No apologies were made.

No declarations were made

It was noted that on page 2 that there was an error in respect of the Mayor’s consorts, as the word ‘Councillor’ was included, when it should not have been and therefore needed to removed. The Minute should read:

The Mayor announced that her consorts would be Charles Ocansey, Teresa Ocansey and Charlie Ocansey.

RESOLVED:

That with the inclusion of the above revision the minutes of the Annual meeting of the Council held on 4 June 2014 were agreed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Special meeting of the Council held on 4 June 2014 were agreed as a correct record.

The Mayor made a presentation of the Local Government Chronicle award for Innovation to an officer from the Council’s direct payments team, as they had won the award earlier this year.

The Mayor also provided the Council with an update of how her term in Office had gone so far.

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.

RESOLVED:

That the report is agreed

The motion was moved by Councillor David Dean and seconded by Councillor Hamish Badenoch.

The Labour amendment, as set out in item 19a was moved by Councillor Andrew Judge and seconded by Councillor Russell Makin.

The amendment was then put to the vote and was carried – votes in favour 37, and votes against 20 with 3 abstentions

The substantive resolution was agreed.

RESOLVED:

The Council's Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan states in the introduction that

“it is vital that we take action to...preserve a quality of life for subsequent

generations.”

Labour's political leadership has genuine plans to improve the environment in

this borough.

This Council notes that the most recent Annual Residents Survey revealed that:

•       For the first time since 1995 when these records began, due to our 4 year council tax freeze, concern about council tax is at its lowest level ever and instead litter/dirt on Merton’s streets has replaced this as a concern with a 6% increase in residents saying it is a concern compared to 2012, which is significantly higher than the London average. Nonetheless, resident satisfaction with street cleaning has risen under the current administration.  In 2009/2010, under the previous Conservative administration, research by the GMB based on official government data named Merton as the dirtiest borough in the country.  Council notes that since this low point under the Conservative administration, the Labour administration elected in May 2010 have prioritised street cleaning, introducing a new free bulky waste collection service, rolling out the free borough-wide food waste service, investing in 200 new butt and gum bins, and increasing enforcement against those who drop litter in our streets.  Detritus on the streets went from 31% under the Conservatives in 2009/10 to 6% currently. The recent Public Value Review survey carried out by BMG Research, a leading national Market Research organisation showed that 72% of residents would describe Merton streets as clean.

•      43% of residents in Wimbledon town centre and 44% of residents in Colliers Wood town centre are satisfied with the way the council deals with fly tipping although the administration acknowledges that the problem of people fly tipping has not yet been solved. There were 6 successful prosecutions for fly tipping in 2013-14 compared to 31 in 2009-10, however rates of fly tipping remain below the level of fly-tipping in 2009/10 under the previous Conservative administration, which is testament to the success of our free bulky waste collection.

•      50% of residents are satisfied with the way the council deals with dog fouling and the council has recently piloted a new “any bin will do” initiative in Colliers Wood which is due to be rolled out borough wide. There have been no statistically significant changes in levels of satisfaction with the council’s street cleaning service and recycling facilities, both of which are now above the outer London average.  This fits with the research by BMG which found that 72% of residents thought Merton was a clean borough.

This Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8c

The motion was moved by Councillor Mary-Jane Jeanes.

The motion was not seconded, and the motion as a result falls.

Councillor David Dean presented the report, which was received by the Council.

The motion was moved by Councillor Adbul Latif and seconded by Councillor Gilli Lewis-Lavender.

The Labour amendment, as set out in item 19b was moved by Councillor Stephen Alambritis and seconded by Councillor Sally Kenny.

The amendment was then put to the vote and was carried – votes in favour 53, and votes against 0 with 6 abstentions

The substantive resolution was agreed.

