Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sheri-Ann Bhim.

Councillors Simon McGrath and Daniel Holden attended remotely.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2022 are agreed as an accurate record.

The Council observed a minutes’ silence following the death of former Councillor and Freeman of the Borough Allan Jones. Councillor Brunt and Councillor McLean spoke about his life.

The Leader spoke on the upcoming Cost of Living Event and on the TV screen at the Canons Leisure Centre which would be screening the Wimbledon Tennis Championship.

Councillors Macauley and Foley spoke to congratulate Councillor Kirby on receiving her MBE.

Councillors Irons, Kohler and Judge spoke on the recent retirement of Chris Lee, Director of Environment and Regeneration.

There were no announcements from the Chief Executive.

The Mayor then provided an update on her recent and upcoming events and activities.

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 further question to the Cabinet Member.  A copy of the supplementary questions and responses will be included in the ‘public questions to Cabinet Members’ published document.

The questions and written responses will be circulated at the meeting

The responses to the written member ordinary priority questions were circulated prior to the meeting.  The Mayor then invited each of the members in turn to ask (if they wished) a further question to the Cabinet Member.  A copy of the supplementary questions and responses will be included in the ‘member ordinary priority questions to Cabinet Members’ published document.

The Strategic Theme report on Supporting residents who are most in need and promoting the safety and wellbeing of all our communities with an emphasis on Health inequalities was moved by Councillor McCabe and seconded by Councillor Charles.

Councillor Austin also spoke on the item.

The Liberal Democrat amendment to the Strategic Theme Report was moved by Councillor Gould and seconded by Councillor Hicks. Councillor McCabe also spoke on the amendment.

The Liberal Democrat amendment was put to a vote and carried unanimously.

The Strategic Theme report as amended was agreed.

RESOLVED: 

A.   That the Council notes the progress in relation to the contents of this report

Council also:

b) requests a report be sent to Cabinet within the next 12 months setting out a comprehensive engagement plan, with targets and deadlines for improvement aimed at: · Increasing uptake of Breast cancer screening services by women across the borough; · Increasing uptake of Childhood immunisations, particularly pre-school boosters and MMR vaccinations; · Reducing the incidence of self-harming by young people.

c) requests Cabinet to undertake a review of the borough’s cycling and walking infrastructure aimed at increasing the number of children cycling and walking thereby reducing school-related traffic congestion and resulting air pollution.

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

The responses to the written member strategic theme priority questions were circulated prior to the meeting.  The Mayor then invited each of the members in turn to ask (if they wished) a further question to the Cabinet Member.  A copy of the supplementary questions and responses will be included in the ‘member strategic theme priority questions to Cabinet Members’ published document.

It was also noted that a copy of the remaining Member questions and responses will be published after the meeting, in line with Constitutional requirements.

The motion was moved by Councillor Dollimore and seconded by Councillor Williscroft.

Councillors Fairclough and Barlow spoke on the item.

The motion was then put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 47, votes against: 6, abstentions: 1.

RESOLVED: 

This Council notes the enormous health inequalities, exacerbated by inequalities in access to healthcare, between the East and West of the borough.

Council notes that according to Public Health Outcomes Framework data, the slope index of inequality (an overarching measure of the life expectancy inequality gap which represents the gap in years of life expectancy at birth between the most deprived and least deprived communities), from 2018 to 2020 in Merton the gap was 5 years for females (95% CI 3.3-6.6) and 7.7 for males (95% CI 6-9.4).

Council notes the proposal to move services to Belmont will increase these inequalities and reduce access to healthcare for the people of Merton.

Council notes the cuts to funding and delays to the programme of hospital-building in Belmont that have already been seen, and believes them to be a matter of concern to people throughout South West London.

This Council has a long-standing commitment to ensuring that the residents of Merton have access to a full range of NHS acute services on the St Helier Hospital site, including a blue light A&E and consultant-led maternity service. Any attempt to relocate acute services away from an area of relative deprivation in St Helier in favour of a more affluent area such as Belmont would be incompatible with the statutory duty on the Merton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to have regard to the need to tackle health inequalities because it would make accessing acute health services significantly more difficult for those in our population who suffer the greatest level of inequality. Instead, council supports the previous strategy to re-build St Helier hospital on its current site with its full range of services intact.

It is the firm belief of this Council that the retention of all services at St Helier is the very best way to ensure equality of healthcare provision for the residents of Merton, and ensure that those in the east do not further lose out.

The Council notes that the Leader of the Council has written on 15th June 2022 to the Chief Executive Officer designate for the South West London ICS to ask for an explanation of any reassurances she has received that the hospital-building programme in South West London will not suffer form further delays or cuts to funding. Council calls on the CCG to publish the new business plan and explain the reason behind residents not being consulted on it, and for information about the business of the Strategic Executive Group and the Strategic Oversight Group.

Council resolves to:

Write a letter to the CCG and other affected local authorities requesting that, in the ongoing spirit of cooperation identified by an independent review panel to the Secretary of State in October 2020 as essential to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7c

Councillor Mundy presented the report which was received by the Council.

Councillor Charles presented the report which was received by the Council.

Councillor Bokhari presented the report which was received by the Council.

Councillor Kohler presented the report which was received by the Council.

Councillor Kohler presented the report which was received by the Council.

Councillor Kohler moved a motion submitted on behalf of the Community Forum. The motion was seconded by Councillor Stringer.

Councillor Austin spoke on the motion.

The motion was put to a vote and carried – votes in favour: 47, against: 6, abstentions: 1.

