Merton's council leader has been accused of a serious lapse of judgement after throwing his weight behind plans to build a nursing home eight miles away in Croydon - which are now embroiled in a fraud investigation.

Merton councillor Stephen Alambritis wrote a letter supporting a care home provider's planning appeal to build in Higher Drive, Kenley, eight miles away from Merton’s borders in the borough of Croydon.

Merton’s opposition councillors have alleged the letter, written on Merton Council headed paper, amounts to breaking the council’s code of conduct. Coun Alambritis denies any wrongdoing.

Separately, it has also emerged the chief executive of Croydon Council has called an inquiry in to allegations of that council officers colluded with the developer, Fairlie Health Care.

Merton Conservative group leader, Councillor Debbie Shears, said she would report Coun Alambritis (Labour) to the council’s standards committee, which would decide whether he should be investigated for abusing his power as leader.

Coun Shears said: “I think the leader of the council has serious questions to answer about his conduct in giving his unqualified support to such a controversial planning appeal that is miles away from the borough.

“I think there are doubts about Coun Alambritis’s judgment in making this public representation on behalf of our residents.”

She said, if found guilty for a serious breach of the code, Coun Alambritis’s position as leader would become untenable.

Alambritis: "Tory leader should see the care home for herself"

If the standards committee decided Coun Alambritis did have a serious case to answer, his future as leader would be at risk by bringing the council into disrepute.

Coun Alambritis denied any wrongdoing and said he wanted to support the care home, used by four or five patients from Sutton and Merton, after a visit to their current premises in West Norwood, Lambeth, which left him so impressed with its facilities that he was "emotionally struck".

He said: “I was speaking on behalf of myself and whether I did on plain paper, or letter-headed paper, I am still the leader of the council.

“I am not aware of any issues of fraud. I visited the care home [in West Norwood] once, I liked what I saw, and was asked to write a letter of support, which I was happy to do.”

“I would urge Coun Shears to visit the care home herself and see for herself the care and attention these people provide for people with serious injuries.”

Nursing home provider: Alambritis just one of many council leaders asked for support

The nursing home company’s managing director Sean Whelan said he knew nothing about Croydon Council’s impending investigation and denied having any prior personal or professional relationship with Coun Alambritis.

Mr Whelan said: “We did not just invite Coun Alambritis, we invited other council leaders to see our care home in West Norwood.

“We just wanted to build a nice home for people with special needs but we seem to have been dragged into a political situation not of our making.”

If the standards committee finds that an investigation should be made into Coun Alambritis's conduct, he will be the second cabinet member of Labour-controlled Merton Council to find himself under such scrutiny this summer.

Councillor Peter Walker, is being investigated after the Standards Committee found in June he had a case to answer after being accused of improperly using Labour party letters to lobby residents to support council plans to expand a Wimbledon school.

Stephen Alambritis's letter in support of Fairlie Health Care's planning appeal for 94 Higher Drive (dated July 1, 2011):

"This letter is in confirmation of my support for the above mentioned planning appeal.

"As a neighbouring borough leader, I was invited to visit Fairlie House Nursing Home in West Norwood, where a number of Merton residents who have very complex needs and require a high level of care for the rest of their lives are looked after.

"My visit took place on Friday 3 June; I arrived one hour ahead of schedule so that I was able to make my own assessment of the environment surrounding Fairlie House. The house is in a quiet residential road and I must state, that at no time did I notice any abnormal traffic issues in the road, as a result of the presence of this 53 bed nursing home.

"I entered the home half an hour earlier than expected and I was very impressed with the design of the building. The equipment available meant the latest aids and adaptations to meet the complex needs of highly dependable people were in place. There was a pleasant and extremely well kept garden offering peace and solace to residents and visiting relatives.

"I have had the opportunity to see the plans for a similar establishment at 94 Higher Drive, These plans have my support, as I am convinced that the applicants willl faithfully recreate the environs and working arrangements that current operate at Fairlie House. This will be especially so around a state of the art designed building and within the protection of a quiet residential environment with minimal traffic flow.

"I hope you will be in a position to annexe my letter of support to your statement of case.

"Yours sincerely, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, Leader of the Council"

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