Since 2010 local councils have lost 40% of their funding from this Conservative/Lib Dem Government, which is now damaging local services.

The Government’s intentions are quite cynical. They know that local councils have to balance the books, so they have passed on their deepest cuts: intending that local services will take the pain and the councils will take the blame. The result is that Merton Council has a £32m financial gap each year by 2018 that has to be filled and so far only half the required cuts have been found. The council does its best to protect services to the old, the vulnerable and children, but there are still cuts to every service. This council budget has not been about options or choices, because the financial gap is too big.

Stephen Hammond MP has said that Merton Council does not have to make cuts because there is £100m in reserves.

The truth is that the general fund reserves are just £14.2m, about the minimum the auditors will require to cover emergencies. The other money is already spoken for, or cannot be used. Nearly £26m is earmarked for specific purposes such as plans to transform services, community care, apprenticeships & helping local businesses. If we use that money, we will be cutting those services. There is £38m of capital balances for investment that cannot by law be spent on revenue support for services. £19m consists of balances controlled by individual schools. So Merton residents deserve better than to be offered these false arguments by Stephen Hammond.

Councillor Andrew Judge

Via email