None.

Apologies were received from Councillor David Dean.

Panel agreed the Minutes as a true record of the meeting.

Panel agreed to reorder the agenda to the following:

Item 5 – Town Centre Parking and Parking at Neighbourhood Shopping Parades

Item 8 – Progress Update: Action Plan (Climate Change and Green Deal Task Group)

Item 6 – Library and Heritage Service Annual Report 2014/15

Item 7 – Town Centre Regeneration Update – Verbal Presentation

Item 9 – Performance Monitoring (including focus on waste management and street scene)

Item 10 – work programme

Paul Walshe introduced the report which updated on progress with implementation of the action plan resulting from the earlier reviews of town centre parking and parking at neighbourhood shopping parades. Paul Walshe informed the Panel that implementation has been on going and that cashless parking is one initiative that has been particularly popular. Paul also advised that the council are currently considering options for roll out of electronic signage in Wimbledon town centre.

Councillor Imran Uddin asked if the intention was to lower parking charges through the introduction of this new structure.  Paul Walshe explained that the revised charges were the linear hourly rate for parking which were slightly higher than the hourly rate at present. 20 minute parking slots are being used as a base upon which to model the rates and in some areas tariffs will go up.

Chris Lee added that parking charges in town centres would be higher than outer areas. Councillor Stan Anderson asked if cashless and cash options were still available to customers. Paul Walshe explained that this was the case. John Hill explained that the council would continue to offer customers freedom of choice in the way that they pay for parking.

Councillor Janice Howard explained her concerns regarding the increase of each tariff and asked what consideration had been given to smaller businesses and the potential impact increased charges would have on their customer base. She expressed her concerns that residents may be pushed into larger stores with free parking. Councillor Andrew Judge explained that it was important to acknowledge that short stopping times are needed to shop in smaller businesses and 20 minutes of free parking has been offered to support this.

Chris Lee informed the Panel that a decision had been taken by full council as part of the budget setting in previous years to increase charges by 10% beginning in 2015/ 2016. This is incorporated into a simplified structure.

Councillor Ross Garrod asked how the 341 on street bays would be rolled out, if this would be undertaken on a staggered basis and what the expected completion date was for this work. Paul Walshe explained that no new charges had yet been implemented and that once agreed, would be rolled out over a 4 week cycle. The council are authorised to charge the new tariffs from April 1^st 2015 but this will not happen overnight and requires a phased roll out. The payment for parking using mobile technology will also be implemented alongside this.  John Hill added that the ability to pay with mobile phones has been implemented in town centre car parks already.

Councillor Andrew Judge explained that signage would be agreed and a decision made as to how to pursue this in due course.

Paul Walshe explained that initial discussions had also been held with private car park owners and partnership options explained. The associated costs of this model and benefits to the council would also need to be determined.

John Hill stated that the department  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Anthony Hopkins introduced the report and highlighted some of the key work streams for the service over the last year and achievements including:

·                    Increase in satisfaction identified through public library users survey and annual residents survey in the highest quartile;

·                     On going efficiencies made in the way that the service is delivered

·                    Updated technology resulting from a grant received from the GLA which would ensure faster wifi speeds in libraries;

·                    E-books and a library app now available;

·                     Further development of library sites;

·                     The schools libraries programme ensured every child in the borough is a member of a library;

·                     Expectations of the volunteer programme have been exceeded and there are now 533 volunteers in libraries;

·                     Heritage lottery funding secured of £8 million

Anthony Hopkins explained that  on going and future challenges would be:

• Delivery of future major projects;
• Meeting demand and ensuring that the library service is responsive and continues to deliver a high quality service;
• Income and reduced budgets.

Councillor Ross Garrod wished to express thanks to volunteers and library staff and asked what can be achieved with the service given the reduced budgets. Councillor Ross Garrod also noted that digital literacy was an issue for a number of residents and asked if demand for help from staff could be met in libraries. Councillor Ross Garrod asked if libraries signpost people with digital literacy requirements to community organisations that might support them to develop these skills.

Anthony Hopkins confirmed that this support was provided on site and one to one or group training also provided. The team are working with the Citizens Advice Bureau to ensure residents are appropriately signposted and are developing this further. Emphasis is also being placed on the universal offer and the role of volunteers is changing which means that there is work to be done to ensure staff and volunteers correctly signpost residents. A training programme on this and other skills required is to be delivered shortly.

Councillor Abigail Jones expressed her thanks to the department and congratulated them on the innovative and positive developments that had been made to the library service. Councillor Abigail Jones noted that e-books appeal to certain demographics and asked how the use of libraries was being encouraged amongst these groups.Anthony Hopkins explained that the library service run annual campaigns and work with local groups to promote the available resources in libraries, as well as through library ambassadors. The service has a finite budget for publicity and marketing but the council are working regionally and nationally with partners on this.

Councillor Imran Uddin asked about signposting residents to other organisations such as the mosque and to what extent the council works with these organisations.Anthony Hopkins explained to the Panel that the library service work with 48 organisations and signpost individuals to a range of services, including the mosque.

