No apologies were received.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2024 are agreed as an accurate record.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet recommends that full council (20th November 2024):

A.    Adopts Merton’s Local Plan and Policies Map to replacing Merton’s Core Planning Strategy 2011 and Merton’s Sites and Policies Plan 2014.

B.    Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Housing and Sustainable Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development to approve all the necessary adoption documents and other consequential matters in accordance with the appropriate Regulations

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development presented the report, noting that the Local Plan had now been through the final modifications of the inspectors and that the Local Plan was intended to be considered by Full Council on 20 November for adoption to replace core planning strategy dating back to 2011 and Merton’s sites and policies plan from 2014. The report would also be considered by the Development and Planning Applications Committee. The Cabinet Member gave an overview of the report recommendations.

The Cabinet Member thanked officers for their work and noted some changes which would be made prior to the Full Council report. In response to questions from the Cabinet, the Cabinet Member spoke of the importance of the plan.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet recommends that full council (20th November 2024):

A.    Adopts Merton’s Local Plan and Policies Map to replacing Merton’s Core Planning Strategy 2011 and Merton’s Sites and Policies Plan 2014.

B.    Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Housing and Sustainable Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development to approve all the necessary adoption documents and other consequential matters in accordance with the appropriate Regulations

RESOLVED:

A. That the updating for the 2025/26 council tax support scheme detailed in the report be agreed, in order to maintain low council tax charges for those on lower incomes and other vulnerable residents.

B. That Cabinet agreed the proposed revisions to the 2025/26 scheme.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services presented the report stating that since 2013 Merton had maintained a full scheme of relief for the lowest paid in the Borough and were seeking to maintain a full level of Council Tax Support for 2025/26, noting that over 7000 houeholds had been supported the previous year. The Cabinet Member then responded to questions from the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

A. That the updating for the 2025/26 council tax support scheme detailed in the report be agreed, in order to maintain low council tax charges for those on lower incomes and other vulnerable residents.

B. That Cabinet agreed the proposed revisions to the 2025/26 scheme.

RESOLVED :

A. That Cabinet noted the increase in funding for the scheme to be progressed as part of the September 2024 Monitoring Report as set out in the exempt information contained in Appendix B section of the report.

B. That Cabinet noted the VAT position as set out at section 12 of the Report and additional specialised work being commissioned to optimise Merton’s financial status

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development presented the report noting the land would continue to be owned by the Council under a freehold but elements utilised by Wandle Housing would go back to them under a long leasehold and arrangements had been put in place for close working particularly in relation to construction. It was noted the cost of labour and inflation for the cost of materials meant it would cost more than first anticipated.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care thanked the Cabinet Member and officers for their work and spoke of the importance of the project.

In response to questions from the Cabinet, the Cabinet Members responded that they were confident the redevelopment would improve the provision of the users and would provide more modern facilities. The Cabinet Members noted that the Council would employ an independent agent and surveyor who would ensure value for money. Initial drawings had been prepared and layouts and specifications for the preferred option had been reviewed, with work ongoing. In response to further questions, the Cabinet Members stated that the project would make some contribution in relation to housing targets and would make a significant local contribution to providing reassurance to users and carers.

RESOLVED :

A. That Cabinet noted the increase in funding for the scheme to be progressed as part of the September 2024 Monitoring Report as set out in the exempt information contained in Appendix B section of the report.

B. That Cabinet noted the VAT position as set out at section 12 of the Report and additional specialised work being commissioned to optimise Merton’s financial status

RESOLVED :

A. That Cabinet agreed the award of a five-year contract, 2025-2030, for the Merton Integrated Adult Substance Misuse Prevention and Treatment Service to Via (the incumbent provider), following the completion of the Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Option C process.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care presented the report setting out the recommendations noting that the current contract would end on 31 March 2025 and there had been a thorough process undertaken which was detailed within the report.

RESOLVED :

A. That Cabinet agreed the award of a five-year contract, 2025-2030, for the Merton Integrated Adult Substance Misuse Prevention and Treatment Service to Via (the incumbent provider), following the completion of the Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Option C process.

RESOLVED :

A. That Cabinet agreed to award the corporate cleaning services contract to Tenderer A for a 2-year period from 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2027 with the option to extend for 1 x 4 additional years for a maximum of 6 years to 31st March 2031, subject to satisfactory performance at a cost of £1,487,623 for 2 years, or circa £4,462,868 for 6 years.

B. That Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director of Innovation and Change after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services to approve the additional further 4-year extension period.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services presented the report which reflected a thorough procurement exercise and would include paying all staff at least the London Living Wage.

The Chair thanked officers and Cabinet colleagues for their work and for enshrining the London Living Wage into the contract.

RESOLVED :

A. That Cabinet agreed to award the corporate cleaning services contract to Tenderer A for a 2-year period from 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2027 with the option to extend for 1 x 4 additional years for a maximum of 6 years to 31st March 2031, subject to satisfactory performance at a cost of £1,487,623 for 2 years, or circa £4,462,868 for 6 years.

B. That Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director of Innovation and Change after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services to approve the additional further 4-year extension period.

To RESOLVE that the public are excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following report(s) on the grounds that it is (they are) exempt from disclosure for the reasons stated in the report(s).

The meeting proceeded entirely in public and therefore this item was not required.