Wimbledon Community Forum Agenda Item 7a 6 September 2011 Chair’s Report

The meeting was held in the Mansel Road Centre and was chaired by Councillor Simon Withey. 30 residents attended, as well as 6 other Councillors, Assembly Member Richard Tracey and officers from the council and its partners.

Councillor Simon Withey welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Police update Sergeant Tony Oram, from Wimbledon Town Centre Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT), said that he was representing Inspector Chris Verney, who sent his apologies.

On the recent civil disturbances PS Oram said that Wimbledon had experienced very little damage despite threats emerging on social media. The police had responded by bringing additional support from as far away as South Wales and Scotland as well as cancelling leave for all officers in Merton. Police numbers would start returning to normal over the next few days. The spontaneous nature of the events had meant the police were not initially prepared. Operation Withern was focusing on arresting those responsible for looting and images of suspects have been published online: http://www.flickr.com/photos/metropolitanpolice/sets/72157627267892973/

Other local issues include burglary, which is still a major priority, and thefts from sheds, especially bicycles. Bike crime in Wimbledon Town Centre has also been an issue. Operation Protect is focusing on transport hubs in early morning and evening in order to focus on bullying and robbery of children and young people. A new CCTV van has been purchased by Merton police and is being used in this operation. The restructuring of safer neighbourhood teams was continuing with the number of sergeants being reduced from 20 to 15.

In response to questions from residents PS Oram stated that the police are working closely with Centre Court and would be meeting in the next week. PS Oram was aware that a mugging had taken place near Wimbledon Park but he did not think this was part of a trend. An issue about parking was raised but PS Oram said enforcement of parking restrictions was the responsibility of the council. Residents with concerns about parking should call 020 8545 4661 or email [email protected]

Olympic Route Network Consultation Michael Tarrega from Transport for London presented information about the consultation on changes to road use during the 2012 Olympics. The presentation is on the Wimbledon Community Forum web page: http://www.merton.gov.uk/communityforums/wimbledoncommunityforum The consultation will close on 14 September and drop-in events are taking place on 8 and 9 September at the Wimbledon Club on Church Road.

1 35 Richard Tracey, London Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth Richard Tracey updated the forum on the latest activities of the London Assembly covering policing, transport, Olympics, and .

On policing Mr Tracey said that there had been a significant increase in special constables, and that high priorities were burglary and crime on public transport. Mr Tracey applauded the community activity to clean up Clapham Junction following the civil disturbances. The Assembly would be questioning the Police Commissioner on 7 September.

On transport Mr Tracey said he was pleased Wimbledon station had added Oyster and that TfL had contributed to the redevelopment of the station forecourt. An upgrade on the District Line will see new air conditioned trains on the line by 2013. Following the closure of the Olympia line 5 extra trains an hour will run on the Wimbledon branch. The Northern Line upgrade has been delayed by the late completion of the Jubilee Line. The upgrade will involve some weekend closures but there will be no closures between now and Christmas. Upon completion in 2014 we will see an increase in train frequency. TfL are also investing £60m in new trams for Tramlink but there are no specific plans to extend the Tramlink at the moment despite discussions continuing.

The Assembly has been reviewing transport plans for the Olympic and has called for extra river transport. In 2012 the London Fire Brigade will be moving to the new control centre in Merton. This is the only one of the regional centres being brought into use.

Merton Council Budget Update Councillor Mark Allison, Cabinet Member for Finance, presented the current budget position for the council and set out the process for deciding the 2012/13 budget. The presentation is available at: http://www.merton.gov.uk/communityforums/wimbledoncommunityforum

Councillor Allison was asked why the ‘budget gap’ was larger than the reduction in central government funding. This is due to a number of factors, including an increase in costs and the £10m in one off savings taken this year that cannot be repeated next year, among other things. Councillor Neil Mills asked if further debt repayment was being considered. Councillor Allison replied that if it were possible to repay debt and reduce long-term interest payments he would consider doing so. Councillor Allison was asked if the school expansion programme would involve Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding. He responded that he would find out for the Forum but would consider a range of sources of funding and whilst it was conceivable PFI might be considered he did not anticipate it would be a substantial element. Since the meeting Cllr Allison has confirmed that funding will be from DfE grant and the Council's own funding, and so there are no current plans to use PFI for primary school expansion.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, added that the council was looking at all opportunities to reduce costs, share services and

2 36 collaborate with others. When asked about pest control services Councillor Alambritis replied that all options are being considered.

Trees Dave Lofthouse, Arboricultural Manager at Merton Council, spoke about how the urban forest is looked after in the borough. Mr Lofthouse said that there are approximately 250,000 trees in Merton, with about 30% of these on public land and 70% on private land. Within the Green Spaces team there are two officers qualified in urban forestry, with a further two posts in the Traffic and Highways Service looking after the 17,500 trees on the highways. An additional officer in Development Control leads on preservation orders and planning matters. Mr Lofthouse also praised the work of tree wardens in the borough, volunteers who support trees and actively assisted the council’s team. Raising the profile of the wardens is important and Mr Lofthouse will work with the council’s communications team to do this.

The Mayor of London is calling for a 5% increase in the tree canopy of London by 2015. Merton’s tree canopy is 22-23% of the borough and the council is working with other local authorities to improve mapping of trees. The council is also working with London boroughs to address bio security as a number of serious threats to trees are emerging. A recent survey of 55% of trees planted 3 years ago found that 90% survived their first year and 73% the first three years.

In response to a question about tree watering and particular trees that have failed Mr Lofthouse said that the survey showed the watering programme was being effective overall but if there were concerns about these particular trees he would be happy to go and look at them.

