The Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, said that councils across the country are experiencing financial difficulties and that targets set for new and affordable housing were also key challenges for the council. He drew the Commission’s attention to recent service improvements that had been made for the benefit of residents, including a new adult social care centre, a new secondary school opening in September 2020; as well as positive external feedback on libraries, schools and childrens’ services. Recycling rates have increased and the council is holding providers to account in relation to residents concerns about refuse collection and street cleaning. Practical plans are in place for health and social care services to work together at a local level and the council has a good working relationship with the Clinical Commissioning Group. The council is trying to respond to residents’ concerns about air quality whilst understanding the needs of motorists - the imperative is to take steps to improve air quality.

In relation to housing, the Leader said that regeneration and new building in the borough will help to deliver 6000 new units over 10 years, but that this is still below the Mayor of London’s ambitious target. The council is assisting residents in private rented accommodation through the prosecution of bad landlords and the creation of a landlord licensing scheme. EU residents are receiving assistance to apply for settled status and the council has offered to house 50 unaccompanied asylum seeking children over the next ten years. 

The Chief Executive, Ged Curran, re-iterated the scale of the financial challenge facing the council and said that the most likely outcome of the delay in the government’s spending review and the fair funding review would be a one year spending settlement which would make longer term financial planning difficult. Appropriate strategic decisions would be needed to find the most effective and efficient way of meeting need and providing services. This would include reducing costs, increasing income,  reducing demand through client self-service and encouraging and developing local communities to work together to help themselves.

The Leader and Chief Executive provided additional information in response to questions:

·         Each council department has income targets and many contracts require the contractor to supplement revenue through raising income. The income target in the council’s budget is one that officers are confident they can meet. A balance must be struck between resident need and income generation (events in parks and night time economy given as examples). The council is also exploring opportunities to maximise use of its capital resources.

·         Research in 2007/8 on the best way to encourage economic development in Mitcham found that the intensification of housing in the town centre followed by better transport links were key to this. Until there is a higher level of housing occupancy (which local residents have not supported) businesses will not be attracted to the area – Morden has similar issues.

·         It is anticipated that by the end of this year the council will be able to start the procurement of a major developer for the regeneration of Morden town centre. The project has received cross party consensus and support from the Mayor of London and from Transport for London.

·         Cross party motions to Council have been helpful and other opportunities for the political groups to work together on issues of interest to residents will be considered.

·         The council is working hard to protect the most vulnerable residents, including through the investment of an additional £9million in adult social care and the exemption of care leavers from council tax. Financial pressures mean that a level of unmet need remains at present.

·         Communication with residents is also subject to resource constraints but there is scope to improve the use of social media without increasing resources. Written communication through My Merton remains an important channel of communication, particularly for residents who don’t use digital communications, and the Residents Survey showed that it is widely read.

·         Morden town centre regeneration will provide an opportunity to deliver social housing, working with hosing associations and other partners.

In response to a question about the council organisational charts on the intranet, Ged Curran undertook to ensure that these were updated.

ACTION: Chief Executive

Members thanked the Leader and Chief Executive for their input and said that they may ask the Deputy Leader for an update when he attends for the budget scrutiny items in November and January. ACTION: Overview and Scrutiny Commission