Sutton Council’s new leader has spelt out her vision for the borough, while accepting it faces serious challenges.

In a speech to council partners and voluntary groups, Councillor Ruth Dombey called her new job a "huge privilege".

Outlining her top priorities, coun Dombey listed key areas, including giving residents more of a say over how their council tax is spent, stimulating local growth and helping to open the doors to more local jobs.

She also wants to promotie the borough as a magnet for green business, develop Sutton as a green hub, and encourage more training and apprenticeship opportunities for local people.

A bigger role for the local voluntary sector and community groups was also required, she said, while ocal authorities were being forced to respond to unprecedented financial pressures.

She said:"The council faces increasing challenges.

Demand for services is increasing while our income falls; a rising birth rate is putting huge pressures on our schools, we need to do much better at safeguarding our vulnerable children and an aging population is putting more pressure on social care.

Standing still is not an option.

"Councils that do that will simply run out of money and have to slash services with no regard for the impact on their residents – that is not going to happen on my watch."

Coun Dombey said she was in "listening mode" and was looking to tap into the experience, knowledge and enthusiasm of local residents and organisations.

"When tough decisions need to be made it is vital that the priorities are being set by our residents.

"I’m talking about real localism; about trusting people, relinquishing power.

"Part of the answer has to be devolving greater powers and bigger budgets to our local committees, so that more and more decisions are made at the level that is closest to residents."

Coun Dombey will now undertake a series of meetings with local residents, organisations, voluntary groups and businesses to explain her plans for the borough and find out what they want from the council and what they can contribute to the borough.

To contact Coun Dombey email leadershipoffice@sutton.gov.uk