Merton Council was dubbed a "shambles" last night after motions on housing, travellers and street cleaning were dropped from the agenda following a row over the eleventh-hour tabling of amendments.

Councillors were due to debate Conservative motions on allegations of overcharging for repairs in social housing, illegal camps and street cleaning - three high-profile issues in the borough in the run-up to the general election.

But the motions were pulled after Labour released 11 pages of amendments in paper form to opposition councillors minutes before the motions were due to be discussed - and then voted against giving opposition councillors 10 minutes to review them.

Conservative councillor David Williams walked out of the chamber in protest when the amendments were released.

Merton Conservatives then chose not to put forward the motions after they were not given extra time to review amendments.

Councillor Stephen Alambritis, leader of the Labour-run council said: "This is how I recall ever since 2003 when I became a councillor how we submit business here.

"I do not recall in the previous Conservative administration adjournments or time to consider amendments."

Councillor Oonagh Moulton, leader of Merton Conservatives, said her group's amendments had always been tabled "in good time" since she became leader in 2013.

She said: "There was no excuse for us not to be given a few minutes to read these amendments.

"If the administration wants this chamber to be used for serious debate in a proper democratic way this chamber needs to be allowed time to consider amendments."

Last night's Conservative motions were published six days before the meeting.

Councillors were running 30 minutes ahead of schedule when the opposition was refused an extra 10 minutes to consider last-minute amendments.

Wimbledon Times:

Merton Council leader Councillor Stephen Alambritis

Residents took to Twitter last night to express their anger over the council proceedings.

Dan Goode, an anti-litter campaigner from Morden, wrote: "Shocking behaviour by Merton Labour who might have considered the needs of the borough's residents tonight and not themselves."

If the motions had been debated, the following proposals could have been approved:

- Demand housing association Circle Housing Merton Priory immediately publish the independent audit report on alleged fraud and repeated overcharging of residents by its repairs contractor

- Call on CHMP to take "urgent steps" to ensure its repair service is "radically overhauled" so residents "get the service they deserve and already pay for"

- Maintain Sunday street cleaning service in Merton's town centres

- Adopt a strong stance in order permanently to prevent travellers from illegally occupying public parks and other public spaces in the future"

Simon McGrath, chairman of Merton Liberal Democrats who was in the public gallery at the meeting, said the Lib Dems will be demanding "an urgent change" to the council's rules so amendments have to be published at least one hour before meetings.

Merton Conservatives said they intend to re-publish the motions at the next full council meeting on Wednesday, May 13.

You can watch a webcast of the meeting on Merton Council's website. 

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