Cuts in services are beginning to show according to opposition councillors wary of further budget cuts.


The opposition used the full council meeting on Wednesday, July 18, to request the Conservative administration bear in mind the 2011-12 underspend of £2.3m when looking at a budget reduction target of £0.9m over the next seven months.


Councillor Chris Sadler said Elmbridge Council should make the most of the underspend before making more cuts and savings.


Councillor Ruth Lyon, who seconded Coun Sadler’s amendment, said: “Our staff are second to none - but there is a limit to what fewer staff can do.


“As a consequence, the level of service falls below what local residents have a right to expect.


“Lack of staff, lack of monitoring and lack of audit lead to mistakes and cuts in services - in housing benefit, in leisure, in community services.”


She said the slip in service levels was just beginning to show and measures needed to be taken to ensure that did not continue.


The Tories furiously hit back at Coun Lyon’s comments.


Conservative councillor Tim Oliver said it was not as simple as simply rolling over the £2.3m underspend because much of it was tied up and ring fenced.


He denied the budget and staff reductions had affected any front line services.


Coun Oliver said: “We are all here to make sure services aren’t affected. And they haven’t been.”


Deputy leader Councillor Simon Dodsworth also assured members that senior staff who had recently left would be replaced with people of the same level.