Merton Council will press ahead with hundreds of budget cuts and redundancies as it bids to save £44m over the next three years.

Council leader Councillor Stephen Alambritis said his cabinet had backed plans to press ahead with most savings outlined in a budget options pack published last month.

Budgets in the firing line include those supporting street cleaning and young adults leaving care homes – as well as some that fund training for youth workers, help schools offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and support for arts organisations like Polka Theatre and the Attic Theatre Company.

Coun Alambritis repeated an earlier claim he did not wish to support some suggestions, including the closure of children’s centres, Morden Park leisure centre and libraries in Colliers Wood and West Barnes – but could not rule them out completely.

Opposition councillors have accused the authority of making cuts that hit the vulnerable while failing to make back-room savings.

The planned cuts will now be discussed by council scrutiny committees.

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