Councillor Nick Draper urged all councillors to promote the library service and to spread the good practice at Merton, particularly to celebrate the work of staff and volunteers, and would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

James McGinlay gave a presentation on development and progress in the regeneration schemes in the town centres in Merton, covering Morden, Raynes Park, Wimbledon, Colliers Wood and Mitcham (presentation attached).

Councillor John Sargeant asked for information on the Crossrail 2 development to be shared with the business community to alleviate their concerns. James McGinlay confirmed that the council have been liaising with the owners of centre court, with the business community and Love Wimbledon.

Councillor Andrew Judge informed the Panel that £344,000 funding had been received for developments on South Park Rd to enhance the cycle route from Clapham Common to Merton and there would be a number of interventions and measures put in place to enhance safety. There is no funding for these measures as yet but future bids would be made to make improvements in this area.

Councillor Stan Anderson enquired about the clock tower in Mitcham and asked if it would be returned to its original location. James McGinlay confirmed that it would be relocated as part of the Rediscover Mitcham project.

Councillor Ross Garrod asked when a decision would be known publicly on the Sidthorpe Car Park site, about the proposed bus lane in Mitcham and if there was an update on where the health centre in Mitcham would be located. James McGinlay explained that a decision regarding the Sibthorpe Road car park would be known publicly by March 2015, that dialogue was on going with TfL to clarify the major project scheme and that negotiations were in their final stages.  TfL need to consider the competing needs of both pedestrians and traffic and that it can take up to six months for TfL to do their own checks.

James McGinlay added that Wilson Hospital was the preferred location.

Councillor Abigail Jones asked what was planned for the vacant building next to Colliers Wood tube. James McGinlay agreed to check this with planning and get back to the Panel.

Councillor Abdul Latif asked about the final decision on the cladding for the tower in Colliers Wood. James McGinlay explained that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Planning Applications committee have delegated authority to approve this.

Councillor Stan Anderson asked if the tower in Colliers Wood was privately owned. James McGinlay confirmed that the building was privately owned.

Councillor Nick Draper informed the Panel that a new build was planned for Colliers Wood and Abbey which included residential accommodation.

James McGinlay added that planned development in Colliers Wood was within the councils Local Plan. The redesign of the town centre is subject to master planning, which would involve residents and the business community, from summer 2015 onwards.

Councillor John Sargeant asked what the delivery mechanism would be for this programme of work in Morden and what would happen over the next year. James McGinlay explained that the council would be looking to assemble land and demonstrate to residents the potential of Morden and what it could look like. The council needs to be clear on how the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

 RESOLVED:  Panel requested that an update be received every 6 months on delivery of the action  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Chris Lee introduced the report and highlighted underperformance relating to waste and the total waste volumes collected and recycled or sent to landfill. Chris Lee explained that this was due to an increase in waste nationally, regionally and in Merton. This has had a knock on effect on cleanliness and resident satisfaction.

Councillor Ross Garrod asked about the increase in the rate of sickness across all departments and asked about the health of council employees, number of days lost from service and if there was an underlying issue causing this. 

Chris Lee explained that sickness is actually reducing in the department and it stands at 10.02 days per FTE per annum. This is an improvement on previous year’s performance. The council target is 8 days sickness and Environment and Regeneration are not the poorest performing department on this. This is because manual staff operate in all weathers; however, it is on a downward trajectory but will remain a high priority for the department. The council apply policy and procedure rigorously to this matter.

Councillor Ross Garrod asked if sickness levels were down to staff morale. Chris Lee stated that this was not the case and that the department drill into the reasons for sickness regularly. Sickness levels in this team are usually down to stress, colds and muscular skeletal issues.

Councillor Abdul Latif asked about the policy on addressing traveller communities taking up residence in parks and green spaces and how this might be prevented.  Chris Lee informed the Panel that the council act swiftly to remove any unauthorised occupants on green spaces and in parks. The council work with partners such as the police and the use of the Criminal Justice Act means that Police now have certain powers that can be utilised to generate court orders and ensure removal more quickly.

Chris Lee added that the council must first undertake an appropriate assessment and make any health or welfare judgements and then apply to the court to act as quickly as possible.

Councillor Russell Makin asked if this procedure had to be followed if a traveller community had been moved and then occupied another site in the borough. Chris Lee confirmed that this was the case and that the council would apply this to each site. Councillor Imran Uddin asked if there wasn’t a period of leave and return linked to any court order which meant that it could be enforced on other sites.

James McGinlay informed the Panel that he had been working with colleagues in the police to address this issue and that a fuller proposal will be in place in March 2015.

RESOLVED: Panel noted the performance report.

RESOLVED:  Panel agreed the removal of the following items on the agenda for its March 2015 meeting:

·         Arts and Green Spaces

·         Outlets in Town Centres

·         CHMP update

Rebecca Redman agreed to present a proposal to the Panel at their June 2015 meeting on how they might approach performance management going forward.