Cabinet Member for Community & Culture - Nick Draper:

Looking back, we have achieved the opening of the new Colliers Wood library, Morden Leisure Centre, arts spaces, recreation grounds. We have begun work on Chapter House and the Canons.

Now we are entering a new phase, my priorities are;

·         We need to work in partnership and with commercial acumen.

·         In Regulatory Services, we are a flagship service for London in Air Quality, alongside Richmond and Wandsworth.

·         Look at the possibilities of Shared Frontline Services and pooled resources instead of the flaws.

·         Adopt a more business-like attitude to events.

·         Work with LoveWimbledon and local residents to for ideas to encourage more growth of Wimbledon Tennis – the biggest tennis tournament in the world. 

·         Adult Education – Working towards Good, then outstanding, and would like Scrutiny input on how to improve.

In response to Panel Member questions, the Cabinet Member for Community & Culture clarified the following;

·         Plans are still ongoing for Merton Borough of Film.

·         We are having conversations with the Transitions Task Group Chair on how to move forward with our Adult Education and SEN offer.

·         We are exploring different ideas in terms of building on the Wimbledon Tennis brand. Twickenham rugby sell paraphernalia etc.

Cabinet Member for Environment & Street Cleanliness - Mike Brunt:

I have smaller portfolio but it includes high impact areas. Now that refuse collection has been rolled out, I intend to focus on;

·         Street Cleaning. We are recruiting three new inspectors. We will focus on high density and high usage roads. Ensure all businesses have a waste collection agreement in place that fits their needs.

·         Fly tipping. Abandoned waste.  We have confiscated vehicles that have been used to fly tip (and crushed two of these where the owners have failed to come forward). Education residents on the issue. Introducing a new and enhanced system with Veolia – tagging bags, searching through and identifying culprits and issuing penalty notices.

·         Local community recycling centres. Work needs to be done so these are used properly.

·         Blocks of flats with less than ten flats. The transition has not been smooth for these residents but we are working through this to make the service better.

·         Online reporting tool needs to improve so that residents can receive feedback.

·         Build on our early successes with recycling. 20% increase in garden waste customers. 58% increase in food waste recycling. Reduction of 330 tonnes per month of waste going to landfill/energy exchange.

·         Plastic bottles, cans and glass. Endorse Michael Gove’s deposit scheme for plastics. We need to encourage businesses to change their behaviour.

In response to Panel Member questions, the Cabinet Member for Environment & Street Cleanlinessclarified the following;

·         Agreed to provide information about cleaners employed today versus the day before the start of the Veolia contract by letter to the questioner.

·         We are considering putting together literature for estate agents to pass to new tenants as well as online education tools.

·         The energy exchange generates electric which feeds into the national grid and hot water for a local housing estate. The output will be published. A lot of investment has gone into the project and the centre will be open at the end of April. Panel Members expressed an interest in visiting.

·         We continue to hold Veolia to account via monitoring the KPI’s and regularly scheduling Veolia’s attendance at my Councillor workshop meetings to discuss ward issues. I feel it’s important for Veolia staff to hear these resident issues.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing and Transport - Martin Whelton

·         Housing. Waiting on announcement of funding from GLA.

·         Transforming Morden and building more homes is essential. We are meeting with developers, major construction firms and housing associations.

·         More office accommodation in Wimbledon. It’s the second busiest station in Outer London and needs more capacity.

·         Local Plan consultation

·         Delivering affordable homes

·         Housing Strategy

·         Clarion estates regeneration – Shortlisted for a number of planning awards

·         Parking consultation has just started

·         Highways contract

In response to Panel Member questions, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing and Transport clarified the following;

·         With regards to concerns about the challenges of an ageing population and whether there is enough emphasis on homes for older people and sheltered housing – We are carrying out extensive work on strategic housing market assessments which will feed into the Housing Strategy. We are realistic about the targets and we have put representations forward for the examination in public for the draft London Plan.

·         Asked how the Schools plan figures, with no additional capacity needed, fit with the London plan - I don’t have all the figures but school figures can and do fluctuate. There has been a dip over the past three years.