Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis has claimed neighbouring authority leaders “are not ambitious” enough in their demands for devolved powers from Whitehall.

Kingston has emerged as one of five south London councils bidding for greater independence – which could bring thousands of new homes and jobs to the area.

The South London Partnership (SLP), a committee of council leaders from Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Sutton, believes by working together they will be able to create at least 500,000 new jobs by 2036 and 20,000 extra homes.

At the committee’s first meeting last week, the group agreed a joint proposal for growth, including devolved decision making powers, 100 per cent retention of business rates, stronger roles in transport planning and greater freedom to deliver homes.

Merton Council leader Stephen Alambritis, who has been appointed chairman of the joint committee, said: “Our message to Government is quite clear – devolve us the powers we are asking for to unlock the growth potential in our region that will ensure London maintains its status as a global city in the coming decades.

“Together we offer the perfect platform to deliver a unique growth proposition benefiting both London and the UK.”

But speaking to the Surrey Comet, Coun Davis said his fellow leaders were not thinking big enough – and even questioned why people would want to live in Sutton.

He said: “Well 20,000 new homes across five London boroughs isn’t a lot, is it? They are not being ambitious enough, not asking for enough.”

Coun Davis said other councils were not realising the potential in having a stronger role in transport planning, control of bus routes and stronger orbital connections.

He said: “They are talking about ideas that have been going around for 14 years. I wouldn’t mind having the boroughs better connected by the tram, say, with Croydon as a hub.

“But if Kingston, Sutton and Croydon were better connected then I might say: Why would anyone want to live in Sutton?”

But he added: “We all just want what is best for our boroughs. And we’re all in favour of Gatwick expansion over Heathrow so we can bond over that.”

In January, it was revealed Kingston Council had been in talks for six months with the Department for Communities and Local Goverment over seceding from Whitehall and ending the authority’s reliance on an ever-shrinking central Government grant.

Coun Davis wants to forfeit the annual grant and instead retain 54 per cent of the borough’s business rates, instead of the current 30 per cent.

He said: “In the first year this would not make or lose us any money, however, it would encourage us to attract new business to the area.”

The news came in the same week Coun Davis announced plans to substantially overhaul the way Kingston Council is run.

Writing on a new blog “Putting People in Power”, he promised a complete overhaul of the committee system and full council.

Coun Davis said: “I have sat in local committee planning meetings talking about where to place a bin store for 45 minutes and not a single member of the public has turned up.

“No decisions are made and you’re left feeling ‘What is the point?’ “The council needs to stop wasting money on pointless meetings.

“I’m not saying a council meeting is ever going to be like going to the cinema or something, but we need to get people more engaged.”

Coun Davis said further details would be released in the coming weeks on his blog.