This week in Merton:

Pension Fund Exceeds £1 Billion Amidst Market Volatility

The Merton Council Pensions Committee convened on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, to assess the fund's performance, investment strategies, and administrative effectiveness http://opencouncil.network/meetings/89011. A key highlight was the fund's growth to £1.021 billion, alongside discussions on investment performance and future strategies.

Fund Performance: A Mixed Bag

The committee reviewed the Merton Pension Fund's performance for the quarter ending September 2025, as detailed in the Merton Pension Fund Performance Report - Sept 2025.

• Growth: The fund's total assets increased by £33 million during the quarter, reaching £1.021 billion.
• Returns: The fund achieved an absolute return of +4.1%, outperforming its aggregate benchmark by 0.4% for the quarter.
• Longer-Term Lag: Over 12 months and 3 years, the fund's performance lagged behind its benchmark, with relative returns of -0.5% and -2.3% per annum, respectively.
• Actuarial Target: The fund outperformed the actuarial target over 3 months, 12 months, and 3 years.

The Quarterly Performance Review included analysis from Hymans Robertson, the fund's investment and performance consultants. Their Q3 2025 Investment Monitoring Report noted that global equities gained 8.1% due to easing trade tensions, Q2 corporate earnings, AI momentum, resilient growth data and the Federal Reserve's first rate cut of the year.

Behind Closed Doors: Public Excluded from Key Discussions

The committee resolved to exclude the public from discussions on the investment review update, quarterly fund and investment managers performance review, and pension administration performance report. This decision was justified under the Local Government Act 1972, citing the confidential nature of the information.

Other Matters

The agenda also included items such as future meeting dates, an investment review update, an update on pool engagement, and a review of pension administration performance. However, details of these discussions are not available due to the public exclusion.

Other Meetings

The Morden Community Forum scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, 2025, and the Development and Planning Applications Committee scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2025, were both cancelled.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Monday 15 December 2025. View the agenda

This week in Merton:

Ethnic Minority Groups Consulted on Social Care and Mental Health

The Joint Consultative Committee with Ethnic Minority Organisations met this week to discuss key issues affecting Merton's diverse communities, including adult social care, mental health support, and the future of council services http://opencouncil.network/meetings/88191. The meeting aimed to gather feedback and ensure that the voices of ethnic minority groups are heard in the planning and delivery of council services.

Co-Producing Adult Social Care: A Fairer System?

The committee discussed the development of a co-production strategy for adult social care services, emphasizing partnership working between the council, service users, carers, and citizens.

• The Goal: To create a system where professionals and citizens share power in planning, designing, and delivering support together.
• Key Questions: Participants were asked to consider what matters most to them about adult social care, how the council can work together fairly, and what would help them feel confident in shaping services.
• When Co-Production Isn't Best: The council acknowledged that co-production isn't always the right approach, suggesting that engagement, consultation, or informing may be more appropriate in certain situations.

The council plans to use the feedback gathered to draft a co-production strategy, which will then be shared with participants for further comment before being finalized. The Care Act 2014 specifically includes the concept of co-production in its statutory guidance, defining it as partnership working between people who draw on care and support, carers and citizens to improve public services.

Improving Mental Health Support for New Parents

The committee received an update on Merton Talking Therapies perinatal support, highlighting the importance of addressing mental health difficulties during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

• The Need: Approximately 20% of mothers experience depression and/or anxiety during the perinatal period, which can have adverse outcomes for children and families.
• Merton Talking Therapies Offers: A range of interventions, including Preparing for Parenthood (PfP), Emotional Wellbeing for New Parents Guided Self Help, and individual therapy for more severe cases.
• Barriers to Access: The council identified barriers to referrals, such as time scarcity, stigma, and fear of social services involvement, and discussed ways to overcome these challenges.

Shaping the Future of Merton: The Big Conversation

The committee discussed the We Are Merton Big Conversation, a consultation aimed at gathering feedback from residents and those who work in Merton to shape future council services.

• Key Questions: Participants were asked about changes in their local neighborhood, words to describe their neighborhood, and priorities for the council.
• Wide Range of Priorities: A list of potential priorities was provided, including crime prevention, clean streets, affordable housing, and support for vulnerable adults.

