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Cabinet - Monday 19 June 2023 7.15 pm
June 19, 2023 at 7:15 pm Cabinet View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)Summary
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The Merton Council Cabinet meeting on Monday 19 June 2023 saw a wide range of topics discussed, with key decisions made on the council's EV charging strategy, housing development, and licensing for private rented properties. The council also reviewed its financial performance and outlined plans for future budgets and the tree strategy.
EV Charging Strategy
The council has committed to considering 12 recommendations from the EV charging task group to shape its Electric Vehicle (EV) charging strategy. These recommendations aim to support the transition to EVs, reduce vehicular emissions, and address local air pollution, aligning with Merton's strategic objectives. The task group, chaired by Councillor Attawer, gathered input from Transport for London, Parking Services, and the government to understand best practices for home and off-street charging. Key concerns raised included the placement of charging points, charging speeds, and the issue of charging cables being run across footways, posing a hazard to pedestrians. The task group emphasised the importance of Merton Council leading by example and working with housing associations to improve charging opportunities, particularly in the east of the borough where there is a higher concentration of EVs. Recommendations one and two were agreed by the Cabinet.
Housing Development
A significant decision was made to enter into a collaboration agreement with the housing association L&Q to develop new homes. This partnership aims to provide the council with much-needed development capacity, which has been lacking for a generation. The initial phase of this collaboration will focus on delivering 93 homes across four sites, with plans to potentially exceed this number due to redesigns to meet modern building regulations and introduce passive house standards. The Cabinet approved further expenditure of £176,500 for design and professional activities. The ambition is to create exemplary, sustainable, low-to-zero-carbon homes, with a materials-led approach focusing on energy efficiency and heat retention to reduce energy costs for residents, particularly during the cost of living crisis. L&Q will deliver these homes at cost, not for profit, and will also provide training and expertise to upskill council staff, contributing to the council's regeneration programmes. The partnership will also explore opportunities for local companies and job creation, including apprenticeships. The council is committed to delivering a minimum of 400 social rented homes over the council term, with potential for shared ownership schemes to be genuinely affordable for young families.
Private Rented Sector Licensing
The council is moving forward with proposals to introduce selective and additional licensing schemes for private rented properties. This initiative aims to ensure decent standards of amenity and eliminate hazards for residents in rented accommodation. Following extensive consultation, the Cabinet confirmed four wards for selective licensing: Figges Marsh, Ravensbury, Long Thornton, and Pollards Hill, with these schemes set to go live in September. Additionally, seven wards will have additional licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs): Figges Marsh, Ravensbury, Long Thornton, Pollards Hill, Colliers Wood, and Cricket Green. Licensing fees were also approved. An Article 4 Direction, requiring planning permission for conversions of small houses and flat shares, is already in place for the same seven wards. The government has confirmed it will not intervene in these Article 4 directions, acknowledging the sufficiency of the evidence provided by the council. The report also highlighted an ongoing project to address the estimated 2,000 empty homes in the borough.
Financial Performance and Future Budgets
The council's financial performance for the 2022-2023 financial year was reviewed, showing a favourable variance of £2.3 million, which has been transferred to a new strategic priorities reserve fund. This fund will support the administration's priorities of restoring civic pride, building a sustainable environment, and becoming a Borough of Sport.
The council's treasury management activity was also reviewed, confirming compliance with its agreed strategy and demonstrating a strong financial position, partly due to the successful sale of CHAZ and the ability to invest funds and pay back historic debt. Despite challenging economic circumstances, including increased interest rates, the council has maintained a positive return on its investments. However, the council is projecting a budget gap of £1.5 million for the next financial year, rising to £17 million by 2027-28, primarily due to high inflation and staff pay awards. The council reassured residents that its finances are secure and significantly more stable than those of other councils facing financial difficulties, highlighting that Merton has not taken on new loans in decades and has recently paid back approximately half of its historic debt.
Tree Strategy
Merton Council has adopted its first-ever Tree Strategy, dedicated to Dave Lockett, a long-serving opiculture officer. The strategy aims to increase the borough's tree canopy by 10% by 2050, focusing on maintaining existing trees, protecting them from issues like subsidence and disease, and enhancing the tree population through planting new trees and exploring new species. This initial phase focuses on council-owned trees, with a future phase planned to address trees on private property. The strategy aligns with the council's response to the climate emergency and its wider green space strategy.
Other Discussions
The Cabinet also discussed the Borough of Sport Blueprint, a plan to encourage physical activity for all residents, with a particular focus on those under 16 and over 65, and from less affluent communities. This includes a small grant fund for community groups, a public forum for sport providers, and a Get Active
portal. The council also reviewed its approach to Mental Event Management and Safety Advisory Groups, proposing a new overarching event management process to ensure events held on council land are safe and well-managed. This includes procuring specialist software for a single point of application and establishing a formal Safety Advisory Group structure. Discussions also covered the delivery of a community opportunities framework for people with a learning disability, aiming to increase choice and quality of community-based activities. The Disabled Facilities Grant Funded Adaptation Service contract was reviewed, with a new three-year contract awarded to a single contractor to provide adaptations for homes. Finally, the council discussed breast cancer screening, childhood immunisations, and reducing self-harm among young people, noting that Merton is the only borough in South West London without a dedicated breast screening centre and calling for improved access to NHS resources.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Reference from the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel – Development Control reporting
For Determination...to respond to the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel's reference regarding Development Control reporting recommendations.