In response to a question about pruning Mr Lofthouse stated the council would only prune when it was absolutely necessary but this was most challenging with highways trees. Mr Lofthouse also said that while the preference was to plant large trees the key was planting the right tree in the right place, and this includes planting a balance of different trees.

Planning update Sue Wright, Team Leader Development Control, said that the new Waitrose store on the B&Q site has now opened. The ‘section 106’ contribution had been received, and was being used to improve the environment for the shops in Leopold Road. These works should be completed by October.

There is continuing delay in the implementation of the Government’s proposals to allow council’s to set their own planning fees, originally envisaged as coming into force by late spring/summer this year. No new timetable has been announced and the Council await further news from government

Rear of Bank Buildings 41-47A Wimbledon Hill Road 09/P2346 Approval was given to a building of glass and metal connecting to the rear of Bank Buildings on the Alwyne Road frontage at July’s Planning Applications Committee (PAC). This will provide extended retail and office floorspace at ground and first floor with residential on the upper levels.

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153-161 The Broadway 125 bed hotel application refused in august because of poor quality design, impact on neighbours and it compromised the proper future development of the adjoining site at Highlands House.

Atkinson Morley Members resolved to grant planning permission at the July PAC for 79 residential units. A new north/south footpath will be provided linking Copse Hill to Cottenham Park road, with land to the west being transferred to the Council following the re-surfacing and re-instating of the football pitches, construction of a new pavilion and a replacement cottage.

165-169 Merton Road The planning application (11/P1664) for 165-169 Merton Road is being reported to Members at PAC on 8 September with a recommendation for approval. It comprises a 4-storey development with a recessed fourth level. There are 17 flats (10x 1bed and 7x 2-bed) providing 8 1-bed assisted living units and 9 shared ownership/intermediate units.

Soapbox All though there was not sufficient time for the soapbox at the meeting a number of issues had been raised ahead of the meeting.

A resident had asked why no trees had been planted at Wimbledon station forecourt. The response is that three trees will be planted in the autumn. A concern was also raised about the paving used at the forecourt and if they would be dangerous in slippery conditions. The response is that the York stones being used are common in public realm usage and have been tested for adherence and grip. Another resident raised concerns about access to taxis from the forecourt. The response is that taxis should be parking flush to the kerb providing step free access and making it possible to use their ramp for wheelchair users. Currently taxis are parking away from the kerb and this is causing difficulties. The council will work with South West Trains to put in additional signage and remind drivers of the correct location to park.

A resident asked about the trees outside the Old Town Hall where bases have been covered over in concrete. The response is that Merton Council does not cover tree bases with concrete and these trees are the responsibility of Centre Court.

A resident raised the issue of CFL light bulbs, and asked what steps the council is taking to make residents aware of the environmental impact of these bulbs. The response is that information about CFL light bulbs is available on the council’s website at: www.merton.gov.uk/hazardouswaste. CFL bulbs can be taken to Garth Road HRRC; Robert Dyas, Wimbledon; Sainsburys, North Cheam; and Homebase, Jubilee Way, . Further information about these bulbs will be provided to residents later in the autumn.

4 38 Community Forum Agenda Item 7(b) 22 September 2011 Chair’s Report

The meeting was held in Raynes Park Library Hall, and chaired by Councillor David Dean assisted by Chris Larkman, Chair of the Raynes Park Association. More than 70 residents attended, as well as 8 other Merton Councillors, and officers from the council and its partners.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Police update PC Fludgate represented Inspector Verney at the meeting. PC Fludgate informed the Forum that joint working in the borough had recently changed and there are now Local Multi Agency Problem Solving Groups (LMAPS) for each of the three sectors. The Wimbledon sector group covers Raynes Park. The LMAPS bring a range of agencies together to develop plans for tackling local problems. Residents wishing to raise issues to be considered by the group should contact their Safer Neighbourhood Team in the first instance. PC Fludgate also introduced a new officer in Raynes Park, PC Mary Mitchell.

Rainbow Estate Angus Boat and Jonathan Shelton from Workspace Group updated the community forum on plans for developing the Rainbow Estate site. They confirmed that there are no plans to develop energy from waste facilities at the site and instead they would be looking to create an employment led regeneration of the site. This reflects the ambition in Merton’s Core Strategy for the site. Workspace Group provides more than 100 business sites, housing more than 4000 businesses across London so feels well placed to understand how the site could best be developed.

There are a number of challenges to regenerating the 4.5-hectare site including the poor condition of the current buildings, poor access through a narrow entrance, a poor internal environment with pollution from oil/diesel, and an inefficient layout. However there are opportunities to address these. Workspace owns 9 Grand Drive so this site could be used to widen the access. The site could be developed with a new focal point and could accommodate a wide range of uses. Employment-led regeneration will not cover the costs of delivery on its own so some residential units will need to be included in the plans.

There is a 12-month timetable for consultation starting with engagement with councillors and local community groups over the next three months. An initial plan would be presented in December for consultation. This would be reviewed before a submission is made to the council and formal consultation takes place.

In response to questions from the forum Mr Shelton stated that they have spoken with Network Rail about alternative access onto West Barnes Lane

1 39 but he did not think Network Rail would be keen on this. There would be restrictions on parking provision in line with planning policies, a green travel plan would be needed and it could be possible to exclude businesses from parking permits. A multi-storey car park was not part of the plans and it would be unlikely that the Authority would support this. A full transport and traffic assessment would be needed. The contamination on site would either be cleared or dealt with on site. Any residential development would be subject to making sure the site was appropriate.

Raynes Park Enhancement Plan Paul McGarry provided an update on the Enhancement Plan. The presentation can be found on the council’s website at: http://www.merton.gov.uk/community- living/communityforums/raynesparkcommunityforum.htm

Paul said that all 18 action points from the original consultation have been explored, but not all of the actions could be met. Work is still taking place with the Bellmouth being completed by the end of October. More than £600,000 has been spent so far and there are now clear ideas for what else could be done if more money becomes available.

