The Merton Council Cabinet was scheduled to meet on 23 June 2025 to discuss several key issues, including addressing the housing crisis, longer-term arrangements for parks and green space maintenance, strategies for the voluntary and community sector, and the council's financial outturn for 2024/25. Also on the agenda was a variation report regarding the Environmental Infrastructure Asset Management and Street Works Solution Contract.

Here's a breakdown of the topics that were expected to be covered:

Financial Outturn Report 2024/25

The Cabinet was to note the financial outturn position for 2024/25, which showed a net overspend of £2.521m, including corporate and funding items. The report also included a review of the detailed outturn position for service departments, corporate items, reserves, and the capital outturn.

Key points from the report included:

• Significant pressure on council services due to the need to support businesses and residents, particularly vulnerable groups needing social care.
• Increases in the number of households living in temporary accommodation.
• Significant inflationary pressures in the supply of goods and services.
• Pressures on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), with a cumulative deficit of £53.557m at the end of 2024/25.

The Cabinet was also scheduled to review proposed amendments to the capital programme, including a SCIL bid for an artificial pitch at Raynes Park High School, a SCIL bid for sustainable drainage in schools, and the replacement of fleet vehicles.

Acquiring Temporary Accommodation

The Cabinet was to consider a report regarding a property acquisition programme to provide temporary accommodation for homeless households, utilising the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF).

The recommendations included:

• Noting the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to deliver Round 3 of the LAHF, with a sum of £7,171,473.
• Approving a revenue budget of £56,113 from LAHF to contribute to acquisition costs.
• Delegating authority to the Executive Director of Housing & Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Executive Director for Finance and Digital, to acquire properties and apply funding under the conditions of the LAHF.
• Noting the service would undertake a procurement exercise to secure managing agents and a repair and maintenance operator.

The report highlighted the increasing demand for temporary accommodation and the challenges in sourcing suitable properties. It was noted that the number of households in temporary accommodation had risen significantly, placing pressure on the council's General Fund.

Parks and Greenspace - Grounds Maintenance

The Cabinet was to consider a report on the longer-term future for grounds maintenance and park-related activities, commencing in November 2026. The current grounds maintenance arrangements were contracted to idverde, and the contract was due to expire on 31 October 2026.

The recommendations included:

• Seeking competitive tenders for a new grounds maintenance contract with a proposed length of 14 years (7+7 years).
• Delegating authority to award the contract to the Executive Director in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Lead Member.

The report examined options for the future of the existing grounds maintenance contract, including ending the service provision, insourcing, creating a Local Authority Trading Company (LATCo), contracting, shared services, and establishing a Greenspace Trust.

Merton's Interim Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy and Interim Volunteering Strategy

The Cabinet was to consider the adoption of an interim Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Strategy 2025-27 and an interim Volunteering Strategy 2025-27.

The recommendations included:

• Adopting the interim Volunteering Strategy 'Defining and Designing the Volunteering Realm in Merton'.
• Adopting the interim Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy 'Evaluating the VCS Landscape in Merton and Shaping the Council's Relationship with the VCS'.
• Extending the Civic Pride Fund: Supporting the Voluntary and Community Sector 2023-26 for a further financial year in 2026-27.

The interim strategies aimed to review the delivery of actions in the previous strategy, separate volunteering and the VCS into distinct strands, establish a process for co-designing longer-term strategies, and ensure the continuing delivery of actions to support volunteering and the VCS.

Variation Report - EAMS Contract

The Cabinet was to consider a variation report regarding the Environmental Infrastructure Asset Management and Street Works Solution Contract.

The recommendations included:

• Approving the variation of the existing contract to include the 'One.Network' and 'Parkmap' software solutions, utilising Regulation 72 (F) of the PCR2015 procurement regulations.
• Delegating authority to award further extensions or variations to the Executive Director of ECP&C via Procurement Board for the duration of the contract term.

The report noted that the current contract with Causeway was necessary to manage and maintain environmental infrastructure assets and ensure compliance with statutory duties. The proposed variation would provide additional requirements, including the 'One.Network' platform for road works management and mapping and the 'Parkmap' system to digitise all traffic regulation orders.