Merton Council has published its accounts for the public to see and scrutinise. Anyone with queries should contact the director of corporate services Caroline Holland from the 26 July. They will also have the opportunity to question the council’s auditor by prior appointment about the accounts from 23 August, as advertised in the Wimbledon Guardian on 12 July.

The council’s cabinet member for finance Councillor Mark Allison said: “These accounts show that, even in difficult financial times, by being careful with residents’ money we are able to protect priority services and keep people’s Council Tax bills down. Our Residents’ Survey has shown that local people are worried about the cost of living and Council Tax, and we share their concerns. By keeping our spending down, reviewing all our services and putting off big capital expenditure a little longer, we have been able to ensure funds are in place to protect specific services in the future.”

The accounts are at: http://www.merton.gov.uk/council/finance.htm

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