No apologies were received

No declarations were received.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

The Mayor provided the Council with a brief update on her recent Mayoral duties including discussing the Mayor’s Ball which alone had raised in the region of £20,000 for her Mayoral charities.

The Mayor invited Councillor David Williams to say a few words on the death of Honorary Alderman and former Councillor Ethel Davis.

Councillors Stephen Alambritis and Oonagh Moulton, respectively said a few words on retirement of the Deputy Lieutenant, Sir John Wheeler, before the Mayor thanked him personally for the support he had provided during her term as Merton’s First Citizen.

A presentation was then held with the Mayor, presenting Deputy Lieutenant, Sir John Wheeler with a motion of thanks from Merton Council in recognition his work representing the borough as Representative Deputy Lieutenant over the last 18 years. Sir John Wheeler then gave a short speech of thanks.

A copy of the speeches on Sir John Wheeler were included 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 Stephen Alambritis

Councillor Gilli Lewis-Lavender also spoke on this item

RESOLVED:

That the report is agreed

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

The Labour amendment, as set out in item 18 was moved by Councillor Mary Curtin and seconded by Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah.

Councillor Peter Southgate also spoke on this item

The Labour amendment was then put to the vote and was carried unanimously

RESOLVED

This Council notes that loneliness and isolation among older people can be the precursor for more serious illnesses, with recent studies suggesting it can lead to health-related consequences ranging from mild depression to serious mental health issues and also to dementia.

This Council therefore welcomes the activity clubs for older people established some time ago in West Barnes ward, and more recently in Raynes Park and Hillside wards, as well as the longstanding Friends in St Helier (FISH) group and the launch of its new expanded service, Friends in Lower Morden, a support group for older people, and FISH’s new service in Cannon Hill.  In addition there are a number of other excellent activity clubs for older people across the borough, including those run by the borough’s rich diversity of faith groups.  These clubs help to promote independence by giving older people the freedom to:

•       develop for themselves the activities they wish to enjoy locally (usually within ½ mile of their home);

•       be able to meet like minded people;

•       make new friends; and

•       raise their levels of fitness both of body and mind.

Council congratulates the many volunteers who give up their time to help others in their community.  Council also welcomes our new Dementia Hub which is pioneering innovative ways of working with people with dementia where loneliness and isolation is a key issue, and our Ageing Well Programme which focuses on prevention by tacking issues including depression and social isolation.

This Council believes that, in order to counter loneliness and isolation among older people in Merton, it is important that they can live as active lives as possible and that their views are listened to and properly taken into account by all those agencies involved in their wellbeing.

This Council therefore resolves to:

a)     request that Merton’s Health and Wellbeing Board take positive steps to ensure that the needs of older people are properly assessed before they could become ill in order to achieve savings for both the Council and the local NHS through relevant preventative measures;

b)     ask Cabinet to review the Annual Residents’ Survey to ensure that the views and needs of older people are being properly captured and taken into account; and

c)     endorse the contribution of all those involved in the growing number of activity clubs for older people across the borough, including the many older people themselves; and

d)     encourage councillors and residents in every part of the borough to consider innovative ways to promote the wellbeing of older residents in their local neighbourhoods, including through working in conjunction with the annual Celebrating Age Festival co-ordinated by Age UK Merton.

The motion was moved by Councillor Stephen Alambritis and seconded by Councillor Peter McCabe

The Conservative amendment, as set out in item 19 was moved by Councillor David Williams and seconded by Councillor Suzanne Grocott.

Councillor Andrew Judge also spoke on this item

The Conservative amendment was then put to the vote, with votes in favour 20, and 35 votes against with 5 abstentions, and therefore the amendment falls.

RESOLVED

This council is shocked and appalled to learn of the secret plan to close St Helier hospital, which was revealed by the BBC on Monday 13 April. This comes despite recent assurances from hospital bosses that St Helier hospital was safe.

Council notes that the Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats visited St Helier hospital on the very day this shocking plan was revealed and was roundly heckled by local residents.

Council notes that it is alleged that the secret plans include a preferred option to close both St Helier and Epsom hospitals and to build a new hospital in Sutton. Council recalls that a similar proposal was rejected by the previous Labour government after being called in by Merton's Labour administration.

Council reiterates its clear commitment to keeping our local hospital open and:

1      Calls for the release of these secret plans to close St Helier hospital

2      Calls for full disclosure of who is really behind these secret plans

3      Requests the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health and the Chief Executive of Epsom & St Helier Trust outlining the council's shock at these secret plans and the way they have been disclosed and making clear that Merton Council will continue its fight to protect our local hospital.

Councillor Ian Munn presented the report, which was received by the Council.

Councillor Philip Jones presented the report, which was received by the Council

Councillor Brian Lewis- Lavender presented the report, which was received by the Council

Prior to the commence of this item a set of three amendments were circulated  throughout the Chamber for tabling for this item  (Notice of Motion - Conservative 1) and the subsequent two items (Notice of Motion - Conservative 2 and Notice of Motion - Conservative 3).

A request was made for an adjournment. This requested was put to a vote, with votes in favour 24, and 35 votes against with 1 abstention and therefore the requests falls.

The Notice of Motion was then not moved or seconded and as a result the motion falls.

The Notice of Motion was not moved or seconded and as a result the motion falls.

The Notice of Motion was not moved or seconded and as a result the motion falls.

The report was moved by Councillor Peter McCabe and seconded by Councillor Imran Uddin.

Councillor Suzanne Grocott also spoke on this item.

RESOLVED

That Council:

A).    agrees to agrees to establishes the Local Pension Board and the Terms of Reference as detailed within Appendix A to the report;

B.)    delegates to the Director of Corporate Services the authority finalise all matters relating to the set-up of the Board including the power to make changes to the Terms of Reference in order to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and guidance; and    

C.)   agrees that the Pension Board submit an annual report to Committee summarising its work.

The report was moved by Councillor Mark Allison and seconded by Councillor Stephen Alambritis.

Councillor David Simpson also spoke on this item.

RESOLVED

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

A petition was presented by Councillor Linda Taylor. The petition was called ‘Costa Coffee Planning application - Stop the planning form going ahead.’

That the Strategic Theme for the next ordinary meeting of the Council to be held on 8 July 2015 shall be Sustainable Communities with an emphasis on Leisure and Sport.