In response to questions from the forum Paul stated that they have looked at extending the path at the Bellmouth but the embankment is not earth so could not be moved or paved over. Drainage is an issue but this is caused by a lack of capacity in the sewage system in heavy rains. This is being taken up with Thames Water. Some of the trees are apparently diseased so Network Rail has been asked to plant more.

The Chair asked the forum to express its thanks to Paul for his work in supporting the plan. Paul will now be supporting the Community Forum and Neil Milligan will be taking over in Raynes Park.

Council Budget Update The Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis said that in developing the budget there are two clear themes, partnership and balance. The administration does not have an overall majority and will be working in partnership with other parties to find the right balance. This is also true for the development of Raynes Park where a balance needs to be found between the need for housing and using land to create local employment opportunities. The council will be looking to work in partnership with residents on the development of the Rainbow site and in partnership with Network Rail to see improvements to Raynes Park station.

Councillor Mark Allison, Cabinet Member for Finance, presented the current budget position for the council and set out the process for deciding the 2012/13 budget. The presentation is available at: http://www.merton.gov.uk/community- living/communityforums/raynesparkcommunityforum.htm

2 40 Councillor Allison was asked why the ‘budget gap’ was larger than the reduction in central government funding. This is due to a number of factors, including an increase in costs due to inflation, revenue implications of capital expenditure and the £10m in one-off savings taken this year that cannot be repeated next year, amongst other things.

Councillor Allison was asked if the council had received additional funding under the Water Act and if so what it was being used for. This would need to be checked with officers:

The response following the meeting is that DEFRA has made funding available in 2011/12 to every local authority in recognition of the increased duties imposed upon them by the Flood & Water Management Act 2010. Merton received £127,400 and in 2012/13 that will rise to £188,800.

Over many years the number of staff engaged on drainage and flooding work has diminished to the point at which there are currently no officers dedicated to dealing with flooding and drainage issues in Merton. It is proposed to utilise some of the money to appoint a consultant to develop a "roadmap" to assist Merton in prioritising its activities. There are also known areas where flooding occurs following heavy rainfall. A proportion of the DEFRA funding will be used to address some of the problem areas and the consultant will also be tasked to identify those areas where relatively inexpensive remedial measures could be quickly implemented.

Planning update Neil Milligan updated the Forum on the latest planning issues: Atkinson Morley – A legal agreement is being concluded. Berkeley Homes hopes to be on site by Christmas. Lambton Road Medical Centre – Works are underway on site. Parking provision is included. 215 Worple Rd – Works are well underway. There has been an application for adverts for the ground floor that contain the word Sainsbury.

The Overview and Scrutiny Commission is looking at the how the community should be engaged in Section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy at a meeting on 11 October. This includes the ‘project bank’ concept. Raynes Park is well-placed following work on the enhancement plan.

Open Forum In response to questions raised, the forum was informed that the bins in the Waitrose car park would be removed by October and that planning permission was being sought to re-clad the exterior of the utilities building in the front of the site. If permission is granted, materials would be ordered immediately.

Additional cycle racks at Raynes Park station will be considered as part of the Bellmouth works. It was confirmed that cycling is not permitted under the arch by Raynes Park Station and there are signs to that effect. Chris Larkman will be meeting with Network Rail and South West Trains to discuss how Raynes Park station could be improved, especially in terms of access.

3 41 Controlled Parking Zones Paul Atie and Mario Lecordier from Traffic and Highways at Merton Council updated the forum on the Controlled Parking Zone consultations in the area. Around Wimbledon Chase station and the Apostles five roads had opted to be added to the CPZ. The Street Management Advisory Committee had recommended that a statutory consultation should take place around Worple Road and The Downs. In Toynbee Road residents had responded positively to the consultation and a CPZ was now being implemented. Details on the responses to these consultations can be found in the reports to the Street Management Advisory Committee: http://www.merton.gov.uk/council/decision- making/committee.htm?view=committee&com_id=221

The meeting broke at 8.30pm to allow those not wishing to participate in the discussion about the central Raynes Park Controlled Parking Zone to leave.

Raynes Park Controlled Parking Zone Consultation Councillor Rod Scott introduced the proposed changes to controlled parking in central Raynes Park that are currently being consulted on. These are mainly extensions to the north of the existing CPZ to take into account existing displacement. Consultation documents can be found at: http://www.merton.gov.uk/transport- streets/parking/cpz/cpz_consultations/cpzrpa.htm

Questions were asked about parking over driveways in a CPZ. Mr Atie responded that yellow lines over driveways were necessary to avoid obstruction, as the alternative would be putting bays over the driveways. Mr Atie agreed to check if the wording around owners’ consent in the consultation documents could be clarified.

Residents expressed concern that the mail out had resulted in the wrong documents being sent to several hundred households. Councillor Scott and Mr Larkman said they would both raise the need to re-issue the documentation with the cabinet member, Councillor Andrew Judge and attendees endorsed this.

A number of questions and comments were made about the cost and revenue implications of the CPZ extensions. Mr Atie stated that charges were designed to cover the costs of the CPZ but that the detailed work on the costs of this extension would only take place if the informal consultation suggested that the scheme should progress. As an example The Downs scheme is likely to cost around £45,000; with 50% of residents purchasing a permit the income would just about cover the costs. Initial costs are raised through a loan, which is then paid back through the income over a period of time.

Issues were also raised about the clarity of the documentation and in particular if this was a consultation or a ballot process. Councillor Scott explained that the consultation informs the Street Management Advisory Committee, which then advises the Cabinet Member. The consultation is therefore not binding as a ballot would be, but it would be extremely unlikely

4 42 that any CPZ proposal would proceed to the next stage of consultation unless a majority of responses were in favour.

