The leader of Greenwich Council's Conservative has slammed the decision to put up council tax in the borough, calling it "completely unnecessary".

Greenwich Council announced last week that residents will pay a higher rate of council tax from April onwards, made up of a two per cent rise for adult social care and 1.99 per cent for children’s social care.

A number of cuts are to be made as part of a four-year programme to reduce costs, including reducing staff costs by £20 million and encouraging more online transactions.

Councillor Matt Hartley, leader of Greenwich Conservatives, said: “Labour's additional 1.99 per cent council tax rise is completely unnecessary – and is not ring-fenced for children's Services as cllr Hyland likes to claim. 

"This is nothing more than a clever bit of spin. Our fully costed budget proposal showed how the same level of services could be provided without hitting local taxpayers any further.

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"It's a question of priorities.  Instead of throwing yet more millions at the Tall Ships race, we would spend this money on a key scheme to get people back into work, reducing pressures on the budget elsewhere without the need to increase council tax.

"Unfortunately Labour councillors think the only solution to any problem is to throw other people's money at it. 

"Our budget plan contained several anti-poverty proposals that Labour councillors also voted down - but we are well used to our ideas being quietly adopted as council policy 12 months later anyway.  Hopefully this year will be no exception."