The Merton Council Cabinet met on Monday 18 September 2023 to discuss a range of important issues, including the provision of public toilets, parking IT systems, and carer services. The Cabinet noted a reference from the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel regarding community toilets, signalling a commitment to addressing this public health concern.

Community Toilets

The Cabinet noted a reference from the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel concerning public toilet provision in Merton. This reference, stemming from a review undertaken by Councillor Stephen Mercer, highlighted significant concerns about the current state of public toilet facilities and the failure of the existing Community Toilet Scheme (CTS). The report recommended that adequate provision of toilets be recognised as an essential aspect of Merton's public health policy and that the council should advocate for a statutory duty on local authorities for toilet provision, supported by ring-fenced government funding. It also called for the relaunch of Merton's CTS, with detailed suggestions on how to operate a new scheme effectively. These suggestions included the council leading by example by pledging its own assets, mapping toilet needs in town centres, learning from successful schemes in other boroughs, and employing a multi-channel approach to publicise the scheme. The report also emphasised the need to address specific issues such as the lack of toilets at Morden station, the needs of itinerant workers, and improved provision for disabled users, including the potential for Changing Places Toilets (CPTs). Furthermore, it recommended exploring amendments to Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) and the use of Section 106 agreements to ensure better toilet provision in new developments. Councillor Eleanor Stringer, Cabinet Member for Civic Pride and Climate Change, acknowledged the need for a refresh of the community toilet scheme and suggested that council buildings should be included, with improved communications and visibility.

Parking IT Systems

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director of Environment, Civic Pride & Climate, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Stephen Alambritis MBE, for the award of a contract for new Parking IT Systems. This decision aims to maximise contract mobilisation time. The current contracts for separate civil enforcement and parking permit management systems are due to expire in July 2024. The procurement will seek a single provider for a web-based solution to manage both functions, utilising the ESPO Parking Management Solutions Framework. The new contract will be for nine years, with a break clause after five years. The civil enforcement system will manage all aspects of on and off-street Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) enforcement, including processing challenges, appeals, and recovery of unpaid charges. The parking permit management system will introduce 'virtual' parking permits, checked electronically by Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs). The project has a capital budget of £658,000, with indicative supplier costs for the nine-year contract period ranging from approximately £1.7 million to £6.5 million for ongoing revenue costs.

Carers Services

The Cabinet approved the procurement approach for Carers Services, which will be split into two lots. Lot 1 focuses on services for adult carers of adults, with a contract term of five years (April 2024 to March 2029) and an estimated value of £1.7 million. These services will aim to provide preventative support, including assessments, support plans, information, advice, and access to activities and training. Lot 2 will cover assessment and support packages for young carers aged 5 to 18 and their families, also for a five-year term, with an estimated total contract value of £375,000. This service aims to reduce waiting times for assessments and better prioritise need. Authority for the award of these contracts and any subsequent extensions has been delegated to the Executive Directors of Adult Social Care, Integrated Health and Public Health, and Children's, Lifelong Learning and Families (CLLF). The services are intended to align with the Council's priorities of nurturing civic pride and building sustainable communities by improving carers' resilience and wellbeing.

Financial Approvals

The Cabinet approved several adjustments to the Capital Programme. These included re-profiling of budgets for projects such as Clarion CPO, West Wimbledon Capital Maintenance, and On Street Parking – P&D – ANPR Cameras. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the transfer of funds from CLLF reserves: £240,000 for the Early Years transforming families programme and £247,861 for Early Years transformation hubs. A further approval was given for the transfer of £162,796.37 from the 'Your Merton' balance within the 'Civic Pride' reserve fund to be spent by the Environment, Civic Pride and Climate department in the 2023/24 financial year. The Cabinet also agreed that the School Capital Maintenance Budget would be managed as a single budget for financial management purposes, reducing the need for formal approval for budget virements.