Sutton's member at City Hall has attacked the leader of the council over "spurious" claims about transport funding.

Steve O Connell, Greater London Assembly member for Sutton and Croydon, said London Boris Johnson gave reassurances he has no plans to cut Local Implementation Plan (Lip) funding at Mayor’s Question time earlier this month.

The Lip is a borough-wide transport strategy detailing the council’s transport objectives and delivery proposals.

This week, council leader Ruth Dombey wrote to the mayor to express her dismay at proposals to cut Sutton’s Lip funding by 25 per cent - from £1.3m in 2014/15 to less than £1m in 2015/16.

Councillor Dombey said: "This is disgraceful. These traffic schemes are important to Sutton residents and we should have a greater say over how the money is spent. We all want a more sustainable future, a better environment, economic prosperity and improved quality of life and this cut in vital transport funding will prevent us from achieving our goal."

But Mr O Connell, said: "[Mr Johnson] said he was determined to keep the LIP funding. There is no basis in these spurious claims from the leader of Sutton Council."

The matter was also raised at Sutton Council’s strategy and resources meeting on Monday night.

Then Coun Dombey said: "This is a concerted campaign across London. There is a sense across all councils of all colours that any cut in Lip funding will have serious consequences.

"I’d hate to think [Mr Johnson] has said an untruth in front of the GLA but we still believe this to be a valid comment so I suggest we wrote to Boris, copying in Steve O’Connell, seeking clarification."

 

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