A number of particular concerns were raised about individual roads. Residents were encouraged to make sure that they included these views in their response to the consultation. The results of the consultation are presented to the committee road by road.

In conclusion Mr Larkman said he would write to Councillor Andrew Judge and raise the following issues:

1. It was reported that the consultation papers have not been delivered or have been delivered incorrectly to many of the roads to which they should have been delivered. Officers present apologised for this error, but were unable to give information as to the extent of the error. Accordingly, the meeting requested that the consultation papers be re- sent with a new closing date fixed.

2. People were very concerned about the wording on the consultation papers. They appear to give the impression that the purpose of the consultation is to collect people's opinions. Whilst this may be true, it was recognised that effectively the results of the 'votes' from any particular street would become a major part in the decision making process. People therefore felt that the wording of the consultation papers should reflect this e.g. 'If you are in favour of a CPZ in your street or opposed to it, it is important that you respond to this consultation. Failure to respond may result in a decision being made without weight being given to your view.'

3. There were strong feelings about decisions being made to implement a CPZ on the basis of a small number of returns. Because of the effective 'once-and-for-all' implementation of a CPZ, the meeting felt that a CPZ should only be implemented in streets where 50% of the households were in favour - not 50% of those responding. Whereas this may appear to be a high threshold, people were adamant that there should be some cut-off if the number of responses was very low.

4. The information gives an explanation of the rules over parking across 'cross-overs'. The information is inaccurate. The implication is that it is permissible to park over a cross-over with the owner's permission. However, we understood last night that this is not what is meant. What is meant is that you can park over a crossover with the owner's permission only outside CPZ hours.

Following the meeting the consultation was extended until 28 October and new Questionnaire Reply Card and Frequently Asked Question sent to all residents in the consultation area.

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44 Morden Community Forum Agenda Item 7(c) 5 October 2011 Chair’s Report

The meeting was held at the Civic Centre and was chaired by Councillor Maurice Groves. Approximately 26 residents attended, as well as 12 Merton Councillors and officers from the council and its partners.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were given on behalf of Councillor Deborah Shears, Councillor Peter McCabe, and Elspeth Clarke.

Police update Inspector Matt Boyd reported back on the new structure of Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs), which comes into effect on 24th October. Morden has gained a ward but has fewer sergeants: Raynes Park is the new ward, which will be managed with West Barnes by PS Graham Chapman. Cannon Hill and wards will share a sergeant, PS Ian Harman, whilst Ravensbury will remain with PS James Bourne. St Helier and Lower Morden wards will get a new sergeant as PS Cliff Russell declined to apply for the post. PS Jeff New is expected to replace him but this is subject to confirmation.

With regard to the recent London riots, Inspector Boyd said that Merton’s police had arrested 67 people and charged 42 of these people with 130 offences. More CCTV pictures of rioters who are yet to be identified are on the Met. Police website for viewing.

A public access review has been carried out on Morden station’s front office, looking at the front counters and opening hours, but the results of this review have not yet been published. Inspector Boyd did not expect anything soon in terms of access arrangements.

There have been some successes in terms of reduced crime figures, for example, Ravensbury has seen a 14-33% reduction in various types of crime over the past five months, largely due to the ‘Behave or be banned’ scheme. St Helier has seen a 10% reduction in crime and Cannon Hill’s crime rate has also reduced. There is also now a Dispersal zone in Green Lane. There remain issues with West Barnes, Lower Morden and Merton Park, areas where Inspector Boyd warned caution is needed at particular times.

In response to questions from residents, Inspector Boyd said:

To tackle crime, high-visibility patrols are carried out in hotspots and covert resources are employed. Alleygates can also be used to tackle crime but the decision to implement an alleygate has to be unanimous amongst residents. The police are not aware that alleygates cause crime rates to go up in adjoining areas when put up but Inspector Boyd acknowledged there is

1 45 always an element of displacement. Councillor Groves added that if anyone is interested in alleygates, they may contact their local councillor who will put them in touch with the Council’s alleygate co-ordinator.

Once caught, burglars are put before court. Figures were not to hand on how many burglars had been caught in the last few months but Inspector Boyd would find out and report back.

Inspector Boyd confirmed that crime statistics had gone up as a result of the riots, but not as much as expected as the riots had been very centred around the Tandem Centre. Asked whether police numbers would remain the same after the government cuts and whether any additional funds had been allocated, he said that there would be no extra budget and no more manpower made available following the riots to deal with such an emergency again.

During the Olympics, police officers will have fewer days off but it is anticipated that Merton’s police will be able to cope during the event as it will attract fewer visitors than Wimbledon does, which the police manage every year. Councillor Alambritis added that he had met with Bob Haworth, the policing officer for the Olympics, to discuss security measures and was reassured that the police will have the manpower to comfortably deal with the Olympics in Merton. Councillor Alambritis thanked the police for their efforts in his ward and mentioned there is now a Dispersal Zone in Morden Town Centre. He also said that he has written to Darra Singh, who is chairing an official inquiry into the London riots; Mr Singh will now be coming with the inquiry panel to Merton to take evidence from local councillors, businesses and the police on the riots.

The police would look into the possibility of getting the three Safer Neighbourhoods Teams to work together and share duties across their geographical areas, so that no area would suffer whilst teams were away.

