·         Leading on efforts to boost trade and the local economy in town centres, supporting small businesses, markets and Business Improvement Districts

·         Responsible for effective communication with businesses

·         Overseeing the Regulatory Services Partnership

·         Leading on trading standards and commercial environmental health

·         Working with organisations in the borough’s thriving arts and cultural communities

·         Ensuring all equalities strands (sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy/maternity, religion/belief, age, marriage and civil partnerships) are embedded throughout council performance

·         Oversight of the Council’s Equality Strategy and Equality Impact Assessments and drawing up an Equalities Charter

·         Supporting the Merton Council staff BAME Forum

·         Support and development of the LGBT+ forum

·         Support and development of the Faith and Belief Forum

·         Overseeing community engagement, including Community Plan, increased participation in local decision making and increasing social capital

·         Overseeing the council’s community partnerships, including specific focus on the voluntary sector

·         Promoting and rewarding local action and volunteering

·         Leading on the management of grants to community groups and decisions of Grants Committee

·         Chair of the Merton Compact Board

·         Overseeing voluntary sector organisations applying to become Refugee Community Sponsors

·         Support and development of Merton’s Armed Forces Community Covenant

·         Support for refugees and those seeking sanctuary

·         Lead member on Emergency Planning

·         Responsible for the overall co-ordination of policies to protect and enhance the environment and sustainability of Merton, including the Council’s own activities

·         Responsible for policies relating to climate change and tackling the climate crisis

·         Support housing retrofitting activities, accessing relevant funding and ensuring future housing policies and planning policies recognise our commitments to the environment

·         To be the Council’s lead on the Climate Emergency and to chair the Climate Change Implementation Committee

·         Responsible for building links with residents, businesses and community groups to educate and activate carbon reduction

·         To increase the involvement of young people in climate action

·         To lead on the development and implementation of the annual Climate Delivery Plan to support the Council reach its ambition of net zero by 2030

·         Overall responsibility for Cemeteries and Crematoria

·         Support the planting and maintenance of our trees and growing our wild spaces, allotments and pocket parks

·         Oversee the delivery of the planned playground and paddling pool upgrades

·         Work with residents to increase the number of Friends of Park Groups in the borough and encourage sustainable activity by local groups in parks and open spaces

·         Ensure contracts uphold best possible outcomes in effective management of parks and greenspaces

·         Oversee the development and mobilisation of the future parks and greenspaces service

·         Develop the next phase of the Tree Strategy and target tree planting opportunities in areas with low canopy cover

·         Work with partners to increase the number of Green Flag Award sites in Merton from six to nine

To view contact details for the current Cabinet Member, click on the link below.