Apologies were received from Councillor Edith Macauley, Councillor Ross Garrod and Ged Curran

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2017 were agreed as an accurate record.

RESOLVED

A.   That Cabinet approves the decision to accept London Borough of Wandsworth as a new partner in the Regulatory Services Partnership;

B.   That Cabinet agrees to the proposed change to the ‘agreed services’ as defined in the Collaboration Agreement to incorporate private sector housing and pest control treatment services, initially just for Wandsworth;

C.   That Cabinet agrees to delegate authority to the Director of Environment and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Street Cleanliness and Parking and Cabinet Member for Community and Culture:

                     i.        to negotiate and agree the terms under which Wandsworth would join the existing shared regulatory service and the changes that would be required to the existing joint committee arrangement and collaboration agreement between Merton and Richmond;

                    ii.        to progress implementation of the expanded shared Regulatory Service in line with the changes agreed.

The Cabinet Member for Community and Culture presented the report on the admission of the London Borough of Wandsworth into the shared Regulatory Services Partnership, and thanked the Officers involved; John Hill, Paul Foster and Raj Patel for all their work on the proposed expansion of this partnership.

RESOLVED

A.   That Cabinet approves the decision to accept London Borough of Wandsworth as a new partner in the Regulatory Services Partnership;

B.   That Cabinet agrees to the proposed change to the ‘agreed services’ as defined in the Collaboration Agreement to incorporate private sector housing and pest control treatment services, initially just for Wandsworth;

C.   That Cabinet agrees to delegate authority to the Director of Environment and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Street Cleanliness and Parking and Cabinet Member for Community and Culture:

                     i.        to negotiate and agree the terms under which Wandsworth would join the existing shared regulatory service and the changes that would be required to the existing joint committee arrangement and collaboration agreement between Merton and Richmond;

                    ii.        to progress implementation of the expanded shared Regulatory Service in line with the changes agreed.

RESOLVED:

A.   That the Cabinet considers the buildings and structures proposed to be added to Merton Local List and resolves to recommend these amendments to the Local List to Full Council.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Regeneration presented the report that proposed additions to the Merton Local List. Cabinet noted that the recommendations in the report had previously been agreed by the Borough Plan Advisory Committee.

Cabinet noted that the report did not recommend the inclusion of the cottages at 34 – 40 Morden Road. This was a difficult decision but unfortunately there have been a number of insensitive, unsympathetic and detrimental additions to the terrace and the Conservation Officer felt that these make the terrace unsuitable for local listing.

Councillor Katy Neep expressed her disappointment that 34-40 Morden Road was not recommended for inclusion and said that she would continue working with Ward Councillors and residents to bring the terrace up to the required standard.

The Director of Environment and Regeneration stated that if improvements were made to the terrace then it could be considered again for local listing, but that there were seven criteria that had to be fulfilled to achieve this listing

RESOLVED:

A.   That the Cabinet considers the buildings and structures proposed to be added to Merton Local List and resolves to recommend these amendments to the Local List to Full Council.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet agrees that a future Strategic Grants programme is based on a commissioning approach with specifications drawn up in consultation with the voluntary sector and partners (section 3.7).

2.    That Cabinet ask officers to look at other departmental grants relating to information, advice and voluntary sector support services and to speak to partners with a view to bringing together resources into a single commissioning grant pot (section 3.4).

3.    That Cabinet note that this approach could not be effectively put in place by the end of the current Strategic Partner Grants programme and therefore to agree to roll forward the current programme with existing providers at the current funding level into 2018/19 (section 3.8).

4.    Funding remains at current levels for the next 3 financial years 2018/19 - 21 but with the intention to support Strategic Partners to have a long term sustainable funding plan in place (section 3.9).

Cabinet received a presentation of the report on Future Funding for Strategic Partner Grants. Cabinet were positive about the work done by the voluntary sector in Merton and agreed the changes proposed

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet agrees that a future Strategic Grants programme is based on a commissioning approach with specifications drawn up in consultation with the voluntary sector and partners (section 3.7).

2.    That Cabinet ask officers to look at other departmental grants relating to information, advice and voluntary sector support services and to speak to partners with a view to bringing together resources into a single commissioning grant pot (section 3.4).

3.    That Cabinet note that this approach could not be effectively put in place by the end of the current Strategic Partner Grants programme and therefore to agree to roll forward the current programme with existing providers at the current funding level into 2018/19 (section 3.8).

4.    Funding remains at current levels for the next 3 financial years 2018/19 - 21 but with the intention to support Strategic Partners to have a long term sustainable funding plan in place (section 3.9).

RESOLVED:

A.   Cabinet is asked to note the contents of this report

B.   Cabinet is asked to endorse the summary of Merton’s position as set out in the bullet points on p8 of this report, including the Council’s commitment made on several occasions to vigorously oppose any proposals to close or downgrade St Helier Hospital

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health presented the report on Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs). He asked members to note, in particular, the section of the report detailing Merton’s position on the South West London STP; that whilst Merton welcomed the increase of collaborative working with the NHS it would strongly oppose any plans to close or downgrade St Helier Hospital. 

The Cabinet member continued in saying that a plan setting out next steps for the STP was expected Autumn 2017.

RESOLVED:

A.   Cabinet is asked to note the contents of this report

B.   Cabinet is asked to endorse the summary of Merton’s position as set out in the bullet points on p8 of this report, including the Council’s commitment made on several occasions to vigorously oppose any proposals to close or downgrade St Helier Hospital

RESOLVED:

A.   For Cabinet  to review and agree the new Local Discretionary Rate Relief Policy.

The Cabinet Member for Finance presented the report on Business Rates Policy which updated members on the Local Discretionary Rate Relief Policy. It was noted that this scheme is transitional and as funding for future years will reduce, this scheme is for one year only, a new scheme will be drafted for 2018/19

RESOLVED:

A.   For Cabinet  to review and agree the new Local Discretionary Rate Relief Policy.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet note the revenue outturn for 2016/17

2.    That Cabinet consider the outturn position on Capital and approve the slippage into 2017/18 detailed in Appendix 3b and the adjustments to current and future years budgets detailed in the table at the front of the agenda report

The Cabinet Member for Finance presented the report on the Budget outrun 2016/17. He thanked Officers for the report that explained the issues, looked at measures to resolve, and provide help to Cabinet when looking at Budget Setting. The Director of Finance asked members to note that following the slippage of 2016/17 into 2017/18, officers will be required to monitor budgets closely and keep under review.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet note the revenue outturn for 2016/17

2.    That Cabinet consider the outturn position on Capital and approve the slippage into 2017/18 detailed in Appendix 3b and the adjustments to current and future years budgets detailed in the table at the front of the agenda report

A.        That Cabinet note the results of the Annual Residents’ Survey 2017

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance presented the detailing the results of the 2017 Residents’ Survey.  Cabinet members were pleased to see the results which showed that resident satisfaction with their local area were significantly higher than the nationwide figure. The most common reasons for dissatisfaction were litter and street cleaning, and refuse and recycling services.  Cabinet noted that although a different provider had been used to carry out the survey, the same methodology was used as previous surveys.

RESOLVED

A.   That Cabinet note the results of the Annual Residents’ Survey 2017

During the meeting Cabinet Members thanked Simon Williams for all his work during his time with Merton.