Regeneration Plan update - More Morden Paul McGarry, explained that there is a new ‘Future Merton’ team, led by Mr McGarry and consisting of a variety of officers, including planners and designers. Mr McGarry then presented an update on the ‘More Morden’ regeneration plans. The presentation is on the Morden Community Forum web page: http://www.merton.gov.uk/community- living/communityforums/mordencommunityforum.htm

The Merton Regeneration Delivery Plan – a four-year plan for promoting growth in the borough - will go to Cabinet in November, followed by public consultation on the Plan in Spring 2012. The Plan will have concepts for the High Street and a vision for a public realm.

Over the next year, the Future Merton team’s resources will focus on three main areas: the car parks behind the tube station (including the Sainsbury’s car park), the side wings of the Civic Centre, which have been identified as

2 46 potential sites for development, and the Iceland/Lidl site. The planning framework will provide guidance on all other sites and areas.

The team has also been working on Morden’s road layout. The focus has been on the space outside the tube station, where buses park, and using this space for a new public realm. The roads would need to be shrunk to accommodate this, but this would not impact upon traffic. The Future Merton team has been working with Transport for London (TfL) on alternatives for parking buses and is considering placing them all along the street rather than all on one place, thereby spreading footfall and pedestrian build-up on the pavement. Mr McGarry noted that the goal is for a proper high street, without a dual carriageway running through it, and for a public space that can be used for markets and other such activities.

Responding to questions about ‘More Morden’, Mr McGarry said:

Traffic modelling has been done which shows that the road running through Morden is currently wider than it needs to be and can be narrowed, retaining the same number of lanes but fewer traffic lights to allow traffic to flow and avoid bottlenecks.

The Civic Centre and Morden Library both currently have toilets available for the public to use and there is a Community Toilet Scheme, whereby local businesses allow the public to use their toilets in return for discounted business rates from the Council.

Currently, crossing the main road in Morden is not straightforward and takes too long. In the plans, this would be changed, allowing one straight crossing, in an appropriate location to prevent jaywalking. The road would also be narrower, therefore easier to cross.

Making the main road through Morden one way has been tested but one-way roads tend to lead to cars travelling faster, which poses a safety issue. A number of options have been explored, which will be explained during consultation on the plans.

Councillor Groves advised residents should contact their local sergeant regarding concerns about antisocial behaviour around Lidl in the evenings. Mr McGarry said that there is an option in the plans to create a space for young people, such as a skate park, so the Council will explore this.

Mr McGarry said consideration would have to be given to parking spaces for community buses used for bringing people with mobility difficulties to Morden. He also explained that the plan to spread TfL’s bus stops along the road, meaning people would have to walk further to get to the tube station, was in order to recapture spend, as studies have shown that people walking past shops are more likely to stop and spend.

3 47 Asked what car clubs are, Mr McGarry explained that it is a scheme that allows people to hire cars, which can be parked in certain bays in the borough. Merton Council encourages residents to join such schemes.

Merton Council Budget Update Councillor Mark Betteridge, Deputy Leader of the council, presented the current budget position for the council and set out the process for deciding the 2012/13 budget. The presentation is available at: http://www.merton.gov.uk/community- living/communityforums/mordencommunityforum.htm

A resident suggested that not repairing roads in order to save money would be a false economy as the roads would only get worse, costing more to fix in the long-run. Councillor Betteridge acknowledged the resident’s concern and said that the council needs to evaluate its choices; if significant amounts of money need to be found, some difficult decisions will have to be made. The Council as a whole would have to make a judgement call on whether or not to draw on its reserves to pay towards the £70m deficit.

Councillor Betteridge was aware that the government has announced financial support for local authorities to keep or revert to weekly rubbish collections but did not know whether Merton would be eligible for this credit, or how much credit it might receive, since it is committed to maintaining weekly collections.

Asked about the Freedom Pass Budget and what the Council would do if it does not receive budget for the next three years, Councillor Betteridge said that the council was waiting to hear from the Mayor on the matter.

It was explained that if the council chooses to freeze Council tax levels again, it is hoped that the equivalent of a 2.5% rise would be received from Government, as per last year.

Asked whether the Council’s financial projections included estimates of savings through re-tendering outsourced services, Councillor Betteridge said that this would be part of the package and something that Scrutiny would look at closely. He explained that the Conway’s contract was re-tendered at the end of its seven-year term, plus a year extension and that all contracts have to be openly advertised when contracts come to an end. Councillor Andrew Judge stated that for the treatment of residual waste, the Council is looking to award a 25-year contract with the other members of the South London Waste Partnership: this is a long period and a valuable contract, where it is essential that the Council meets its objectives of quality, protection of the environment and value for money. Merton Council is also working with other local authorities to save money through shared services, for example, Legal and Human Resources.

In response to a question about why Conway’s use the logo on their clothing and vehicles, Councillor Betteridge said that only those working on behalf of Merton Council wear the logo.

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Asked how the Council would be able to deliver its services effectively if it had to reduce its workforce by 30%, Councillor Betteridge said the Council would need to find a way of doing more with less but would not be able to do everything it did before. The Council is looking at how to make efficiency savings, for example through the use of technologies.

Councillor Betteridge explained that decisions on how to make savings were being made in negotiation with staff. Councillor Alambritis added that a series of Staff Roadshows had just taken place where staff had been assured that decisions would be talked through with them. Staff can also email the Leader confidentially about any concerns they may have.

A resident asked whether cash flow could be improved and suggested one way of generating income could be exploring whether the Council could be reimbursed for the traffic generated by tube travellers. It was also asked whether the All Lawn Tennis Association could contribute more to the borough. Councillor Betteridge said that the Council welcomed all suggestions and Councillor Alambritis explained that the Tennis Club does contribute significantly to the borough’s economy, including through its park and ride scheme, which is very valuable to the Council.

Morden Hall Park – Living Green Project Zoë Colbeck, the Property Manager for Morden Hall Park, presented on the latest developments in the Living Green Project at Morden Hall Park, which opens on 5 November. The presentation is available for viewing at http://www.merton.gov.uk/community- living/communityforums/mordencommunityforum.htm.

