In a dramatic council meeting that turned into a heated exchange, Sutton's Liberal Democrat administration faced fierce accusations of presiding over what was described as "a sitcom of incompetence" by opposition councillors. The confrontation centred on allegations of years of wasteful spending decisions and failed projects that have exposed residents to what critics called "avoidable financial risk".
Longest-Running Liberal Democrat Council Under Fire
Sutton Council has been under continuous Liberal Democrat control for nearly forty years, making it the longest-running council of its kind in the entire country. However, at the first full council meeting of the new year, opposition members argued that this extended period in power has led to a concerning pattern of repeated financial misjudgements and questionable project management.
Conservative Leader Outlines Failed Projects
Conservative London Assembly leader and councillor Neil Garratt used his contribution to a motion on council spending to highlight what he characterised as a series of disastrous Liberal Democrat initiatives. He contrasted what he termed a "Lib Dem alternative reality" with the "real world", gesturing towards the town centre beyond the civic centre chamber as he spoke.
Garratt presented several specific examples of what he considered failed projects:
- The Sutton Life Centre: Built in 2010 at a cost of £8 million, this facility was promoted as a scheme that would revolutionise child safeguarding and young people's education while attracting 40,000 visitors annually. Garratt declared it "a complete flop" that attracted minimal visitors and sat empty for years before being repurposed as a SEND education hub last year.
- Russettings: The council invested approximately £500,000 in a conservatory at the locally listed registry office on Worcester Road, aiming to boost wedding bookings with a focus on sustainable ceremonies that deliberately excluded additional car parking. Last year, the council decided to sell the building that had long served as the borough's central hub for births, deaths and marriage ceremonies.
- The Sutton Decentralised Energy Network: Established in 2016 to supply residents of New Mill Quarter with low-carbon, affordable hot water and heating using energy from the Beddington incinerator, Garratt noted that full connection to the incinerator remains incomplete nearly a decade later.
- Throwley Yard: This cinema opened in September 2024 on the former site of Chicago's nightclub, supported by £1.42 million in government grants through the Future High Street scheme alongside nearly £1 million of investment from Sutton Council. It closed just thirteen months later in November last year after operator The Really Local Group went into liquidation.
- Beech Tree Place: This development on St Nicholas Way is set to provide ninety-two affordable homes on the site of 1950s housing. The project needed rebuilding to conform with post-Grenfell tower regulations requiring two staircases in buildings over eighteen metres. Garratt noted Sutton opted for an untested developer, Real LSE, which went into administration in August 2023, costing the council more than £730,000.
Independent Councillor Echoes Criticism
Beddington's independent councillor Nick Mattey reinforced the criticism, particularly focusing on regeneration projects. Regarding Throwley Yard, Mattey accused the council of backing risky ventures too readily and wasting money from vital central government funding pots.
"Anyone can come along with any ludicrous business plan," he stated. "The council will then look at it and say it's a goer."
Speaking about Beech Tree Place, he added: "The council jumped into bed with a developer who had no track record at all and started splashing money out. The developer went bust, and lots of people lost their jobs and vast amounts of money."
Mattey concluded with his most damning assessment: "They are completely financially incompetent. It is a sitcom of incompetence that just goes on and on."
Conservative Motion Calls for Financial Discipline
Introducing the Conservative motion, councillor Mike Dwyer said it addressed what he described as deep-rooted failures in financial governance, due diligence and cost control in major council projects.
"This motion is not about technical improvements," he told councillors, "but about the serious and repeated failure of this administration to apply financial discipline."
He emphasised that while regeneration and investment matter, they must be underpinned by realism, robust business cases and a willingness to stop, pause or change course when risks become too high. Dwyer warned that borrowing had surged since 2018, saddling Sutton with long-term costs that continue to impact annual budgets and reduce capacity to protect frontline services.
Liberal Democrats Defend Their Record
Liberal Democrat councillors presented a united front in their criticism of the motion, with councillor Jayne McCoy calling it "one of the most miserable, uninspiring motions I have ever come across".
She added: "It is a venture-nothing, risk-nothing, spend-nothing, do-nothing motion. Is this the vision the Conservatives are laying out for the council?"
Councillor Sunita Gordon defended the administration's record, stating: "Let me be clear about a basic truth, proven over decades, that Liberal Democrats know how to manage public finances." She pointed to national factors including Liz Truss's mini-budget, years of austerity and current Labour government policies as major contributors to local government financial strain.
Council leader Barry Lewis addressed concerns about the now-dormant Throwley Yard site, saying: "Throwley Yard is criticised by the opposition, but thanks to Sutton Council's judicious use of grants, we brought a building that stood empty for over ten years back to life, and a new tenant will be there very, very soon."
Fellow Liberal Democrat councillor Jake Short defended the Beech Tree Place development, noting: "Despite the issues the project suffered, the team here in Sutton, working with the Greater London Authority, bounced back exceptionally quickly and have been getting on with the job of building homes that our residents need."
Liberal Democrat councillors also highlighted progress at the London Cancer Hub site, due to come before the planning committee soon, and successes at the Oru co-working and community space on the high street.
Motion Ultimately Voted Down
The Conservative motion calling for tighter project spending controls and improved due diligence was ultimately voted down by the Liberal Democrat-controlled council, maintaining the current administration's approach to financial governance and project management despite the fierce criticism from opposition members.
