Apologies were received from Councillors David Dean and Peter Walker.

No declarations were made.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on the 9 July 2014 were approved as a correct record.

Councillor Crowe asked that it be noted that he and Councillor Judge had spoken on the Strategic Themes Main Report, Minute 7b on page 3. He asked that in the future that it be recorded when Councillors speak on reports within the minutes. The Mayor confirm this would happen in the future.

The Mayor provided the Council with an update on her recent Mayoral duties and highlighted how a number of her fellow Councillors had been raising money for her Mayor’s charities.

The Mayor then invited Councillors Phillip Jones and David Williams to say a few words on the death of Honorary Alderman and former Councillor Bernard Clifford. A copy of their speeches is attached as Appendix A to these Minutes.

The questions and written responses will be circulated at the meeting.

The responses to the written public questions were circulated prior to the meeting.The Mayor then invited each of the questioners in turn to ask (if they wished) a supplementary question to the appropriate Cabinet Member.

A copy of the supplementary questions and the responses would be included within the ‘Public questions to Cabinet Members’ published document.

The questions and written responses will be circulated at the meeting

The responses to the Members’ ordinary priority questions were circulated prior to the meeting. The Mayor then invited each of those Councillors in turn to ask (if they wished) a further supplementary question to the Cabinet Member.

A copy of the supplementary questions and the responses would be included within the ‘Councillors' ordinary priority questions’ to cabinet members published document.

The questions and written responses will be circulated at the meeting.

The responses to the Members’ strategic theme priority questions were circulated prior to the meeting. The Mayor then invited each of those Councillors in turn to ask (if they wished) a further supplementary question to the Cabinet Member.

A copy of the supplementary questions and the responses would be included within the ‘Strategic theme: Councillors' questions to cabinet members’ published document.

The report was moved by Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah and seconded by Councillor Maxi Martin.

Councillors Suzanne Grocott and Daniel Holden also spoke on this item

RESOLVED:

That the report is agreed

Strategic Theme Motion Agenda – Liberal Democrat Motion Agenda – Item

7c (i)

The motion was moved by Councillor Mary-Jane Jeanes.

The motion was not seconded, and the motion as a result falls.

Strategic Theme Motion Agenda – Conservative Motion – Item 7c (ii)

The motion was moved by Councillor Gilli Lewis-Lavender and seconded by Brian Lewis-Lavender

The Labour amendment, as set out in item 17 (a) was moved by Councillors Peter McCabe and seconded by Ross Garrod.

Councillors Andrew Judge, John Sargeant and David Williams also spoke on this item.

A roll-call was called on the Labour motion

Voting in Favour: Councillors: Stephen Alambritis, Mark Allison,

Stan Anderson, Laxmi Attawar, Tobin Byers, David Chung,

Caroline Cooper-Marbiah, Pauline Cowper, Mary Curtin, John Dehaney,

Nick Draper, Brenda Fraser, Ross Garrod, Jeff Hanna, Joan Henry,

Abigail Jones, Philip Jones, Andrew Judge, Sally Kenny, Linda Kirby,

Edith Macauley, Russell Makin, Maxi Martin, Peter McCabe, Ian Munn,

Katy Neep, Dennis Pearce, Judy Saunders, Marsie Skeete,

Geraldine Stanford, Imran Uddin, Gregory Udeh and Martin Whelton (33)

Voting Against: Councillors: Hamish Badenoch, John Bowcott, Michael Bull,

Adam Bush, Charlie Chirico, Stephen Crowe, Edward Foley Suzanne Grocott,

Daniel Holden, James Holmes, Janice Howard Abdul Latif, Najeeb Latif,

Brian Lewis-Lavender, Gilli Lewis-Lavender, Oonagh Moulton, John Sargeant,

David Simpson, Peter Southgate, Linda Taylor, Jill West, and David Williams. (22)

Not voting: Councillors: Agatha Mary Akyigyina and Mary-Jane Jeanes.(2)

The Mayor declared the amendment to be carried.

The substantive resolution was agreed.

RESOLVED:

This Council welcomes the announcement from the NHS that the new Nelson Local Care Centre will open in Spring 2015, providing the following services:

• Two GP practices – Cannon Hill Lane Medical Practice and Church Lane Practice – which will be relocating there

• Outpatient appointments

• Minor surgery and procedures

• X-ray, ultrasound and blood tests

• Physiotherapy

• Pharmacy services

• A range of community mental health services

This Council congratulates everyone involved in the construction of the Nelson Local Care Centre, which is set to be delivered within budget and on schedule, and which will complement the excellent services already provided at the new Raynes Park Health Centre, including antenatal clinics, counselling services, family planning advice and minor surgery.

Council believes that the needs of local residents and quality health outcomes must be at the forefront when taking decisions on how the services offered at the Nelson are developed. Therefore, in choosing a provider for specialist consultation and diagnostic services at the Nelson, council calls on the local NHS to prioritise the health of local residents over the maximisation of profit for private sector providers. Council notes the significant health inequalities in the borough and regrets that the local NHS has focused on the development of a local care service in the west of the borough whilst neglecting services in the east where the need is greatest. This Council fully supports plans for a facility in Mitcham similar to the Nelson, which would mean residents in the east of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7c

Councillor James Holmes presented the report, which was received by the Council.

He asked that his thanks, on behalf of Wimbledon Community Forum, be recorded to his predecessor, former councillor Henry Nelless for all the hard work he had put in during his time in the Chair.

The motion was moved by Councillor Najeeb Latif and seconded by Councillor Stephen Crowe

The Merton Park Ward Independent Residents (MPWIR) amendment, as set out in item 16 was moved by Councillors John Sargeant and seconded by Councillor Edward Foley.