In response to questions asked by those in attendance, Ms Colbeck said: The Natural Play area will not be supervised and meets ROSPACS standards for play areas, it is considered to be safe but does add risk back into playing. Ms Colbeck added that the idea of the area was to add some adventure back into children’s lives and encourage exploration and outdoor play.

The building that the Steakhouse used to be in is on a long lease to Whitbread who have repainted the building and redone the windows. They are not interested in running the building themselves any more and have been trying to sublet it for the last three years. There is now some interest in a new sub lease tenant but nothing is certain yet. The building that was used as the registry office is let to Groundwork London.

Previous open-air productions have been very popular so another is planned for next year. Once the stable yard is open, it will be used as a community resource for things like Farmers’ Markets and exhibitions. Morden Hall Park’s management hope to be able to arrange more theatre and events but can only do so if they are sustainable and cover their costs. Events will be advertised on the Park’s website, the Council website and in the park itself.

Paul McGarry from the Council’s ‘Future Merton’ team suggested that

5 49 perhaps the stable yard might be used for an outdoor cinema, like a mini Somerset House.

Ms Colbeck said that there are no barn owls or bats living in the air vents of the building. There are stag beetles in the park, some of which have had to be moved, but there aren’t any in the building.

An audio-tour of the park and a guide book both mention and promote the heronry that exists there.

Morden Business Forum Paul McGarry informed residents that the Merton Chamber of Commerce has started up business forums in the borough’s five district centres to hear the views of local businesses. The first meeting for Morden was a small one but the business forum will be promoted and there is a potential to bring residents and businesses together at some point to discuss issues and concerns.

Councillor Alambritis said that Hamsey’s Furniture shop is closing. The Morden Business Forum is looking at whether it could be used as a one- screen cinema, but it seems difficult.

Soapbox A resident asked if anything had been done about speed checks, especially along London Road, where cars frequently break the speed limit. It was confirmed that the issue has been raised with Sergeant Russell, who confirmed that speeding is being monitored.

It was asked of the Council whether progress has been made on the by-law about how many dogs can be walked by one person in parks. Councillors said that a decision has not yet been made but the matter is being discussed.

Residents complained that their garden waste is not being collected despite the fact that they have been paying for the service to be delivered. Councillor Maxi Martin said she was aware of the matter and is speaking to Chris Lee, Director of Environment and Regeneration, about why collections keep getting missed on a particular road.

A resident asked if the Baitul Futuh mosque could inform the community when big events – other than Friday prayers - are planned so that residents can plan accordingly, particularly as parking in Morden becomes an issue. Councillor Maxi Martin said that she will raise the issue at the local partnership committee with the Mosque. Councillor Dennis Pearce suggested that Councillor Southgate, as a representative for the Council on the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Liaison Group, might be able to send out notifications when big events are planned.

A member of the public asked why local residents were not told about the opening of a college development on London Road. She also asked what Merton Council was doing in response to the opening of the college. Councillors said that Merton had not been consulted by Sutton about the

6 50 development, nor was it a statutory obligation for Sutton to consult its neighbouring borough. Merton Council’s Planning team has been looking into the matter but won’t be able to influence it as the college is situated in Sutton. It was advised that residents speak to the Leader of Sutton Council about the matter. Councillor Groves said that the college was a genuine educational establishment that had to move premises to allow for expansion. He said that Merton Council would report back to the forum on Sutton’s investigations that the college is flouting certain permissions.

A resident queried whether it would be possible to have more than one entrance/exit at Morden Underground station, for example, perhaps an underground walkway. Paul McGarry said he has spoken to TfL to ask about capacity and is awaiting a response.

Councillor updates Councillor Maurice Groves advised that an interim community forum for Lower Morden is planned for January.

Councillor Maxi Martin said that a forum had been held in St Helier in July and another is planned for January.

Councillor John Sargeant that that meetings were being held on the first Tuesday of every month at Merton Park Primary for ward residents. Everyone was welcome to attend.

Councillor Philip Jones said that plans are being made for a Ravensbury Park surgery. Councillor Stephen Alambritis added that regular meetings take place between the Friends of Ravensbury Park and Neighbourhood Watch.

It was announced that an open meeting was being held at 8pm at St. Andrew’s Church to discuss plans for a Local Care Centre at Nelson Hospital.

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52 Colliers Wood and North East Mitcham Community Forum - Item 7(d) 12 October 2011 Chair’s Report

Councillor Greg Udeh chaired the meeting. Four residents attended, as well as four councillors and officers from the council and its partners.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Police update PC Julie Spells said that while robbery and burglary figures were quite low overall, there has been a recent spate. The newly formed Burglary Robbery Investigation Team is taking proactive action to disrupt the activities of known offenders.

The police had recently closed down a cannabis factory resulting in the seizure of £60-70k of cannabis and a 2-year jail sentence for the perpetrator. Police are working with the Council to seek a closure order for the squat on Denison Road.

Planned operations in the area include a passive dogs operation at Colliers Wood tube station, use of the new CCTV van and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) equipment and Operation Autumn Watch to address anti- social behaviour over Halloween and Bonfire night.

Police are still seeking information about people they want to speak to in relation to the summer disorder. Details can be found at: http://content.met.police.uk/Borough/Merton Data about arrests to date in the borough were not available at the meeting but would be provided.

A question was asked about thefts of metal gates. PC Spells replied that currently scrap metal prices are high but she was not aware of any trends in relation to theft of gates. An ANPR exercise will look for commercial vehicles carrying waste that are unlicensed to do so. A concern about drinking on Figges Marsh, especially at weekends was raised. PC Spells said she would raise this with the Figges Marsh SNT.

