Councillor Eleanor Stringer, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Civic Pride

Councillor Eleanor Stringer, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Member for Civic Pride provided an update on behalf of the Council Leader. Cllr Stringer said that following the elections in May this was a new administration with new leader and many new councillors. The administration’s top objective is rebuilding pride in Merton by being responsive to resident needs and views and taking innovative approaches to tackling challenges.

The administration has three main priorities:

• Civic pride:
  • This includes pride in our communities, places, and town centres, as well and our cultural facilities and community sector.
  • We want to make easier for residents to be active in local communities and to invest in our town centres.
  • We also want to focus on basics like keeping street scene, which is why we are recommending not renewing Veolia contract
• Sustainable Future
  • We want to encourage active travel and sustainable transport including making Merton the best place to own an electric car or e-bike.
  • We want a shift in planning policy to get energy efficient new homes.
  • We want to build 400 affordable properties on Council land by 2026
• Creating a borough of sport
  • Merton has a huge amount of sporting heritage, including both national and local facilities.
  • We want to get more investment into grassroot sport.
  • We want residents to have healthier lifestyles.

In Wimbledon we need to get the balance between businesses and residents, and work together, as often it is businesses keeping our town centres open. Culture is important is very important and we support the development of a new Concert Hall as long as it is sustainable and will benefit residents. So far, we have had positive discussions with the trust. Cllr Stringer agreed with Craig that we should do more to market Wimbledon.

A resident asked where this new concert hall would be and Cllr Stringer said this on the

Morrison car park.

A resident raised the previous discussion about dockless Lime bikes. Cllr Stringer said we want to make it easy to make to rent electric bikes but need to work through the issues and will have a plan to address these issues. Cllr Alambritis is leading on this and there is also cross-London work on creating appropriate rules. Cllr Brunt Lime app does instruct safe storage and can fine for blocking the highway. The app can also be used to report bikes left inappropriately.

A resident asked how the administration will encourage grassroot sports, and if there will be a sports summit. Cllr Stringer said there is now a Cabinet member for Sport and actions will include investing in facilities in parks, looking at what funding can we unlock for clubs to open-up access, and working through schools and Merton Schools Sports Partnership.

A resident asked about bins in parks and said there is a problem with design of some especially in Garfield and Dundonald Recs. Cllr Stinger said the contract for parks is different to street cleaning, but she would be happy to look into the situation in those parks. Cllr Hicks said Merton Council is looking at new fox proof bins for parks.

A resident said they did not feel the climate emergency was being recognised in planning decisions. Cllr Stringer said the new Local Plan, currently going through inspection, would tighten environmental regulations but she recognised the need for better enforcement. The Council is working with Merton Climate Action Group to support projects like Garden Streets but much more work is needed. Cllr Kohler said the new officer in charge of enforcement, John Berry, has improved the work of the team.

A resident asked about street trees being tarmacked over and the area outside South Wimbledon station. Cllr Stringer said the Council is investing in two Civic Pride funds, one for the Voluntary and Community Sector and one for the Neighbourhood Fund. This second fund can be used to improve area, for example the rain garden at the bottom of Wimbledon Hill and the fountain being renovated at the top of the hill. The Council is also increasing the number of trees and will check on what has happened to the street trees in Wimbledon.

A resident said that attracting businesses to Wimbledon was a contradiction to Civic Pride, as planning applications were not creating an area to be proud of. Cllr Stringer said this was a false dichotomy as we need a thriving local economy, but we are not prioritising this over residents. Cllr Stringer said she was proud of the contribution of small businesses and is working with them to make sure they contribute to the community. Cllr Stringer said planning law complex, with rules set nationally and some locally. In the past the Planning Applications Committee (PAC) has rejected applications only for them to be overturned on appeal. The Council will work more with developers in advance, and the new Local plan will help this. Craig Hurring added that a lot of businesses also live locally and also want to contribute and take pride.

A resident commented that the St Georges House development was going to ruin central Wimbledon and they were disappointed that the PAC voted in favour. Cllr Hicks said that the vision for Wimbledon town centre includes tall office blocks so how will the centre have thriving businesses but also keep a distinctive character. Cllr Stringer said this was recognised in in consultation process for the Local Plan and as a result building on the Broadway is kept small.

A resident asked of the Future Wimbledon planning guidance will need to be revisited. Cllr Stringer said the process takes a long time, and work on the new Local Plan started many years ago. All town centres are at risk so we will need to have vision, apply the rules and work with residents.

A resident said they were involved in recreating the Friends of Wimbledon Town group and creating a new website. They want to work with Love Wimbledon and Merton Council, LBM to find out what is happening and inform residents. They will monitor planning applications street by street.

A resident said that young people were going out of Wimbledon due to the pour offer for them. Cllr Stringer said that the Council cannot direct specific shops set up here, but we want the town to be a destination for all residents. There has been a shift in shopping patterns, but we want to encourage the right kind of businesses. Craig said Ely’s is thriving and improving their offer. Cllr Stringer agreed that the key to a thriving town centre is that it has to work for residents.

Cllr Stringer said that if the delivery mopeds do not relocate, we work with the police to carry out enforcement.

Cllr Stringer wanted to highlight the support available for residents struggling with the Cost-of-Living crisis. This is taking up a lot of time and funding to address and she encouraged residents to reach out to neighbours who might need help.