The Labour amendment, as set out in item 17 (b) was moved by Councillors Andrew Judge and seconded by Councillor Sally Kenny.

Councillors Oonagh Moulton and David Simpson also spoke on this item.

The MPWIR amendment was then put to the vote and fell – votes in favour 23, and votes against 33 with 1 abstention.

The Labour amendment was then put to the vote and was carried – votes in favour 33, and votes against 19 with 5 abstentions

The substantive resolution was agreed.

RESOLVED:

This Council welcomes the recent consultation on extending Tramlink so that it connects Merton to Sutton via Morden and Wimbledon.  Council notes the consultation ended on 17 August and over 10,000 responses from residents were received over the course of the consultation.

Merton Council, in partnership with Sutton Council, put forward the preferred route included in the consultation as follows:

·       A link from Sutton to Wimbledon

·       An interchange at Morden town centre

·       A stop at St Helier Hospital

Additional options of a route via Nursery Road Playing Fields and Abbey Recreation Ground and a route that would by-pass St Helier Hospital were added to the consultation by Transport for London, which is chaired by the Mayor of London.

The final report has now been compiled and has been forwarded to TfL.  It will be published tomorrow. The results show that an overwhelming majority of respondents support the extension of the tram along both councils’ preferred route from Wimbledon to Sutton via Morden town centre, with a stop at St Helier Hospital. Residents have also backed Merton’s position in not supporting any extension via Nursery Road Rec or Abbey Playing Fields.

However, council notes that the Mayor of London’s Infrastructure Plan does not envisage an extension to the tram until 2030 at the earliest.

Council reiterates its support for a tram extension along the preferred route as it believes that, whilst the costs of the final route must clearly be affordable and deliver good value for money for the taxpayer, it is vital that the St Helier Hospital loop goes ahead in order to deliver improved access to the hospital for many local families and older residents. Council also calls on the local CCGs to take into account the potential investment in the tram and the confidence this shows in St Helier hospital as a provider of quality emergency, maternity and related services as they continue to consider the future of the hospital.  Council further reiterates the administration’s position that it is also vital that disruption to residents and local neighbourhoods is minimised and that the option of a route through Abbey Recreation Ground and Nursery Road playing fields is explicitly ruled out by Transport for London and the Mayor of London.

This Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The motion was moved by Councillor James Holmes and seconded by Councillor Michael Bull.

The Labour amendment, as set out in item 17 (c) was moved by Councillors Martin Whelton and seconded by Councillor Imran Uddin.

Councillor Peter Southgate also spoke on this item.

The Labour amendment was then put to the vote and was carried – votes in favour 34, and votes against 19 with 5 abstentions

The substantive resolution was agreed.

RESOLVED

This council congratulates all of our GCSE and A Level students on their excellent results this year, with record results at GCSE level in particular. Council also acknowledges the hard work of our Governors, Headteachers, Teachers, Teaching Assistants and other school staff in assisting our young people to reach their full educational potential.

This Council notes the opening of Merton’s first free school, Park Free School, in September 2014. This Council does not support the current government’s free school policy which allows the establishment of unregulated schools with unqualified teachers and unsuitable premises to be established in areas already well served by good schools whilst additional school places for children in areas of scarcity are left unfunded by government.

Whilst wishing the staff and all the pupils at Park Community School a successful future, as we would for all our Merton pupils and schools staff, council deplores the sub-standard accommodation pupils will have to endure and the uncertainty created due to the delay in identifying a site.

Recognising the enormous costs and challenges for the borough in meeting the growing demand for school places among Merton’s primary age group as a result of increased birth rates and also recognising the even greater costs to be incurred for when this cohort of children reaches secondary school age, this Council reiterates its decision of 20 November 2013 to look at all options for meeting the need for more school places, including, and in accordance with the wishes of parents, free schools led by parents in areas of school places shortages employing properly qualified teachers and with proper systems of financial accountability and transparency, and academies.

As per the decision of 20 November 2013 full council, where a free school wishes to set up in the borough, this Council expects that it will adhere to the following principles:

• Agree to be part of Merton’s admissions procedures, working closely with officers;

• Employ only qualified teachers;

• Participate fully in the Merton Education Partnership; and

• Demonstrate genuine community support.

Council regrets that these principles are not supported by central government, leaving children at the mercy of unregulated providers who may not have the best interests of our young people at heart.

However, in order to ensure that Merton’s education system is able to offer local families both quality and choice, this Council resolves to continue to support all of our local schools, and where there is an identified need, to consider supporting providers with a proven track record of success who are willing to adopt the aforementioned  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The report was moved by Councillor Peter Southgate and seconded by Councillor Peter McCabe.

Councillor Oonagh Moulton also spoke on this item

RESOLVED:

That the Council notes the Overview and Scrutiny Annual report.

RESOLVED:

That Council noted the taking of an urgent key decision and the waiving of the call-in procedure.

RESOLVED:

That Council:

A). noted the changes to the membership of Committees approved under delegated powers since the last meeting of the Council.

B). endorsed the establishment of the new South West London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee along with its Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure.

C). appoints Councillor Brian Lewis Lavender and Councillor Greg Udeh to the South West London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Councillor Brenda Fraser and Councillor Suzanne Grocott as substitutes.

D). appoints Councillor Andrew Judge to the Groundwork London’s Local Authority Strategic Input Board.

Petitions were presented by Councillors Mary-Jane Jeanes and Andrew Judge.

RESOLVED:

That the Strategic theme for the next ordinary meeting of the Council to be held on 19 November 2014 shall be Safer and Stronger Communities.