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Council delivery of Affordable Housing
For DeterminationMerton Cabinet decided on 19/06/2023 to approve entering into a Collaboration Agreement with L&Q for the development and delivery of 93 Council Homes. Cabinet approved expenditure of up to £176,500 for project activity to tender stage and delegated authority for final terms of the agreement and planning obligations to the Executive Director of Housing and Sustainable Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development. Cabinet also noted the ambition for sustainable homes and the ongoing creation of a strategy for the housing delivery programme.
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Breast cancer screening, childhood immunisation and reducing self-harm
For DeterminationMerton Cabinet noted performance and progress on breast cancer screening, childhood immunisation, and reducing self-harm on 19/06/2023. Cabinet requested NHS England provide a breast cancer screening site in Merton urgently and agreed to continue using Council channels to increase uptake of immunisations, screening, and mental health support services for children and young people.
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Borough of Sport Blueprint
For DeterminationThe Cabinet decided to agree proposals to make Merton London's Borough of Sport on 19/06/2023. They noted estimated costs and agreed they would be allowed for in the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy between 2023-26. The Cabinet also noted the creation of a public forum and a cross-sector advisory group, and that the launch would be towards the end of summer with preparatory activities taking place across the summer.
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Update on Consultation and Proposed Introduction of Selective and Additional Licensing
For DeterminationMerton Cabinet decided on 19/06/2023 to confirm Selective Licensing for four wards and Additional Licensing for seven wards, with both proposed to go live in September 2023. Cabinet also approved the licensing fees and delegated authority to executive directors to increase them if needed following annual reviews.
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Outturn 2022/23 Report
For DeterminationMerton Cabinet considered the outturn position for the 2022/23 financial year. Cabinet approved slippage into 2022/23 and other adjustments, established a renewals and repairs fund of circa £80k for 10 years, and approved the appropriation of a £2.392m favourable variance to reserves.
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Reference from the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel - School Streets
For DeterminationCabinet noted the reference from the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel regarding School Streets on 19/06/2023.
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Reference from the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Call in: Travellers site
For DeterminationCabinet noted the reference from the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel regarding the Brickfields Travellers site on 19/06/2023.
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Reference from the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel – Active Travel
For DeterminationMerton Cabinet decided to respond to the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel's reference on Active Travel on 19/06/2023. The Cabinet resolved to provide a response as requested by the panel.
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Reference from the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Homelessness
For DeterminationCabinet responded to the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel's reference regarding homelessness on 19/06/2023. The Cabinet resolved to respond to the reference as set out in paragraphs 2.6 to 2.7 of the report.
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Award of the contract for provision of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) Funded Disabled Adaptations Service
For DeterminationThe Cabinet approved the award of a contract for the Disabled Facilities Grant Funded Disabled Adaptations Service to Bidder A for three years from September 4, 2023, with an option to extend for up to two further years. Authority was delegated to the Executive Director of Housing & Sustainable Development to exercise contract extensions in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development. The decision was made on June 19, 2023.
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Merton Event Management and Safety Advisory Groups (SAG)
For DeterminationMerton Cabinet decided on 19/06/2023 to establish a single events application and tracking process, approve a schedule of fees and charges, adopt a new Events Policy and Safety Advisory Group (SAG) Terms of Reference, and allocate responsibility for chairing SAG meetings. The Cabinet also delegated authority for amendments to the application process and associated fees to the Executive Director of Environment, Civic Pride and Climate.
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Merton Treasury Management Strategy - Annual Review 2022-23
For DeterminationCabinet noted the update on Merton Treasury management activity during 2022-23. This was decided on 19/06/2023.
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Reference from the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Electric Vehicle Charging Task Group report
For Determination...to implement the recommendations from the Electric Vehicle Charging Task Group's report, which includes running trials for home charging alternatives, lobbying for fairer VAT charging, ensuring even distribution of charging types, improving signage for EV bays, promoting EV charging in council facilities, prioritizing electric fleets, reviewing policies on street clutter, focusing on rapid charge points, reviewing parking charges for EVs, encouraging Housing Associations to provide EV charging, adopting a Highway Authority ownership model for cable channel schemes, and ensuring EV charging units are environmentally sympathetic, through the Electric Vehicle Strategy to be written by Future Merton.
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Tree Strategy
For Determination...to adopt the London Borough of Merton Tree Strategy 2023-2029, as detailed in Appendix 1, and noted the feedback received during the initial scoping and draft consultations.
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Community Opportunities Framework for People with a Learning Disability
For DeterminationThe Cabinet approved the commissioning of a Community Opportunities Framework for community-based activities for people with learning disabilities and other needs. The decision was made on 19/06/2023. Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director for Adult Social Care, Integrated Care and Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health, for the award of contracts.
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Civic Pride: High Streets Programme (reserve fund allocations)
For DeterminationThe Cabinet agreed the Civic Pride programme funding allocations on 19/06/2023. They noted that a proportion of the programme remains unallocated to respond to in-year ad-hoc projects. Any in-year funding requests are delegated for decision by the Executive Director, in discussion with the Cabinet Member.
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