The motion was moved by Councillor McLean and seconded by Councillor Crowe.

The Liberal Democrat amendment as set out in agenda item 26 was moved by Councillor McGrath and seconded by Councillor Kohler.

The Liberal Democrat amendment was put to a vote and fell – votes in favour: 26, votes against: 30, abstentions: 1.

The Mayor proposed that the meeting be extended by 15 minutes to conclude the remaining business on the agenda.  This was put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 50; votes against: 3; abstentions: 4.

The Labour amendment as set out in agenda item 27 was moved by Councillor Whelton and seconded by Councillor Draper.

The Labour amendment was put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 31, votes against: 20*, abstentions: 7.

*Councillor Omar Bush requested that his vote be recorded as against after selecting the ‘not voting’ button in error.

The substantive motion (as amended) was then put to a vote and was carried – votes in favour: 31, votes against: 19, abstentions: 8.

RESOLVED:

This council recognises the impact of the government’s failure to properly fund TfL for the full impact of Covid-19 on its finances on efforts to progress Morden regeneration. In 2008-2009 the public showed its support for Morden regeneration in the moreMorden consultation, and it remains a key objective for the Labour administration.

Council notes:

-          Although Merton Council submitted bids to the Future High Streets Fund (which gave funding for regeneration projects to high streets with a high level of shop vacancies and other signs of long-term decline, such as Wandsworth and Sutton). Morden would not have qualified for the fund due to the criteria set by the government;

-          The allocation of £300,000 from neighbourhood CIL towards Morden Town Centre Improvements at November’s cabinet, which will help to revitalise the town centre with short term deliverable measures while the procurement of a development partner progresses

-          Working with the Mayor of London and with the landowners of the shops and flats above, the council invested more than £650,000 in 2018 to improve shopfronts in Morden Court Parade which was the largest single investment in shopfront improvements in the borough and transformed the parade. It was also shortlisted for the Architects Journal award for urban renewal. 

-          the GLA Land fund offers deeply unfavourable interest rates and is available only to developers and not the Council ;

-          The Labour administration attended the MIPIM conference in 2019 in order to raise the profile of regeneration sites across the borough which was also attended by the Conservative leader of Wandsworth Council, among others, and that the relationships developed there will serve both councils well.

-           

Council therefore calls upon the cabinet to:

-          Report progress made to the cross-party Morden Regeneration Steering Committee and to the Sustainable Communities Panel;

-          Continue the dialogue with TfL and other stakeholders to plot a way forward; 

-          Create a role of Morden Champion to drive forward the regeneration programme.