RESOLVED:

That Council notes that Merton residents and others with connections to Merton are frequently honoured by Her Majesty the Queen in her Birthday and New Years Honours Lists. Council congratulates all those who have been recipients in the past.  Given her recent passing and the significant impact she had on the civic and community life of the borough, Council particularly notes the MBE awarded posthumously last year to Chris Frost.

Council specifically congratulates those who have been honoured in the Birthday and New Years Honours lists since June 2010:

·         Joyce Andrews, volunteer swimming teacher at Wimbledon and Merton Swimming Club, awarded an MBE

·         Jenny Archer, sports coach to six time Olympic gold medallist David Weir, awarded an MBE for services to athletics

·         Dr Richard Barker, former Director of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, awarded an OBE

·         James Bennet, awarded an MBE for charity work with the Prince’s Trust and Action for Children

·         Robert Bieber, awarded an MBE for services to the voluntary sector

·         James Cochrane, Chair of British Red Cross, awarded a CBE for services to health

·         Barry Cox, Chair of Digital UK, awarded a CBE for services to media and digital TV

·         Professor David Delpy, awarded a CBE for services to engineering and scientific research

·         Marion Friend, Chair of Wimbledon Symphony Orchestra, awarded an MBE for services to musical education

·         Honor Godfrey, Curator of Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, awarded an OBE

·         DCI Caroline Goode, who led the investigation into the murder of Banaz Mahmod, awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service

·         Prof Judith Freedman, awarded a CBE for services to tax research

·         Dr Howard Freeman, Chairman of Merton Clinical Commissioning Group and the London Clinical Commissioning Council, awarded and MBE for services to Primary Care

·         Philip Froomberg, volunteer for Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Families Association of Veterans, awarded the British Empire Medal

·         Keith Grimshaw, awarded an MBE for services to National Savings and Investments and the magistracy

·         Andrew Gairdner, Chief Steward All England Club, awarded an MBE

·         Rosemary Hickson, awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community

·         Sophie Hosking, Olympic gold medal winner, awarded an MBE for services to rowing

·         Michael Hourahine, security officer, awarded an OBE for services to the Cabinet Office

·         Judith Ish-Horowicz, Head of Wimbledon Synagogue school, awarded an MBE

·         Stephen Jack, Chair of the Independent Living Fund, awarded an OBE

·         Fiona Jeffery, Head of international water charity Not a Drop, awarded an OBE

·         Dr Kanwaljit Kaur-Singh, Chair of the British Sikh Education Council, awarded an MBE for services to education and inter-faith understanding

·         Dr Kenton Lewis, Partnership Manager  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

RESOLVED

That Council:

A).    adopts Merton’s Sites and Policies Development Plan Document and Policies Map replacing the remaining policies in Merton’s Unitary Development Plan and Proposals Map 2003.

B).    delegates authority to the Director of Environment and Regeneration to deal with all the necessary adoption documents and other consequential matters in accordance with the appropriate Regulations.

The report and its recommendations were moved by Councillor Andrew Judge and seconded by Councillor Russell Makin, which was put to the vote and was carried – votes in favour 38, and votes against 20, with 2 abstentions.

RESOLVED:

That Council adopts the Merton’s Climate Change Strategy (2014-2017), having noted the recommendations of the scrutiny review of Climate Change and the Green Deal.

The report and its recommendations were moved by Councillor Stephen Alambritis and seconded by Councillor Peter McCabe.

The Conservative amendment, as set out in item 19c was moved by Councillor Janice Howard and seconded by Councillor David Williams

The amendment was then put to the vote and was unanimously supported.

The substantive resolution was agreed.

RESOLVED:

That the Council:

1.          were updated on due diligence undertaken over the past six months by the London Borough of Merton (LBM) and Circle Housing Merton Priory (CHMP) officers working together.

2.          notes the significant opportunity this project represents to improve housing conditions for tenants, leaseholders and freeholders and the potential contribution to addressing wider housing provision pressures in Merton and London.

