Apologies were received from Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2016 are agreed as an accurate record.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services introduced the report, which presents the Annual Public Health report, focussing on childhood obesity.  They encouraged all Cabinet Members to consider ways to deliver the Child Healthy Weight action plan within each of their portfolios.

The Director of Public Health gave a short introduction to the report, noting the statutory duty to produce an Annual Public Health report.

RESOLVED:  That Cabinet

1.         Receive the independent Annual Public Health Report (APHR) 2016-17, note the key messages and endorse publication.

2.         Endorse and champion the Child Healthy Weight Action Plan 2016 – 2018.

RESOLVED:  That Cabinet

1.         Endorse the recommendations of the Merton Partnership’s Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Strategy Steering Group and that these form the basis for the Merton Partnership’s  Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Strategy

2.         Delegate  the responsibility of approving the final version of the strategy to the Director of Community and Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Engagement and Equalities.

The report, which sets out the key recommendations from the Merton Partnership Executive Board Steering Group on the new Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Strategy, was introduced by the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Engagement and Equalities. 

The Director of Community and Housing confirmed that the action plan emerging from the Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Strategy draft recommendations will be refined and finalised once the strategy has been approved. 

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and the Leader encouraged officers to investigate the recruitment of volunteers from local businesses as part of their approach to corporate social responsibility.

RESOLVED:  That Cabinet

1.         Endorse the recommendations of the Merton Partnership’s Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Strategy Steering Group and that these form the basis for the Merton Partnership’s  Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Strategy

2.         Delegate the responsibility of approving the final version of the strategy to the Director of Community and Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Engagement and Equalities.

RESOLVED:  That Cabinet approve the council’s contribution to the London Councils Grants Scheme 2017/18 as per the subscription set by London Councils Leaders’ Committee on 6 December 2016.

The Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Engagement and Equalities presented the report which sought Cabinet approval for Merton’s contribution to the London Councils Grants Scheme for 2017/18.

RESOLVED:  That Cabinet approve the council’s contribution to the London Councils Grants Scheme 2017/18 as per the subscription set by London Councils Leaders’ Committee on 6 December 2016.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet

A.        Note Circle Housing plans to collapse the group structure and consolidate the separate housing associations into one association.

B.        Note the powers that the council has in order to affect and influence decision making.

C.        Note the proposed community panel for Merton.

D.        Note the recent Homes and Community Agency regulatory notice issued against Clarion Housing Group.

E.        Agree to recommend Full Council that these governance proposals should be supported, including how the Council will use its shareholder vote and whether to agree to the proposed variations to the Stock Transfer Agreement.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Housing introduced the report which updated member on Circle Housing’s plans to simplify the group structure and consolidate the nine housing associations in the group into one, and to seek members’ agreement on the council’s position on these plans. 

Cabinet Members welcomed the robust approach taken by officers and members so far in negotiations around changes proposed by Circle Housing.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet

A.        Note Circle Housing plans to collapse the group structure and consolidate the separate housing associations into one association.

B.        Note the powers that the council has in order to affect and influence decision making.

C.        Note the proposed community panel for Merton.

D.        Note the recent Homes and Community Agency regulatory notice issued against Clarion Housing Group.

E.        Agree to recommend Full Council that these governance proposals should be supported, including how the Council will use its shareholder vote and whether to agree to the proposed variations to the Stock Transfer Agreement.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet

A.        Notethefinancialreportingdatarelatingto revenuebudgetarycontrol,showing a forecastnetoverspendatyear endof £6.325million,1.2% ofthe gross budget.

B.        Notetheproposalssetoutin 2.4tofundthisshortfallwithoutanyimpacton servicesin thecurrentyear.

C.        Approve theadjustmentstotheCapital Programmedetailedin appendix5b:

The Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report which details the financial reporting data for November 2016.   

The Director of Corporate Services drew Cabinet Members’ attention to paragraph 2.4 of the report which described how the overspend will be addressed, and highlighted the use of general fund balances. 

RESOLVED: That Cabinet

A.        Notethefinancialreportingdatarelatingto revenuebudgetarycontrol,showing a forecastnetoverspendatyear endof £6.325million,1.2% ofthe gross budget.

B.        Notetheproposalssetoutin 2.4tofundthisshortfallwithoutanyimpacton servicesin thecurrentyear.

C.        Approve theadjustmentstotheCapital Programmedetailedin appendix5b:

RESOLVED: That Cabinet

1.         Notesthefinancial informationarisingfrom theProvisional Settlement2017/18andthatthefinancial implicationswill be incorporatedinto thedraftMTFS2017-21anddraftcapitalprogramme2017-21.

2.         Notes the latest update of the draft MTFS for 2017-21.

The Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report, and highlighted a number of issues which will impact on the long term financial strategy.

The Director of Corporate Services pointed out the key changes to the report brought to Cabinet in December, including the revaluation of Business Rates detailed in paragraphs 2.2.6 and 2.2.7 of the report, and noted the reserves and balances, as laid out in paragraph 7.3. 

RESOLVED: That Cabinet

1.         Notethefinancial informationarisingfrom theProvisional Settlement2017/18andthatthefinancial implicationswill be incorporatedinto thedraftMTFS2017-21anddraftcapitalprogramme2017-21.

2.         Note the latest update of the draft MTFS for 2017-21.