The consultation, which runs until 5 January 2026, aims to ensure that the council's future plans reflect the needs and priorities of the community.

Other Matters

The Joint Consultative Committee with Ethnic Minority Organisations also met on Tuesday 02 December 2025, but no video was provided http://opencouncil.network/meetings/88186.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Pensions Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 10 December 2025. View the agenda
• The Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Monday 15 December 2025. View the agenda

This week in Merton:

Mitcham Gasworks Development: No Affordable Homes?

A controversial planning application concerning the Mitcham Gasworks Site is set to be decided by the Development and Planning Applications Committee on 27 November 2025. The developer seeks to increase the number of homes from 579 to 626 but eliminate all affordable housing, sparking outrage from local groups.

Abject Abandonment of Social Housing

The original plan included 35% affordable housing, but the developer now claims it's not viable. This has led to strong criticism:

• Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage: Described the proposals as delivering absolutely no affordable homes and significantly poorer in design terms.
• The Mitcham Society: Stated that approving the application would be the most abject abandonment of any principles on the provision of social housing.

The planning officer is recommending approval, subject to conditions and a Deed of Variation. This decision will test the council's commitment to affordable housing, especially given its own assessment that Merton requires at least 878 additional affordable homes per year.

View the agenda

Council Tackles Housing Crisis: Will It Be Enough?

Merton Council's Cabinet met on 24 November 2025 to discuss its response to the borough's growing housing crisis. With over 10,000 households on the Housing Register and a rising number in temporary accommodation (TA), the council is under pressure to act.

Key Decisions

The Cabinet approved measures including:

• Becoming a stock-holding authority¹ and re-establishing a Housing Revenue Account (HRA)².
• Allocating £500,000 to prepare for the HRA, aiming for it to be operational by 2027/28.
• Acquiring properties for use as temporary accommodation, both within and outside the borough.
• Proceeding with the development of 75 homes at Farm Road, Raleigh Gardens and Elm Nursery Car Park.

The number of households in TA has more than doubled since 2023, reaching 751 in September 2025, placing a significant strain on resources. These measures aim to alleviate the financial burden and provide better accommodation for residents in need.

View the agenda

Budget Cuts Loom: Children and Families Face Potential Impact

The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel met on 25 November 2025 to discuss draft savings proposals for 2026/27 to 2029/30. These proposals could affect a wide range of services for children, young people, and families.

Savings Proposals

The draft savings proposals include cuts to:

• Education and Early Help services.
• The SEN Transport Team, which provides transport for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The council faces a significant budget gap and claims to be committed to protecting vulnerable residents. However, these cuts could disproportionately impact those who rely on council services, particularly children with SEND and their families.

View the agenda

Safer Streets Wardens: Making a Difference?

The Overview and Scrutiny Commission met on 26 November 2025 and received an update on the Safer Streets Neighbourhood Wardens.

Visible Presence, Positive Impact

The report stated that since launching in July 2025, the wardens have:

• Delivered over 2346 community engagements.
• Completed more than 1200 patrol hours.
• Undertaken 45+ joint patrols with police and partners.

The report highlighted examples of positive community impact, such as reducing ASB in Wimbledon High Street and supporting rough sleepers to access temporary accommodation. Referrals into drug and alcohol treatment also rose significantly, demonstrating the effectiveness of early intervention.

View the agenda

Other Matters

• The South London Waste Partnership Joint Committee met on 26 November 2025, but no video was provided.
• The Cabinet reviewed the financial position of the authority for period 6, noting a forecast £4.138m unfavourable variance, which was an improvement of £2.392m since period 3. View the agenda
• The Cabinet approved the procurement approach for a new contract for the Main Service Provider of the Merton Adult Learning Service Delivery. View the agenda
• The Cabinet noted the information in the report regarding the response to recommendations from the Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel, regarding Clarion Housing. View the agenda

Upcoming Meetings

• The Joint Consultative Committee with Ethnic Minority Organisations is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 02 December 2025. View the agenda
• The Joint Consultative Committee with Ethnic Minority Organisations is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 02 December 2025. View the agenda
• The Pensions Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 10 December 2025. View the agenda
• The Development and Planning Applications Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday 11 December 2025. View the agenda

This week in Merton:

Mitcham Gasworks Development Sparks Affordable Housing Row

Merton Council is facing criticism over a proposed development at the Mitcham Gasworks Site, where the developer is seeking to increase the number of homes from 579 to 626, but eliminate all affordable housing. The Development and Planning Applications Committee is scheduled to discuss the application on 27 November 2025, and the decision could have significant implications for affordable housing provision in the borough.

