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Cabinet - Monday 15 December 2025 7.15 pm

December 15, 2025 View on council website

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Summary

The Merton Council Cabinet met on Monday 15 December 2025 and approved updates to the Treasury Management Strategy, the Council Tax Support scheme, the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, and changes to various fees and charges for 2026/27. All decisions were approved subject to call-in1.

Fees and Charges Review

The Cabinet approved proposed changes to fees and charges for 2026/27, as outlined in Appendix 1 of the Fees and charges Cabinet Report December 2025 - LSG submission.pdf. The Fees and charges Cabinet Report December 2025 - LSG submission highlighted the current financial position regarding chargeable services and proposed a new policy to underpin the council's approach to charging.

Council Tax Support Scheme 2026-27

The Cabinet agreed to Option 1 for updating the 2026/27 council tax support scheme, as detailed in the CTS Council report 2025 for 2026-27 Cabinet. This decision aims to maintain low council tax charges for lower-income and vulnerable residents and will be recommended to the Council for adoption. Supporting documents for this item included a Briefing paper - Reason for consultation 2026-27, an Equalities Impact Assessment 2026-27, and a report on the Consultation results and responses 2025 - 2026-27.

VAWG Strategy 2026-2029

The Cabinet approved Merton's new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy 2026-29. The LBM Report VAWG strategy October 2025 signed outlined the strategy, with the final version of the strategy detailed in Appendix A.

Treasury Management Strategy Mid-Year Review

The Cabinet noted the update on Merton's Treasury Management activity in the year 2025-2026. The London Borough of Merton - 202526 TMSS Mid year Review - 11Nov25 002 detailed any differences in activities from the Treasury Management Strategy approved in March 2025.


  1. In local government, a call-in refers to the ability of non-executive councillors to request that a decision made by the executive (cabinet) be reviewed before it is implemented. This provides an opportunity for further scrutiny and debate. 

Attendees

Profile image for Eleanor Stringer
Eleanor Stringer Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Civic Pride and Climate Change • Labour Party • Wandle
Profile image for Caroline Cooper-Marbiah
Caroline Cooper-Marbiah Cabinet Member for Sport and Heritage • Labour Party • Colliers Wood
Profile image for Andrew Judge
Andrew Judge Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development • Labour Party • St Helier
Profile image for Sally Kenny
Sally Kenny Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Education • Labour Party • Lower Morden
Profile image for Ross Garrod
Ross Garrod Leader of the Council • Labour Party • Longthornton
Profile image for Peter McCabe
Peter McCabe Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care • Labour Party • Ravensbury
Profile image for Usaama Kaweesa
Usaama Kaweesa Cabinet Member for Children's Services • Labour Party • Cricket Green
Profile image for Edith Macauley MBE
Edith Macauley MBE Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety • Labour Party • Lavender Fields
Profile image for Stuart Neaverson
Stuart Neaverson Cabinet Member for Transport and Cleaner Streets • Labour Party • Colliers Wood
Profile image for Stephen Alambritis MBE
Stephen Alambritis MBE Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services • Labour Party • Ravensbury

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

Meeting Documents

Agenda

Agenda frontsheet Monday 15-Dec-2025 19.15 Cabinet.pdf
Exempt Supplementary Agenda - Exempt Appendix Item 6 Monday 15-Dec-2025 19.15 Cabinet.pdf

Reports Pack

Public reports pack Monday 15-Dec-2025 19.15 Cabinet.pdf

Additional Documents

LBM Report VAWG strategy October 2025 signed.pdf
CTS Council report 2025 for 2026-27 Cabinet.pdf
Appendix A Final version of the VAWG Strategy 2026-29.pdf
Appendix 2 - Equalities Impact Assessment 2026-27.pdf
Appendix 1 - Briefing paper - Reason for consultation 2026-27.pdf
Appendix 3 - Consultation results and responses 2025 - 2026-27.pdf
Fees and charges Cabinet Report December 2025 - LSG submission.pdf
Appendix 1.pdf
London Borough of Merton - 202526 TMSS Mid year Review - 11Nov25 002.pdf
Decisions Monday 15-Dec-2025 19.15 Cabinet.pdf
Minutes of Previous Meeting.pdf