Colliers Wood Business Forum Rev Andrew Wakefield, Chair Merton Chamber of Commerce, informed the meeting that the Chamber has been asked by Merton Council to roll out a district business forum based on their success with the Wimbledon forum. Following the summer disorder it was timely to engage with Colliers Wood businesses so the Chamber had organised an initial meeting on 13 September. From the six or seven businesses that attended and discussions with local businesses outside of the meeting some key messages had emerged:  Not all businesses are using email so communications need to be on paper too  There is a mix of retail and professional services in the area

1 53  Retailers find it hard to attend forum meetings  There is not a strong link between multiples and local businesses  Business suffered after the summer disorder but is starting to pick up  Units damaged in the disorder should all be re-opened within the next few weeks with Toys R Us replacing Harveys.

Rev Wakefield was asked if language needs might be a barrier to involving local businesses but he said they had not seen evidence of this. Rev Wakefield said with no Town Centre Manager in Colliers Wood the model for the forum might be different to Wimbledon and more like Raynes Park. There, the Raynes Park Association brings together businesses and residents. The key will be to adapt to local demands and circumstances. The Chamber will look at how issues raised at the business forums can be communicated to councillors and residents.

James McGinlay, Head of Sustainable Communities at Merton Council said that money had been made available by central government, Mayor of London and the Council to businesses affected by the summer disorder. Take up has been less than anticipated so it is hoped that some funding could be made available to Colliers Wood.

Graveney Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) Councillor John Dehany said that sales of parking permits in the ‘ABC’ zone (Ascot, Boscombe, Cromer) were lower than expected suggesting that some residents maybe parking in other streets. This has resulted in pressure to extend the existing zone so a consultation has been undertaken. The results of this consultation will be shared once they are available. A question was asked about the coverage of wardens in new CPZ areas. This will be followed up with Council officers.

Council Budget Update Councillor Mark Allison, Cabinet Member for Finance, presented the current budget position for the council and set out the process for deciding the 2012/13 budget. The presentation is available at: http://www.merton.gov.uk/community- living/communityforums/collierswoodcommunityforum.htm

Councillor Allison was asked about the Bulky Waste Collection service, whether help was available for those who cannot lift the bulky items, whether there has been any impact on fly tipping and what take up there has been. These issues would need to be checked by officers.

Help is available for residents unable to lift bulky items in some circumstances subject to a risk assessment and acknowledgement that the council would not be liable for any damage. The tables below were provided following the meeting. They show the number of reported fly tips November 2009 to September 2011 and the take up of the bulky waste service over the same time period. To date 3,150 residents have signed up to the green waste collection scheme.

2 54 Flytips as reported to DEFRA

350

300

250

200 2009-10 150 2010-11

100

50

0 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Bulky Waste Monthly Comparison

1400

1200

1000

800 2009-10 600 2010-11

400

200

0 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Councillor Allison was asked if as part of the Service Reviews there had been any presumption that private sector provision would be better or more efficient than public sector provision. Given recent examples of poor quality care in private sector care homes this presumption would not be accurate. Councillor Allison responded that each service had been reviewed with an open mind with all options considered. In most cases there was very little evidence that services would be better or more efficient if delivered by the private sector. Councillor Allison was also asked if he was aware that cutting fees from the local authority to care providers would mean that fees for self-funders would be increased. Councillor Allison responded that the council was trying to get best value from all the contracts it has and the reality of the cuts combined with increasing demand for social care could lead to some difficult decisions.

Councillor Allison also said that the savings proposals released on 18 October would be needed to meet the budget gap, but that Cabinet will not be supporting all of them and will seek to find savings from elsewhere. The council will work with Scrutiny to identify the correct priorities, with Cabinet stating its preferred options in November. Charges are usually set to cover costs but in many cases they do not. This may lead to an increase in charges in some cases. Councillor Allison said he would be considering how to use

3 55 any potential income from the stock transfer to Merton Priory Homes if it becomes available as part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Soapbox

An issue was raised about outdoor tables and chairs belonging to a restaurant encroaching onto the public footpath. This will need to be checked with council officers. Similarly new signage at another restaurant would need to be checked with planning enforcement. Other officers will also need to be consulted over use of a gate on Leyton Road.

Concern about wet paper in recycling collections was raised. The response from officers following the meeting is that wet paper cannot be recycled and therefore residents are asked to cover paper in the recycling boxes wherever possible.

4 56 Mitcham Community Forum Agenda Item 7(e) 25 October 2011 Chair’s Report

The meeting was held at Vestry Hall, and chaired by Councillor Ian Munn. 28 residents attended, as well as 4 other Councillors, and officers of the council and its partners.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Police update The police had sent their apologies as officers were attending a community meeting in Pollards Hill following a recent fatality in the area.

Council Budget Update Councillor Mark Betteridge, Deputy Leader of the Council, presented the current budget position for the council and set out the process for deciding the 2012/13 budget. The presentation is available at: http://www.merton.gov.uk/community- living/communityforums/mitchamcommunityforum.htm

Councillor Betteridge was asked about the pay of the chief officer and said that he did not feel it was appropriate to comment in a public forum but information was available on the council website. In terms of staff pay, there has been no pay rise for the last two years but for next year and future years, Merton is subject to negotiations taking place at a national level.

A number of questions were asked about street cleaning. Councillor Betteridge responded that he understood how important street cleaning was to residents and it would remain a priority. As a result it is likely that the cabinet would be saying no to a cut in weekly sweeping of every street. The council is looking to improve targeting of problem areas through a more intelligence-led approach. It would therefore be important for residents to make sure they let the council know when problems are occurring. In relation to enforcement the council would continue the approach of both informing residents and issuing penalty notices for bad behaviour.