No Affordable Homes?

The original plan for the site included 35% affordable housing, but the developer now claims that delivering homes on the site is not viable with the inclusion of affordable homes. This has drawn strong criticism from local groups.

• Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage: The group commented with incredulity on the proposals, saying that the revised proposals would result in the largest new housing development in Mitcham for generations delivering absolutely no affordable homes under any definition of the term affordable , and that the proposals are also significantly poorer in design terms.
• The Mitcham Society: The society said that they cannot support the application, nor can they see how it would be possible for Merton Council to approve it, as doing so would be the most abject abandonment of any principles on the provision of social housing within private schemes.

Council's Stance

The planning officer is recommending that the committee grants the variation of conditions, subject to any direction from the Mayor of London, standard conditions, and the completion of a Deed of Variation. The Deed of Variation would secure an updated carbon offset contribution and an updated Open Mosaic Habitat Contribution.

The council's decision on this application will be a key test of its commitment to providing affordable housing in the borough, especially in light of the council's corporate plan, Building a Better Merton Together 2023-26 , which sets out the council's ambition for the borough, with a key priority being the acceleration of the supply of affordable and sustainable homes. The report pack also mentions the council's Housing Delivery Strategy for 2022-2027, which considers the need for new homes and the mechanisms through which they can be delivered, with an emphasis on the need for new affordable housing. The report pack also refers to Merton's Strategic Housing Needs Assessment (SHNA), which found that Merton requires at least 878 additional affordable homes per annum from 2020 to 2038.

The council's decision will have a direct impact on the lives of those in need of affordable housing in Merton.

View the agenda

Council to Consider Housing Crisis Response

Merton Council's Cabinet is scheduled to discuss a report outlining the council's response to the housing crisis on 24 November 2025. With over 10,000 households on the Housing Register and a rising number of households in temporary accommodation, the council is under pressure to find solutions to the borough's housing shortage.

Key Proposals

The report pack says that the Cabinet will consider several recommendations, including:

• Acquiring property for temporary accommodation
• Becoming a stock holding authority¹
• Re-establishing a Housing Revenue Account (HRA)²
• Exploring housing development opportunities on council land

The council's decision on these proposals will have a significant impact on the lives of those in need of affordable housing in Merton.

View the agenda

Budget Cuts Loom: How Will They Affect You?

Merton Council is facing a significant budget gap, and the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel and the Healthier Communities and Older People Overview and Scrutiny Panel met this week to discuss draft savings proposals for 2026/27 to 2029/30. These proposals could affect a wide range of services, from children's social care to adult social care.

Where Will the Axe Fall?

The draft savings proposals include cuts to:

• Children, Lifelong Learning and Families: including Education and Early Help services, and the SEN Transport Team.
• Adult Social Care, Integrated Care and Public Health: including Supported Living, and Section 117 aftercare³.
• Environment, Civic Pride and Climate: including fees and charges inflationary uplift.

The council claims that it is committed to protecting vulnerable residents, but these cuts could have a disproportionate impact on those who rely on council services.

View the agenda View the agenda

Other Matters

• The Council approved the Statement of Licensing Policy, which will be in effect from 2026 to 2031. The policy aims to balance the needs of residents and businesses while ensuring the responsible sale and consumption of alcohol. View the agenda
• The Council considered motions regarding a women's health strategy, police station front desks, and a rape gang inquiry. View the agenda
• The Design Review Panel discussed a pre-application for the land south of Britannia Point, site CW2, in Colliers Wood. View the agenda
• The Council considered conferring the Honorary Freedom of the Borough to Allan Barley and Stephen Hammond. View the agenda

Upcoming Meetings

• The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 25 November 2025. View the agenda
• The Overview and Scrutiny Commission is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 26 November 2025. View the agenda
• The Development and Planning Applications Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday 27 November 2025. View the agenda
• The Joint Consultative Committee with Ethnic Minority Organisations is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 02 December 2025. View the agenda