Cabinet noted the information contained in the exempt appendix and did not refer to it as part of the discussion.  The decision is set out under item 6 above.

Cabinet noted the information contained in the exempt appendix and did not refer to it as part of the discussion.  The decision is set out under item 9 above.

The item was withdrawn.

Cabinet agreed to note the information contained in the exempt appendices without making reference to it as part of the discussion and therefore the meeting remained in public.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet continues to recognise the urgency and importance of reopening Bishopsford Road Bridge and reaffirms its commitment to holding special meetings where necessary.

2.    That Cabinet selects the demolition of the existing structure and the erection of a new bridge [options 5 or 6] as the preferred option from a number of options explored to reopen the bridge.

RESOLVED:

That a three-year contract be awarded for the provision of Microsoft Enterprise Licences to Supplier B, to be appointed as the Microsoft Large Account Reseller partner (LAR) for London Borough of Merton.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the Local Discretionary Business Rate Relief Scheme for 2020/21 be agreed.

2.         That the new Retail Discount Scheme for 2020/21 be agreed.

The item was withdrawn.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation made by the Overview and Scrutiny Commission (set out in paragraph 2.4 of the Cabinet report) and the outcomes of consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels (set out in Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report) be taken into account when taking decisions relating to the Business Plan 2020-24.

RESOLVED:

That the publication in March 2020 of the Merton’s Strategy for meeting the needs of children and young people with SEN and/ or disabilities age 0-25 (2020-23). ‘The Merton SEND Strategy’ – Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report be approved.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Council award Lot 1 - Landscape Contract to Tenderer D under the terms set out in the exempt appendices.

2.    That the Council award Lot 2 - Building Contract to Tenderer E under the terms set out in the exempt appendices.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the response to the Overview and Scrutiny Commission be agreed;

2.    That having considered all of the information in this report and noted the positive assurance statement given by the Director of Corporate Services based on the proposed Council Tax strategy, the maximum Council Tax in 2020/21, equating to a Band D Council Tax of  £1,276.92, which is an increase of below 4% be approved and recommended to Council for approval.

3.    That all of the latest information and the comments from the scrutiny process be considered, and recommendations to Council be made as appropriate

4.    That the Business Plan 2020-24 including the General Fund Budget and Council Tax Strategy for 2020/21, and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2020-24 as submitted, along with the draft Equality Assessments (EAs), be approved and recommended to Council for approval subject to any proposed amendments agreed at this meeting;

5.    That having considered all of the latest information and the comments from the scrutiny process, the Capital Investment Programme (as detailed in Annex 1 to the Capital Strategy); the Treasury Management Strategy (Section 5), including the detailed recommendations in that Section, incorporating the Prudential Indicators and the Capital Strategy (Section 4) as submitted and reported upon be approved and recommended to Council for approval, subject to any proposed amendments agreed at this meeting;

6.    That it be noted that the GLA precept will not be agreed by the London Assembly until 24 February 2020, but the provisional figure has been incorporated into the draft MTFS.

7.    That officers be requested to review the savings proposals agreed and where possible bring them forward to the earliest possible implementation date

8.    That it be noted that there may be minor amendments to figures in this report as a result of new information being received after the deadline for dispatch and that this will be amended for the report to Council in March.

9.    That Risk Management Strategy be approved.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the financial reporting data for month 9, December 2019, relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net favourable variance at year-end of £1,710k, -0.3% of gross budget be noted.

2.    That the contents of Section 4 and the amendments to the Capital Programme contained in Appendix 5b of the Cabinet report be noted.