A question was asked about reductions to preventative services that could result in increased costs at a later stage. Councillor Betteridge agreed that this should be avoided and hoped that the Scrutiny process will identify any cases where this has been missed in the service review process.

St Helier Hospital Update Tim Wilkins from Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust presented plans for the redevelopment of the St Helier Hospital site. The presentation is available at: http://www.merton.gov.uk/community- living/communityforums/mitchamcommunityforum.htm

1 57 Mr Wilkins said that there would not be any use of Private Finance Initiative funding as the business case they had produced had found that this would be less cost effective than direct government funding. Outline planning consent was received in 2010 with lots of conditions so additional applications would be submitted for reserved matters for both the car park and the new wing. As part of the project, reducing energy use has been a priority and the new wing will include a combined heat and power generator that uses bio-fuel.

Andrew Woodhead from London Strategic Health Authority informed the meeting about the plans to de-merge Epsom and St Helier hospitals in order to achieve foundation trust status with other partners. The advantages of becoming a foundation trust are greater freedoms, greater local accountability through local memberships and in general these trusts are better managed.

In the case of St Helier, St George’s NHS Trust has expressed an interest in a merger and will be submitting proposals by 11 November. Should these be acceptable a merger could be completed by January 2013 and then the new joint organisation would be likely to achieve foundation trust status by September 2014. The expectation is that the new foundation trust will be well run and the membership will ensure that both hospitals are treated equally. The merger will include all of the estate owned by St Helier Hospital but this does not include the Wilson as this is owned by Sutton and Merton PCT.

Mr Woodhead explained that the merger itself would not impact on the services provided at either hospital; but a separate review, Better Services, Better Value, was looking at reorganising services across southwest London. More information is available at: http://www.southwestlondon.nhs.uk/HAVEYOURSAY/BSBV

Mitcham Business Forum Diana Sterck, CEO Merton Chamber of Commerce, informed the meeting about the new Mitcham Business Forum. The Chamber has been asked by Merton Council to establish business forums in Mitcham, Morden and Colliers Wood in addition to the two established forums in Raynes Park and Wimbledon. The first meeting took place in Mitcham on 27 September with 20 local businesses attending. A second meeting is scheduled for 22 November. In addition to the meeting the Chamber has spoken to a number of businesses and asked them to complete a survey. The priorities coming from these discussions are:  Businesses find networking very important  They want to hear the latest news from the Council  Improving communication is very important  Redevelopment of the town centre is essential  A big retailer would be welcome but not a supermarket  Any plans need a time frame for clarity  Mitcham feels like the forgotten town but there is still a great sense of pride and place

2 58 As a result of this the Chamber is working to improve communication. In addition to the meetings a regular newsletter will be produced and a Facebook page. Ms Sterck agreed that Mitcham covers more than just Fair Green and the forum is open to businesses based around Cricket Green as well. The Chamber keeps a database of 7,500 businesses in Merton and whilst this is difficult to keep up to date, there is not anything better to use at the moment. The Chamber is linking with Sustainable Merton and the new Livinggreen centre at Morden Hall Park to support the development of green industries.

LiveWell Project Anna Protheroe informed the meeting that LiveWell is a new health improvement service covering Sutton and Merton. It is open to those over 18 and aims to support individuals to make sustainable lifestyle changes to improve their health. Those using the service will receive a consultation with a trained health advisor and will set personal goals for a 12-week period.

A new website is being developed that will offer tips on how to improve health and a list of activities in the area that people can join. The service can be accessed by contacting the team directly, or through 11 participating pharmacies and drop-in sessions at Pollards Hill Library and Sutton Life Centre. The team can be reached by calling 0845 465 1024, or by visiting www.live-well.org.uk

Volunteers are being recruited and trained to become health advisors and local health champions. The project is not part of a national initiative and is the first project to use motivational interviews as part of the programme. Interest from other areas is high and after the two-year pilot the project could be rolled out elsewhere if it is proved to be successful.

Planning issues A question was raised about amendments to planning permissions being made without consultation with local residents. Jonathan Lewis, Team Leader for the South Area in the council’s Development Control section responded that often a detailed scheme could look very different from outline permission granted at an earlier stage. This is usually the case when outline permission is given to a landowner looking to dispose of the land to a developer and where the plans submitted with an application are illustrative. Where there is significant change to an approved scheme then extensive consultation would take place. Officers can agree minor amendments but anything significant would require a new application. If the development deviates from the permission given then enforcement colleagues would review the need for punitive action.

Mr Lewis agreed to check the progress of the Mitcham Cricket Green conservation area appraisal and management plan. Mr Lewis was also asked about pre-application advice given to council projects. In response he said that advice would be given on the same basis as it is for external applicants.

3 59 Mr Lewis confirmed that the council is waiting for the final decision letter on the SITA site application from the Mayor of London. Once this has been received the information would be made available. Information from the GLA can be found at: http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/planning/public- hearings/sita-recycling-park Merton Council’s Planning Explorer can be found at: http://planning.merton.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorerAA/GeneralSearch. aspx. The application number is 08/P2724

A question was asked about developers using out of date contextual information and images in their applications. Mr Lewis said that usually the case officer would address this. A concern was raised about the level of enforcement in Merton and in particular that issues raised by the public are not followed up. This is extremely frustating to residents. Mr Lewis was not able to comment on this directly but would raise the concerns with colleagues.

Soapbox The proposed change to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies was raised. The consultation on these proposals is running until 5 December 2011 and there is a public hearing at Wandsworth Town Hall on 31 October and 1 November 2011. More information is available at: http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/

A concern was raised that no discussion has been had about proposals to extend the tramlink network. It was agreed that this would be brought to a future meeting.

4 60