The Cabinet of Merton Council met virtually on Tuesday 28 April 2020 to discuss the council's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to confirm changes to cabinet portfolios. Key decisions included noting the extensive steps taken to support residents and businesses, and formalising Eleanor Stringer's role as Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education.

The Council's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The meeting began with an acknowledgement of the unprecedented circumstances, with Councillor Stephen Alambritis MBE, Leader of the Council, expressing pride in the council's efforts to support vulnerable residents and businesses. He sadly reported that 64 Merton residents had lost their lives to COVID-19, with 20 of those in care homes. The council had contacted almost 3,000 residents classified as most at risk under Operation Shield to ensure their safety and care. Significant financial support had been provided to local businesses, with Merton being among the top three boroughs in London for the percentage of grants distributed.

Ged Curran, the Chief Executive, echoed the sentiments of pride in the council's staff and summarised the organisational framework in place, both at a borough and regional level, to coordinate the response.

Councillor Tobin Byers, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Health and the Environment, highlighted the exceptional work of his department's teams. He provided an update on hospital discharges, noting that while fewer people were being discharged than initially anticipated, approximately 30 COVID-related discharges were still occurring weekly. Daily calls were being made to community care providers to assess staffing, capacity, PPE, and COVID-19 cases. He also mentioned that 7,300 pieces of PPE had been provided to care providers. A message from the South West London Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was read, paying tribute to frontline health and care workers and outlining the collaborative efforts of local hospitals, including Croydon, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston Hospital, and St George's Hospital.

Hannah Doody, Director of Community and Housing, detailed the daily contact with Merton's 21 care homes and the establishment of an oversight group with NHS colleagues and public health representatives to provide support to homes with COVID-19 cases.

Councillor Edith Macauley MBE, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, thanked the Borough Commander and the police for their work in keeping the community safe. She noted that domestic violence services remained operational remotely, and that while there had not been a significant increase in domestic violence incidents in Merton, national trends suggested a potential rise as lockdown measures eased.

Councillor Mark Allison, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, praised the organisational efforts of staff and partners, highlighting the redeployment of the bailiff team to deliver food parcels. He also drew attention to the significant work being done to tackle hardship, announcing a scheme to provide an additional £200 to residents on low incomes who receive council tax support. He also raised concerns about the financial stability of the council due to the significant costs incurred in tackling the pandemic, which far exceeded government funding.

Caroline Holland, Director of Corporate Services, confirmed that over 83% of Merton's small businesses had received grants, totalling £23.5 million. She also noted that the council had received a further £5.6 million in government funding, though this was still insufficient to cover the crisis response costs.

Councillor Eleanor Stringer, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Civic Pride and Climate Change, spoke about the work of the Children's Schools and Families Department. She reported that schools were open to key workers' children and vulnerable pupils, with attendance rising since Easter. She highlighted challenges faced by schools, including issues with free school meal vouchers and the need for PPE for frontline staff. Positive news included the success of youth services in shifting to online support and finding employment for disadvantaged teenagers.

Councillor Laxmi Attawar, Cabinet Member for Women and Equalities, echoed concerns about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities and confirmed Merton would feed into national reviews. She also highlighted the work of Safer Merton in monitoring domestic violence and efforts to improve communication and access to reporting mechanisms for victims.

Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah, Cabinet Member for Sport and Heritage, thanked staff for their work in keeping parks and open spaces open. She noted that while most residents were adhering to social distancing, enforcement officers were now working alongside police. She also provided an update on library services, which were operating online, and the closure of leisure centres and theatres.

Councillor Martin Whelton, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing and Transport, reported on the work of his departments, including housing needs. He stated that there had been a rise in rough sleepers to 41, with 35 housed in accommodation. He also thanked the Greater London Authority and the Deputy Mayor for Housing, Tom Copley, for their contributions. He mentioned the council's provision of free virtual parking permits for key workers and volunteers. He also raised concerns from the business community regarding the threshold for accessing grants and difficulties in accessing bank loans.

Changes to Cabinet Portfolios

The meeting also formally confirmed changes to cabinet portfolios. Councillor Eleanor Stringer was welcomed as the new Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education, taking over from Councillor Kelly Braund, who had resigned due to family reasons. Councillor Stephen Alambritis MBE thanked Councillor Braund for her work over the past two years.

The Cabinet noted the changes to appointments and portfolios, which would be reported to the next Council meeting for formal noting and to recommend updates to the Council's Constitution.