Councillors are set to vote themselves an increase in pay.
The move comes at a time when the authority is cutting jobs and services, raising taxes, charging for green garden waste and hiking up car parking prices across the borough.
Should the 2.2 per cent increase be voted through next week, Sutton will pay out an extra £19,798 a year across its 54 councillors bringing the total bill to £920,686 a year.
The move was defended as “constitutional” by the Liberal Democrat run council.
A spokesman said members’ allowances were linked to the pay of council officers.
But the leader of the Conservative opposition, Tim Crowley, denounced the move as “arrogance”.
Sutton council tax rises by 1.99%, highest allowed without going to referendum.
He said: “This is the week when letters are dropping on people’s mats saying ‘We need more money’, and then they are turning around and using that to give themselves a pay rise.”
Council leader Councillor Ruth Dombey would receive an extra £882 a year for leading the council, plus an extra £226 for being a councillor. Her remuneration would end up at £51,472.
Councillor Crowley, who be able to get £25,739 as the leader of the opposition, said: "They change the constitution on other things, so why can’t they change this?
“Why do we need more money? We are going to vote against this. They say they’ve got no money but they find money to pay the councillors more money.”
The rise is to be proposed at the strategy and resources committee on Monday, March 23, and must be ratified by full council on Monday, April 20.
That meeting will take place two weeks before the general election.
December 2014: Epsom councillors branded "foolish" for awarding themselves rise in allowances
May 2014: Row as Surrey County Conservative councillors vote for pay hike
A spokesman for Sutton Council said: “Under the council’s constitution, the basic members’ allowance tracks any changes to the pay of council officers.
"The national joint council for local government services determined there should be a 2.2 percent pay increase for council officers across the country from January 1, 2015.
"Therefore, the basic allowance for Sutton councillors is going up by the same percentage.
"If it is approved, it is up to each member whether they want to accept the increase."
The increases per year:
Each councillor - from £10,293 to £10,519 (with any special responsibilities below added on top)
Leader of the council - from £40,071 to £40,953
Deputy leader of the council - from £27,480 to £28,085
Committee chairs - from £17,565 to £17,951
Lead member for finance - from £17,565 to £17,951
Scrutiny committee chair - from £12,120 to £12,387
Development control planning committee chair - from £12,120 to £12,387
Committee vice-chairs - from £8,943 to £9,140
Scrutiny committee vice-chair - from £8,943 to £9,140
Development control planning vice-chair - from £8,943 to £9,140
Opposition group leader - from £14,892 to £15,220
Licensing committee chair - from £10,488 to £10,719
The Mayor - from £10,488 to £10,719
Local committee chairs - from £8,943 to £9,140
Audit committee chair - from £8,943 to £9,140
Pension committee chair - from £5,244 to £5,359
Appeals committee chair - from £5,244 to £5,359
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