There were no apologies received. Councillors Irons and Judge attended remotely.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2022 are agreed as an accurate record.

Report to be supplied as a supplementary in advance of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

A. That Cabinet noted the response to the recommendation made by the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel (the Panel)

B. That Cabinet supported the recommendation made by the Panel

The Cabinet Member for Local Environment, Green spaces and Climate Change presented the report advising that the recommendation from the Scrutiny panel had been looked at and was being taken forward, whilst assessing the best way it could be implemented for Merton and ensuring it was reflective of the ongoing consultation on Waste services.

RESOLVED:

A. That Cabinet noted the response to the recommendation made by the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel (the Panel)

B. That Cabinet supported the recommendation made by the Panel

RESOLVED:

1. That Cabinet resolved to recommend adoption of the South London Waste Plan to Council (16 November 2022) as part of Merton’s statutory Local Plan and subsequent updating of Merton’s statutory Policies Map, subject to any amendments necessary in order to give effect to any recommendations contained in the Final Report from the Planning Inspectors and that authority to make such amendments be delegated to the Executive Director of Housing and Sustainable Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development.

2. That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Housing and Sustainable Development to deal with all the necessary adoption documents and other consequential matters in accordance with the appropriate Regulations.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development presented the report and gave an overview of the recommendations, noting that if approved it would be one of the key documents guiding Planning decisions within the Borough, which was being updated as the current plan was no longer considered up to date. All 4 Boroughs within the South London Waste Partnership had worked on their respective plans as well as having been successful in a bid for Government funding to support the waste plan.

RESOLVED:

1. That Cabinet resolved to recommend adoption of the South London Waste Plan to Council (16 November 2022) as part of Merton’s statutory Local Plan and subsequent updating of Merton’s statutory Policies Map, subject to any amendments necessary in order to give effect to any recommendations contained in the Final Report from the Planning Inspectors and that authority to make such amendments be delegated to the Executive Director of Housing and Sustainable Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development.

2. That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Housing and Sustainable Development to deal with all the necessary adoption documents and other consequential matters in accordance with the appropriate Regulations.

RESOLVED:

1. That the updating revisions for the 2023/24 council tax support scheme detailed in the report be agreed, in order to maintain low council tax charges for those on lower incomes and other vulnerable residents.

2. That Cabinet agreed the proposed revisions to the 2023/24 scheme

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services presented the report which followed a recent consultation and would be considered by Council in November 2022. The scheme would be proposed to be kept in line with the Government scheme and for any in-year changes to be made as required.

The Cabinet Members for Civic Pride, Sport and Heritage and Health and Social Care spoke in support of the proposal.

RESOLVED:

1. That the updating revisions for the 2023/24 council tax support scheme detailed in the report be agreed, in order to maintain low council tax charges for those on lower incomes and other vulnerable residents.

2. That Cabinet agreed the proposed revisions to the 2023/24 scheme

RESOLVED:

A. That Cabinet noted the update on Treasury Management performance for the half year to 30 September 2022 and agreed to submit this update to Full Council

B. That Cabinet agreed to recommend to Council that it delegates authority to the Executive Director of Finance and Digital (S151 officer) to make short term treasury investment decisions, even if those investments would not currently be in accordance with the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy, based on current market conditions/interest rates movements and funds availability to maximise investment returns. The Annual Treasury Management Strategy for FY2023/24 will be presented to the Council in March 2023.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services presented the report, providing an update on the Treasury Management performance.

The Interim Director Finance and Digital noted that whilst an increase in the interest rates caused pressures to the Council’s budget in some ways, it had led to an increase in returns on the Council’s investments.

RESOLVED:

A. That Cabinet noted the update on Treasury Management performance for the half year to 30 September 2022 and agreed to submit this update to Full Council

B. That Cabinet agreed to recommend to Council that it delegates authority to the Executive Director of Finance and Digital (S151 officer) to make short term treasury investment decisions, even if those investments would not currently be in accordance with the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy, based on current market conditions/interest rates movements and funds availability to maximise investment returns. The Annual Treasury Management Strategy for FY2023/24 will be presented to the Council in March 2023.

RESOLVED:

A. That Cabinet noted the financial reporting data for month 5, August 2022, relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net adverse variance at 31 August on service expenditure of £2.317m when corporate and funding items are included.

B. That CMT note the contents of Section 5 and approve the adjustments to the Capital Programme contained in Appendix 5b

That Cabinet noted the contents of Section 5 and Appendix 5b of the report and approved the adjustments to the Capital Programme in the Table below

The Chair announced that items 8 & 9 would be taken together on the agenda.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services presented the reports for August and September, noting the headline overspend figures had improved, however departments were facing significant budgetary pressures. The Council had achieved a favourable variance of £3million against corporate items and an additional £0.4million from investments resulting from increased interest rates. The Cabinet Member thanked officers and Cabinet Members for their work.

The Cabinet Member for Transport spoke to thank the Cabinet Member and officers for their work.

RESOLVED:

A. That Cabinet noted the financial reporting data for month 5, August 2022, relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net adverse variance at 31 August on service expenditure of £2.317m when corporate and funding items are included.

B. That CMT note the contents of Section 5 and approve the adjustments to the Capital Programme contained in Appendix 5b

That Cabinet noted the contents of Section 5 and Appendix 5b of the report and approved the adjustments to the Capital Programme in the Table below

RESOLVED:

A. That Cabinet noted the financial reporting data for month 6, September 2022, relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net adverse variance at 30 September on service expenditure of £1.579m when corporate and funding items are included.

B. That Cabinet noted the contents of Section 5 and Appendix 5b of the report and approved the adjustments to the Capital Programme in the Table below:

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services presented the report.

RESOLVED:

A. That Cabinet noted the financial reporting data for month 6, September 2022, relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net adverse variance at 30 September on service expenditure of £1.579m when corporate and funding items are included.

B. That Cabinet noted the contents of Section 5 and Appendix 5b of the report and approved the adjustments to the Capital Programme in the Table below:

To RESOLVE that the public are excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following report(s) on the grounds that it is (they are) exempt from disclosure for the reasons stated in the report(s).

RESOLVED: That the public were excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following report on the grounds that it is exempt from disclosure for the reasons stated in the report.

Report to be supplied as a supplementary in advance of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet agreed recommendations A – E as detailed within the exempt report

The report was discussed and the recommendations were agreed as detaild within the exempt minute.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet agreed recommendations A – E as detailed within the exempt report