The Cabinet of Merton Council met on Monday 16 March 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including the adoption of new strategies for walking, wheeling, and cycling, as well as flood risk management. The meeting also covered the council's financial performance, the highways capital programme, and updates on the Merton Legacy Fund.

Merton Legacy Fund Update

The Cabinet was scheduled to receive an update on the Merton Legacy Fund, which was established following the sale of CHAS 2013 Ltd. The fund, which has £15 million earmarked for capital projects, has undergone a public vote on three option lists of projects. This report was intended to advise Cabinet on the outcome of that vote. Option C, Breathing new life into public spaces, emerged as the most popular choice, with projects including rain gardens, Womble-themed library enhancements, additional street lighting, outdoor gyms, playground upgrades, a pump track in Morden Park, a basketball court, and community co-designed park improvements.

Merton Fleet Strategy 2025-2030

A key item on the agenda was the proposed Merton Fleet Strategy for 2025-2030. This strategy outlines the council's plan to transition its fleet towards net-zero emissions by 2030. The strategy details a phased approach to replacing existing vehicles with low and zero-emission alternatives, with an approved expenditure of £15,879,510 for fleet vehicles across various service areas. The plan includes the procurement of up to 147 vehicles between 2025 and 2030, with a phased introduction of electric refuse collection vehicles and a commitment to switching to electric minibuses over the strategy's lifetime. The strategy also addresses the critical need for charging infrastructure, with plans for installation at the Civic Centre and the redevelopment of the Amenity Way depot.

Walking, Wheeling & Cycling Strategy

The Cabinet was set to consider the adoption of the Walking, Wheeling & Cycling Strategy for 2026-2035. This is Merton's first strategy of its kind, aiming to make active travel an appealing and accessible option for all residents and visitors. The strategy has been developed following extensive consultation, including surveys and engagement with key stakeholders and community groups. Key changes made in response to feedback include updating the title to encompass wheeling, incorporating new action themes focused on Safer walking, wheeling and cycling journeys and Active Travel and Green Spaces, and refining targets and monitoring indicators. A capital allocation of £1.8 million is available for the first three years of the strategy's delivery, supplemented by Transport for London's Local Implementation Plan funding.

Highways Capital Programme 2026/27

The Cabinet was asked to approve capital expenditure of £5.316 million for the 2026/27 Highways Capital Work Programme. This programme includes carriageway and footway renewal works, street lighting improvements, and bridges and structures work, as detailed in the appendices. The approach is risk-based and aims to prolong the life of highway assets through planned maintenance rather than short-term fixes. The funding for this programme includes Merton's capital allocation and Department for Transport Highways Maintenance Block funding.

Adoption of Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and Surface Water Management Plan

The meeting was scheduled to discuss the adoption of Merton's Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) for 2025-2035 and an updated Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP). These documents, developed in partnership with residents and major organisations, provide a detailed picture of Merton's flood vulnerabilities and outline a programme of actions to reduce surface water flooding risk. The LFRMS sets out strategic objectives for managing flood risk, while the SWMP identifies priority areas and actions, including sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and nature-based solutions. The plans replace Merton's 2015 strategy and 2011 surface water plan.

Period 10 Financial Monitoring Report

The Cabinet was to receive the period 10 financial monitoring report for 2025/26. This report provides a full-year forecast projection for revenue and an update on the capital programme. The revenue outturn indicated a forecast underspend of £0.132 million when corporate funding items are included, an improvement of £0.917 million since period 9. The report also detailed the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit, which remains a significant financial challenge, and outlined welcome government funding packages to address these deficits. The capital programme update included proposed adjustments detailed in the appendices.

The meeting also included standard agenda items such as apologies for absence, declarations of pecuniary interest, and the minutes of the previous meeting.