3.          further notes however the concerns expressed by various tenants, leaseholders and freeholders  about different aspects of the project, including the proposed increase in housing density on the estates, and therefore resolves to listen and take account of residents’ clear preference for quality homes that people want to live in with private gardens and to learn from the mistakes of the past by ensuring that any redevelopment of Merton’s estates contains a good social mix of housing tenure, which is sustainable for the future.

4.          agrees to proceed with exploration of estate regeneration schemes for Eastfields, High Path and Ravensbury via:

(a)  preparation, in partnership with Circle Housing Merton Priory of a statutory Estate Regeneration Local Plan Document setting out the strategic planning framework to guide any estate regeneration proposals;

(b)  consideration of the Council’s statutory powers where appropriate, to help deliver the proposed Estates Regeneration Local Plan.

5.          adopts the revisions to Merton’s Local Development Scheme as the project plan and timetable to prepare the proposed Estates Regeneration Local Plan, subject to the Mayor of London’s approval.

6.          suspends the obligation in the Stock Transfer Agreement dated 22 March 2010 (“Transfer Agreement”) on the part of CHMP to carry out the Qualifying Works (as defined in the Transfer Agreement) at High Path (South Wimbledon), Eastfields (Mitcham) and Ravensbury (Morden) to comply with the Decent Homes Standard for a period of up to 18 months subject to there being no legal objection or obstacle, to enable CHMP to explore the viability of estate regeneration schemes for the above estates, an agreed programme to regenerate the subject properties and the planning position being concluded including the formulation of an Estates Regeneration Local Plan. The period of suspension will commence from the date of 9^th July 2014 and will also have regard to the date upon which the Deed of Variation is completed.

7.          undertakes to full and comprehensive consultation throughout the process with existing tenants, leaseholders and freeholders as well as any other affected parties, and that the Director of Environment and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environmental Sustainability and Regeneration be authorised to approve consultation documents prior to public consultation, publish the Local Development Scheme (subject to its approval by the Mayor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

RESOLVED:

That Council agrees:

A).    not to exercise the discretion on Shared Cost Additional Pension Contributions – (SCAPCs) or Shared Contribution AVCs (SCAVCs) but to review annually.

B).    to exercise the discretionary power to continue to adopt a Flexible Retirement policy from 1 April 2014 but only to exercise the discretionary power to waive the actuarial reduction in exceptional cases where the Director of Corporate Services considers it to be justified on financial, equal opportunity or other relevant grounds.

C).   not to waive the actuarial reduction for early payment of pension benefits at the request of a current employee but to review annually.

D).   not to exercise the discretion to ‘switch on’ the 85 year rule for members who choose to voluntarily draw their benefits from age 55 (but to review annually.

E).    not to use the discretion to award additional pension contributions, but to review annually.

F).    to continue the discretion to continue the provision for deferred benefits to be brought into payment on compassionate grounds for pre 2014 deferred members. The discretion will not normally be exercised, but the Director of Corporate Services will consider applications.

RESOLVED:

That Council:

A).    notes the changes to the membership of Committees approved under delegated powers since the last meeting of the Council;

B).    notes the revised terms of reference for the Corporate Parenting Group, including how this relates to Councillors’ membership in the future.

C).   agrees that the current membership of the South West London Joint Health and Scrutiny Overview and Committee, namely Councillor Peter McCabe and Councillor Brian Lewis-Lavender (substitute Councillor Brenda Fraser) should represent Merton on the new standing Joint Health Scrutiny Committee until Council has an opportunity to agree its constitution and formally appoint members.

D).   constitutes the establishment of a Joint Committee for the shared Regulatory Service with London Borough of Merton (lead authority) with the other participating authorities, and agrees to the appoint two Members to this joint committee. 

E).    agrees to appoints a Councillor to fill the Council position on the South West London and St. George’s Mental HealthTrust – Council of Governors

No petitions were presented.

RESOLVED:

That the Strategic Theme for the next ordinary meeting of the Council to be held on 10 September 2014 shall be Public Health.