The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Merton Council was scheduled to discuss the council's new strategy for ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and review the committee's work programme for the upcoming year. The meeting also included an opportunity for councillors to ask questions of the Chief Executive and a Cabinet Member.

Safer Merton - VAWG Strategy

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing Merton's new Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy for 2026-2029. The report presented outlined the strategy's vision, which aims to end VAWG through a robust multi-agency action plan. The strategy is built around five key priorities: changing attitudes and behaviours, improving the safety of women and girls, early identification and help, supporting victims, survivors, and their children, and holding perpetrators to account.

The report detailed the national and regional context of VAWG, including statistics on domestic abuse, exploitation, sexual violence, stalking, and harmful practices. It also highlighted relevant national and local policies and laws, such as the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Mayor of London's VAWG Strategy. The strategy acknowledges that men and boys can also be victims of domestic abuse, with Merton's male victim rate at 22% in 2023-2024.

Achievements to date were noted, including Merton Council's White Ribbon Accreditation, which signifies a commitment to ending male violence against women. The strategy also emphasised the importance of an intersectional approach, ensuring that the diverse needs of all individuals are considered. The report detailed how the council plans to tackle VAWG through community engagement, coordinated responses, and addressing root causes like gender inequality and misogyny. The consultation for the strategy ran from August to October 2025, with feedback to be incorporated before it goes to full Cabinet for sign-off in November 2025. The strategy is planned to launch in January 2026.

Cabinet Member Priorities

The committee was scheduled to hear about the priorities of the Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, Councillor Edith Macauley MBE. This agenda item would have provided an overview of the current priorities within this portfolio, which are relevant to the committee's work.

Questions to the Chief Executive

The meeting included an opportunity for councillors to ask questions of the Chief Executive, Hannah Doody. This session was intended to allow the committee to gain insight into the council's current priorities and challenges for the year ahead, in relation to the committee's work programme.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review its work programme for 2025/26. This included discussing upcoming items, ensuring that requests for reports are focused, and responding to any emerging issues of concern. The work programme outlines the planned scrutiny activities for the year, including reviews of the Business Plan, budget scrutiny, and workforce updates.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee's role is to hold the Council's Executive (the Cabinet) to account and to carry out reviews of Council services to identify areas for improvement.^[1]