Apologies for absence were received from Councillor McCabe.

There were no declarations of interest made.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2019 are agreed as an accurate record.

The Mayor provided a brief update on her engagements since the last meeting of the Council, particularly the opening of Morden Leisure Centre and congratulating all those involved in the project.  She encouraged as many Members as possible to take part in the London Charity Walk taking place from the Canons Leisure Centre on 28 April 2019.

There were no announcements from the Leader or the Chief Executive.

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 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 Strategic Theme report on Children and Young People with a focus on Schools was moved by Councillor Cooper-Marbiah and seconded by Councillor Braund.

Councillors Omar Bush and Quilliam also spoke on the item.

RESOLVED:  That the Strategic Theme report is agreed.

The motion was moved by Councillor Moulton and seconded by Councillor Williams.

The Labour amendment as set out in agenda item 15 was moved by Councillor Irons and seconded by Councillor Fraser.

Councillor Kohler spoke on the item.

The Labour amendment was put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 38, votes against: 20, abstentions: 0.

The substantive motion (as amended) was then put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 38, votes against: 20, abstentions: 0.

RESOLVED:

This council congratulates Merton Music Foundation and their students on their superb ‘Music for Life’ performance at the Royal Albert Hall on 20th March. Merton Music Foundation is a great credit to this borough, giving valuable music tuition to over 2,000 children in Merton every week. Council therefore regrets that government cuts in funding to schools has resulted in the loss of grants to groups like the Merton Music Foundation, and resolves to write to the borough’s MPs to ask them to support the NEU campaign urging the government to end the schools funding crisis.

The motion was moved by Councillor Bokhari and seconded by Councillor Quilliam.

The Labour amendment as set out in agenda item 16 was moved by Councillor Allison and seconded by Councillor Pearce.

Councillor Gretton spoke on the item.

The Labour amendment was put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 32, votes against: 3, abstentions: 23.

The substantive motion (as amended) was then put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 38, votes against: 3, abstentions: 17.

RESOLVED:

This Council calls on Cabinet to look at ways in which a charitable fund could be established to manage revenue coming from an additional voluntary council tax from Band H properties, based on the models used by some other Councils. These monies could be used to establish a charitable fund, to help support the council and partnership’s ambition of bridging the gap in the borough, to help mitigate some of the cuts in national education funding since 2010, subject to consultation.

The motion was moved by Councillor Ormrod and seconded by Councillor Gretton.

The Liberal Democrat amendment as set out in agenda item 17 was moved by Councillor McGrath and seconded by Councillor Bokhari.

The Liberal Democrat amendment was put to a vote and was lost – votes in favour: 26, votes against: 32, abstentions: 0.

The Labour amendment as set out in agenda item 18 was moved by Councillor Byers and seconded by Councillor Ward.

The Labour amendment was put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 32, votes against: 17, abstentions: 9.

The substantive motion (as amended) was then put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 38, votes against: 17, abstentions: 3.

RESOLVED:

In accordance with the Air Quality Action Plan, this council resolves to  continue to support the rollout of the extensive NO2 & PM air quality monitoring for every school and their sports grounds or playing fields across Merton that are in areas of poor air quality, and that Cabinet works to ensure that:

·         Schools close to busy roads are prioritised for monitoring and the air quality audit process;

·         Anti-idling measures are expedited at all those locations;

·         There is regular status and air quality reporting to scrutiny.

The motion was moved by Councillor McLean and seconded by Councillor Holmes.

The Labour amendment as set out in agenda item 19 was moved by Councillor Whelton and seconded by Councillor Mark Kenny.

Councillor Fairclough also spoke on the item.

The Labour amendment was put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 32, votes against: 26, abstentions: 0.

The substantive motion (as amended) was then put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 32, votes against: 26, abstentions: 0.

RESOLVED:

This council recognises the Whatley Avenue site has provided excellent  educational use and welcomes the continued educational use to be transferred to a new site when the new Harris Wimbledon School relocates to its permanent home in South Wimbledon. Council also welcomes the consultation being undertaken as part of the Local Plan process, which has identified an urgent need for new housing provision. Council therefore calls upon Cabinet to:

- Ensure the Whatley Avenue site RP9 continues to be considered in the draft Local Plan as a potential site for development now that its educational use is being transferred;

- Allow sufficient  sites for Merton’s needs to remain in educational use and be open to a wide range of educational uses to cater for the increased need for SEN education and skills training, and ensure this need is being met by the expansion in excellent local provision at other sites in the borough.

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

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

The motion was moved by Councillor Allison and seconded by Councillor McLean.

Councillors Southgate and Bokhari also spoke on the motion.

The cross-party motion then agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED:

This Council condemns the horrific attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday 15^th March 2019, and stands in solidarity with the people of New Zealand and the worldwide Muslim population. This terrorist hate crime was Islamophobic, and the Council extends its condolences to all the victims and their families. Donations to victim support can be made https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/christchurch-shooting-victims-fund.

This Council:

1.    Reaffirms its commitment to the Hate Crime Strategy and its support for the borough’s Muslim communities, who contribute so much to making Merton a great place to live and work

2.    Will continue to work with all the borough’s Muslim groups to identify concerns and reaffirm Merton’s zero tolerance approach to Islamophobia in all its forms

3.    Welcomes the work done by the APPG to combat Islamophobia by investigating the forms, manifestations and extent of prejudice, discrimination and hatred against Muslims in the UK, while reviewing legislation and policy, the recording and prosecution of hate crimes, the role of the media, and the use of social media platforms as a means for spreading hatred

4.    Will write to the borough’s MPs to urge them to work with the government to produce an internationally recognised definition of Islamophobia to be adopted by the government, which will then be formally adopted by this Council

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

The Liberal Democrat amendment as set out in agenda item 20 was moved by Councillor Bailey and seconded by Councillor Fairclough.

Councillor Barlow also spoke on the motion.

The Liberal Democrat was put to a vote and was lost – votes in favour: 6, votes against: 32, abstentions: 20.

The original motion was then put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 40, votes against: 0, abstentions: 18.

RESOLVED:

This Council recognises the importance of a vibrant and ethical private rented sector and supports the Generation Rent campaign for an end to No Fault evictions under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

The report was formally moved by Councillor Alambritis and formally seconded by Councillor Allison.

The report was put to a vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED:

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

2.    That Councillor Ed Gretton be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

There were no petitions submitted to the Mayor.

That the Strategic Theme for the next ordinary meeting of the Council, being held on 10 July 2019, shall be Safer and Stronger Communities with a focus on Equalities and Diversity.