The meeting began with the announcement of new appointments and a formal welcome to the new Deputy Mayor, Councillor Seraroos, and Deputy Cabinet Member, Councillor Madeleine Solly Pointin. The meeting also included a discussion on the Right Care Right Person initiative and the local plan regulation.

New Appointments

The Mayor announced the appointment of Councillor Seraroos as the statutory Deputy Mayor and Councillor Madeleine Solly Pointin as Deputy Cabinet Member to support Children and Young People's Works. Councillor Susan Masters and Councillor Terri Paul were also welcomed as chairs of scrutiny.

Right Care Right Person Initiative

Councillor Neil Wilson presented the Right Care Right Person initiative, a Metropolitan Police policy aimed at ensuring the most appropriate agency provides care for individuals with mental health issues, rather than defaulting to police intervention. The initiative has led to a significant reduction in police deployments for mental health crises. However, concerns were raised about the lack of monitoring for cases where police were not deployed and the absence of borough-specific data. The initiative will be closely monitored by the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Safeguarding Adults Board.

Local Plan Regulation 19 and Joint Waste Plan

The Cabinet discussed the Regulation 19 Local Plan and the Regulation 18 Joint Waste Plan. The Local Plan aims to deliver over 51,000 new homes by 2038, with a focus on social rent, community facilities, and environmental sustainability. The Joint Waste Plan, prepared in collaboration with other boroughs, aims to ensure sustainable waste management. Both plans will undergo public consultation starting in July 2024.

Other Items

• Merchant Yard Acquisition: Approval was sought for the purchase of 62 units at Merchant Yard in Romford to address the need for temporary accommodation.
• Peer Road Site: Approval was sought for a unilateral undertaking for the Peer Road housing development.
• Optimizing Resident Independence: The Cabinet discussed enhancing the current adult social care framework to include a dedicated reablement lot and an all-aged lot to ensure consistent care from childhood to adulthood.

Formalities and Approvals

The Cabinet approved various recommendations related to the discussed items, including the publication and consultation of the Local Plan and Joint Waste Plan, and the acquisition of housing units at Merchant Yard.