Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis

Councillor Stephen Alambritis, Leader of Merton Council gave an update on how Merton was dealing with COVID-19. Sadly 197 residents passed from COVID-19, and the leader expressed his condolences to their friends and family. It is clear that COVID-19 is having a disproportionate impact on BAME residents. The Public Health team is working on how we can address these inequalities.  

The council has been supporting 7019 residents who have been shielding, with each of them directly contacted. Council staff were redeployed to support tacking pandemic, for example the Bailiffs Service has been distributing food and other essential supplies. Support from Foodbanks in Merton has also been essential. 

PPE stock is in place in Merton and has been provided to care homes, we have worked across London boroughs to jointly procure 50million items. We have also accommodated 52 rough sleepers, 6 refused to be housed. We are currently working to retain the 52 in accommodation.  

Reopening services 

Schools have had to decide on how to meet government guidelines to accommodate some year groups and will need to develop plans for September.  

Wimbledon, Colliers Wood and Mitcham libraries have reopened with a restricted service.  

Garth Road Recycling and Reuse centre has opened with a booking system. All Parks facilities now all reopened. 

High streets are beginning to get back to business. Support has been made available including grants to small businesses, with Merton the 3^rd quickest in London to distribute the funds. Additional discretionary grants are now being assessed along with the Chamber of Commerce and MVSC.   

We have agreed an Emergency Transport Strategy to support social distancing and encourage active travel. This includes 28 new school streets funded by Government.  

Local government has been urged to do what is required and Merton has done so, Government has provided some funding but Merton is still facing a £20m gap and there are similar issues in all councils. 

Cllr Alambritis expressed thanks to Merton Mutual Aid, Wimbledon Guild for supporting residents, Wimbledon Foundation for providing funding and to Stephen Hammond MP, and Wimbledon Councillors for their support.  

Non-COVID issues 

Cabinet has passed a Climate Emergency strategy, which will go to full Council in September. Thanked Pippa Maslin for her presentation to Cabinet on behalf of the Working Group. Delivering the plan will need additional support from Government to meet its targets. There is a £88m cost to make the Council carbon neutral by 2030 whilst for a borough as a whole the cost could be £3bn. 

The annual council has been postponed until September and hopefully it will involve physical attendance for the benefit of the new Mayor, Cllr Sally Kenny, but it could be virtual. Cllr Alambritis paid tribute to Cllr Janice Howard for her work during a not normal year. Subject to the council make-up from 2022 there could be an opportunity for both to perhaps serve again.  

There has been an issue with unlicensed musical events taking place in Merton and we have been working with Met Police to stop these dangerous events. 

AFC Wimbledon have moved their offices into Plough Lane, and the pitch has been installed, with the team moving in properly during 2020/21. The Safety advisory group is working with the club and TfL to plan for first matches. 

In response to questions Cllr Alambritis said he would need to check on the development of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods including Haydon Park Road. Cllr Alambritis would hope to see cycle training reintroduced over the summer. There is £1.3m available in discretionary grants and these would be made to local businesses and charities. A resident asked about increasing council tax on high end properties, Cllr Alambritis said that rules for Council Tax are set by central government so we will be guided by their permitted level of increases.