Opposition Amendment for Equal Resources on Sutton Council Defeated

28 May 2026

An opposition amendment seeking to ensure equal recognition and resources for both opposition groups on Sutton Council has been defeated. The amendment, moved by Councillor Nick Mattey and seconded by Councillor Alison Long, aimed to address concerns that the current Members' Allowances Scheme could create an unfair disparity between the recognised opposition groups.

During the debate, Councillor Long stated that the amendment was a straightforward, common sense measure to ensure that both recognised opposition groups in this chamber are properly and equally recognised and resourced. She argued that the responsibilities placed on both opposition groups are identical, and to allocate different levels of special responsibility allowance would create a two-tier opposition, which is fundamentally undemocratic.

Councillor Long elaborated on the identical duties of the opposition groups, stating, The responsibilities placed on both of us and Dave Tchil of these groups are identical. They are both tasked with scrutinising administration policies, digesting complex committee papers and coordinating alternative visions for our borough. The amendment sought to address a specific disparity where one group leader would receive the full special responsibility allowance of £19,308, while another would not. To say that one group leader deserves the full special responsibility allowance of £19,308, while another does not, creates a two-tier opposition, Councillor Long added.

Councillor Nick Mattey highlighted the current composition of the opposition, noting, We now find ourselves in a remarkable position, four opposition councillors, two from reform, one independent and one Labour cooperative, facing 51 Liberal Democrat councillors across this chamber. He also presented data suggesting a significant difference in allowances, claiming that Liberal Democrat councillors earned on average about £26,500 last year, considerably more than colleagues in Kingston who perform similar duties for approximately £14,500. He also mentioned that the Liberal Democrats voted against adopting a cabinet system, which he suggested could have saved taxpayers money.

However, Councillor Jake Short, Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee, argued against the amendment. He stated that the original proposals already split the allowance equally between both groups and that the amendment was an attempt by the opposition to secure more money for themselves.

The amendment was put to a vote and was lost. The council then proceeded to agree the recommendations of a report concerning the establishment of committees. This report, detailing the establishment of standing committees, regulatory committees, and other bodies, including local committees, was moved by Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of the Council, and its recommendations were subsequently agreed. Public reports pack 26th May 2026 19:00 Council

Councils Involved

Sutton

Meetings Involved

the Council of Sutton Council on 26 May 2026

People Involved

Councillor Isabel Araujo Vice Chair: Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee; Vice Chair: Carshalton and Clockhouse Local Committee • Liberal Democrat • Carshalton Central

Helen Bailey

Councillor Rob Beck Vice Chair: People Committee • Liberal Democrat • Stonecot

Councillor Richard Choi Liberal Democrat • Sutton Central

Imran Choudhury

Councillor Richard Clifton Vice Chair: Planning Committee • Liberal Democrat • Sutton South

Councillor Paul Cole Vice Chair: People Committee • Liberal Democrat • St Helier East

Councillor Sam Cumber Chair: Sutton Local Committee • Liberal Democrat • Sutton North

Councillor Qasim Esak Vice Chair: Scrutiny Committee • Liberal Democrat • Sutton West and East Cheam

Councillor Trish Fivey Chair: Licensing Committee • Liberal Democrat • Sutton South

Councillor Sunita Gordon Lead Member for Resources • Liberal Democrat • Wallington North

Councillor Andrew Jenner Chair: Carshalton and Clockhouse Local Committee • Liberal Democrat • Carshalton Central

Councillor Edward Joyce Chair: Scrutiny Committee, Vice Chair: Beddington and Wallington Local Committee • Liberal Democrat • South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Barry Lewis Leader of the Council • Liberal Democrat • Wallington North

Councillor Sam Martin Deputy Leader of the Council • Liberal Democrat • Wallington South

Councillor Nick Mattey Sutton Independent Residents • Beddington

Councillor Jayne McCoy Chair: Planning Committee • Liberal Democrat • Wallington South

Councillor Cryss Mennaceur Chair: Pension Committee • Liberal Democrat • Sutton Central

Councillor Gemma Munday Liberal Democrat • St Helier East

Spencer Palmer

Councillor Ed Parsley Vice Chair: Housing, Economy and Business Committee • Liberal Democrat • Sutton Central

Councillor Louise Phelan Mayor • Liberal Democrat • Sutton South

Councillor Muhammad Sadiq Chair: Beddington and Wallington Local Committee • Liberal Democrat • Wallington South

Councillor Cumar Sahathevan Deputy Mayor, Vice Chair: Licensing Committee • Liberal Democrat • Stonecot

Councillor Jake Short Chair: Housing, Economy and Business Committee • Liberal Democrat • Carshalton Central

Richard Simpson

Councillor Colin Stears Chair, Audit and Governance Committee; Vice Chair, Hackbridge, St Helier and the Wrythe Local Committee • Liberal Democrat • The Wrythe

Councillor Dave Tchil Leader of the Labour Group • Labour • Hackbridge

Councillor Lisa Webster Liberal Democrat • Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Christopher Woolmer Chair: Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee • Liberal Democrat • Sutton West and East Cheam

Councillor Yusuf Abd El-Razzak • Liberal Democrat • Sutton North

Councillor Jason Stone • Liberal Democrat • North Cheam

Councillor Joseph Barkham • Liberal Democrat • Belmont

Councillor Tom Foster • Liberal Democrat • Hackbridge

Councillor Israel Owoade • Liberal Democrat • Worcester Park North

Councillor Noor Sumun • Liberal Democrat • Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Rukhsar Askari • Liberal Democrat • The Wrythe

Councillor Rashi Barsaiyan • Liberal Democrat • Belmont

Councillor Pete Chubb • Liberal Democrat • Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Aaron Goater • Liberal Democrat • Wallington North

Councillor Janey Gould • Reform UK • St Helier West

Councillor Luni Sabharwal • Liberal Democrat • Worcester Park South

Councillor Naveen Samrat • Liberal Democrat • North Cheam

Councillor Melody Thorpe • Liberal Democrat • Cheam

Councillor Judy Walsh • Liberal Democrat • South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Chandra Alapati • Liberal Democrat • Belmont

Councillor James Appleby • Liberal Democrat • North Cheam

Councillor Sue Ebanks • Liberal Democrat • Beddington

Councillor Jenna Hartley-Smith • Liberal Democrat • Worcester Park South

Councillor Sunil Kumar • Liberal Democrat • South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Jo Elgarf • Liberal Democrat • Worcester Park North

Councillor Asif Hirani • Liberal Democrat • Sutton South

Councillor Shimino Jesudas • Liberal Democrat • Cheam

Councillor Joicy Joseph • Liberal Democrat • St Helier West

Councillor Stephen Kingdom • Liberal Democrat • Cheam

Councillor Rob Leah • Liberal Democrat • Beddington

Councillor Alison Long • Reform UK • St Helier West

Councillor Vanessa McCain • Liberal Democrat • Sutton North

Councillor Ian Simpson • Liberal Democrat • The Wrythe

Topics

Equal Recognition and Resources for Opposition Groups Sutton Council Councillor Jake Short Members' Allowances Scheme Councillor Nick Mattey Councillor Alison Long Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee Affordable Housing Two-tier Opposition