councillor Peter Walker resigned. This decision also prompted criticism from the Clinical Commissioning Group of Merton which said it would withdraw funding from the Better Care Fund if the precept was not raised.

Speaking in January, Councillor Alambritis said “I always want to keep my promises and my pledges. I’m keeping the Merton element of council tax frozen, but given the blackmail from the CCG about the BCF and the crisis in the adult social care sector – which should be addressed by national government and not council tax payers – we have no option but to go with the precept.”

Councillor Alambritis is also under a formal investigation by Merton council to determine his role in a second consultation into council tax changes took place.  The second consultation urged St. Heliers residents to vote against raising council tax. The second consultation also used freepost amassing a cost £1,380 to Merton Council which has since been reimbursed by the Mitcham and Morden Labour Party who sent the survey.

The final budget proposals and level of council tax for 2017/18 will be put forward by cabinet on February 13, and voted on at full council on March 1.

Sam Park, Hampton School