RESOLVED:

The Wimbledon Community Forum notes that some roads in Wimbledon are named after former residents who were slave owners.

The Forum calls on Merton Council to:

· consider including historical information in the vicinity of such road signs including the fact they are named after slave owners.

The motion was moved by Councillor McGrath and seconded by Councillor Hall.

The Labour amendment as set out in agenda item 21 was moved by Councillor Christie and seconded by Councillor Hayes.

Councillor Howard spoke on the item.

The Labour amendment was put to a vote and was carried  – votes in favour: 37, votes against: 16, abstentions: 1.

The substantive motion (as amended) was then put to a vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED: 

Council Notes:

1)    That low pay still affects many people in Merton and that the Cost-of-Living crisis is making their situation worse

2)    That Merton Council is a London Living Wage direct employer

3) The amendment to the Budget resolution passed by Council in March 2021:

"G) welcoming the provision in the MTFS for increased contract costs/LLW for contracts due to be re-let in 2022/23 onwards, requests Cabinet make real movement towards paying the London Living Wage to care workers employed by outside contractors as and when each contract comes up for retendering and/or renegotiation."

3)    The ongoing work to negotiate new contracts with service providers who pay the London Living Wage, most recently (27^th June) Cabinet approving a contract for Supported Living Services for Adults with a Learning Disability which pays London Living Wage to its staff

Council requests that Cabinet present a paper to on the costs, implications and timescale for Merton being accredited by the Living Wage Foundation in recognition of its status as a Living Wage Employer.

The motion was moved by Councillor Stringer and seconded by Councillor Kaweesa.

The Liberal Democrat amendment as set out in agenda item 21 was moved by Councillor Fairclough and seconded by Councillor Kohler.

The Liberal Democrat amendment was put to a vote and fell  – votes in favour: 24, votes against: 29, abstentions: 1.

The Conservative amendment as set out in agenda item 21 was moved by Councillor McLean and seconded by Councillor Howard.

The Conservative amendment was put to a vote and fell – votes in favour: 8, votes against: 29, abstentions: 17

As six members of the Council requested that a recorded vote be taken on the vote on the substantive motion, a roll call was taken and the votes were as follows:

Votes in favour (54): Councillors Alambritis, Attawar, Austin, Barlow, Bokhari, Braithwaite, Brunt, Butcher, Charles, Christie, Cooper-Marbiah, Cox, Dollimore, Dresselaers, Fairclough, Flack, Foley, Fraser, Galea, Garrod, Gould, Hall, Hayes, Hicks, Howard, Irons, Johnston, Judge, Kaweesa, Kenny, Kirby, Kohler, MacArthur, Macauley, Manly, McCabe, McLean, Mercer, Mundy, Neaverson, Oliver, Page, Paterson, Pearce, Reiss, Skeete, Stringer, Szczepanski, Whelton, Willis, Williscroft, Wilson, Deputy Mayor Councillor Akyigyina and the Mayor Councillor Henry.

Votes against: (0)

Not Voting: (0)

The Motion was therefore unanimously agreed and it was

RESOLVED: 

This Council notes that:

· The Royal College of Psychiatrists has reported that the cost-of-living crisis “poses a threat of pandemic proportions” to the nation’s mental health.

· On 1st April 2022, Ofgem increased the energy cap by 54%. For a typical household paying by direct debit it's now £1,971/year – up by a massive £693/year, from its previous level. Those on prepay, the price cap has also increased by 54%, from £1,309/year to £2,017/year on typical use – a rise of £708/year.

· Workers have seen their National Insurance contributions increased from 12% to 13.25% on 6 April to fund the response to the Covid NHS backlog and new investment in adult social care.

· Additionally – and in this same timeframe – food prices and fuel are rising caused by global inflation post-pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.

This Council recognises the unprecedented financial pressures that all our residents will face in the coming year, and notes with serious concern, that for those with low or insecure income, these pressures could prove overwhelming.

The Council, therefore, declares a ‘Cost of Living Emergency’. Recognising that it has a part to play in response, this Council has:

 · Established a £2 million Cost of Living Emergency Fund to target support to residents and voluntary organisations to alleviate the financial burden facing our residents.

· Set up a series of Cost of Living events across the borough to reach those most in need to inform them of resources and support available

 · Maintained one of the country’s most generous Council Tax Support schemes for residents on low incomes

· Created a ‘Cost of Living’ Hub on our website to help residents find services that can support them through financial difficulty

 · Pledged to continue provision of Free School meals to those eligible throughout  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

This item has been postponed to a future meeting.

This item was deferred to a future meeting.

The report was moved by Councillor Garrod and seconded by Councillor Stringer.

RESOLVED:

A. That Council notes the updates within the report on motions and amendments passed at Council during the previous municipal year

The report was moved by Councillor Garrod and seconded by Councillor Stringer and Councillor Kohler spoke on the item.

RESOLVED: 

That the Council:

1. Notes the changes to the membership of Committees that were approved under delegated authority since the last meeting of the Council.

The report was moved by Councillor Garrod and seconded by Councillor Stringer.

There were no petitions received.

RESOLVED

That Council

1.     Notes the update on the petitions received at the last meeting,

That the Strategic Theme for the next ordinary meeting of the Council, being held on 14 September 2022, shall be “Work to make Merton a fairer, more equal borough and support those on lower income by tackling poverty and fighting for quality affordable housing – with a particular focus on housing, homelessness and support for renters – both in the private rented and social housing sector.”