September 2023
Question:
With reference to objective 1.13 (1) of the draft Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, are you open to working with Merton CIL to try to ensure that adult social care charges do not have a disproportionately negative impact on residents for whom essential disability-related expenditure already has an adverse effect on their financial security?
Reply from Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Councillor Peter McCabe:
Any review or refresh of our adult social care charges policies would require us to engage and consult with our community and we recognise the financial difficulties many people with disabilities face. We are of course open to working with our voluntary and community partners, in particular those who represent people with protected
characteristics under the Equalities legislation.
November 2023
Question:
Of the 400 homes that the Council is aiming to build on Council-owned land, how many will be M4(2) units (i.e. accessible and adaptable dwellings) and how many will be M4(3) units (i.e. wheelchair user
dwellings)?
Reply from Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development, Councillor Andrew Judge:
The designs for the homes are still being finalised, so we are not able to give numbers for these units at present. However, all schemes will be designed to be London Plan compliant in terms of the number of accessible and adaptable dwellings and wheelchair user dwellings.
November 2024
Question:
For each of the three Clarion regeneration sites (Eastfields, High Path, and Ravensbury), what percentage of homes, upon completion, will be: (a) for social housing tenants; (b) M4(2) standard; (c) M4(3)a standard; (d) M4(3)b standard?
Reply from Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development, Councillor Andrew Judge:
The Merton Estate Regeneration Programme being delivered by Clarion Housing Association creates a holistic approach to regeneration that provides existing residents with 1000 new homes, significantly increasing the number of bedrooms to address overcrowding for existing social tenants, as well as providing a future supply of 1,800 new homes across Merton.
(a) Social Housing
The following percentage of affordable homes will be created across all three estates (Eastfields, High Path and Ravensbury estates) in accordance with the signed S106 Legal Agreement:
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33% of the Residential Units to be constructed across the Eastfields Development as Affordable Housing;
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21% of the Residential Units to be constructed across the High Path Development (including the units constructed as part the High Path kickstart development at Station Road) as Affordable Housing;
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55% of the Residential Units to be constructed across the Ravensbury Development (including the units constructed as part of the Ravensbury kickstart development, Ravensbury Garages) as Affordable Housing.
(b,c,d) Wheelchair Accessible units
Across the whole Merton Estate Regeneration project, at least 10% of units will be M4(3) wheelchair accessible and the remaining new homes will be M4(2) wheelchair adaptable in accordance with planning policies.
The breakdown by estate is:
Eastfields
(b) M4(2) wheelchair adaptable – (90%) 720 homes
(c,d) M4(3) wheelchair accessible – (10%) 80 homes
Total number of homes in Eastfields across Phases 1-3 – 800 homes
High Path
(b) M4(2) wheelchair adaptable – (90%) 2045 homes
(c,d) M4(3) wheelchair accessible – (10%) 227 homes
Total number of homes in High Path across Phases 1-7B (including revised phases 4-7B) – 2272 homes
Ravensbury
(b) M4(2) wheelchair adaptable – (90%) 180 homes
(c,d) M4(3) wheelchair accessible – (10%) 20 homes
Total number of homes for Ravensbury across Phases 1-4 – 200 homes
January 2025
Question:
When it comes to communication with Deaf and hard-of-hearing people, what is the Council doing to improve the accessibility of its services? Embedding Video Relay Services, and providing British Sign Language interpretation at public meetings and in audiovisual publicity, for example, are measures that are arguably long overdue.
Reply from Cabinet Member for Civic Pride and Climate Change, Councillor Eleanor Stringer:
We are committed to ensuring that all residents can engage and communicate with us, and overcoming any accessibility issues. The council’s priorities and its key service information are communicated to residents via a range of channels and platforms. These are accessible by design. As part of this, the council produces regular video content for residents, which is disseminated on social media and through direct mail or messaging. All of these videos are captioned – as standard – to ensure they reach as many people as possible and that those with hearing impairments are able to access the information. Regarding accessibility to services, we have some staff trained or currently training in British Sign Language (BSL) in reception and we offer a hearing loop for those with a hearing impairment. BSL interpreters are available on request for the more complex requirements. Specification for a new delivery model of translations services includes the provision of ad-hoc video conferencing services. Council meetings are held in rooms with a hearing loop. Whilst signing could be made available on request this has not been requested so is not provided as standard. However[,] any adjustments required by Councillors or members of the public can be discussed and requested and we would encourage all those working with residents with accessibility issues to support them to raise any requests with the council when needed.
We are committed to ensuring that all residents can engage and communicate with us, and overcoming any accessibility issues. The council’s priorities and its key service information are communicated to residents via a range of channels and platforms. These are accessible by design. As part of this, the council produces regular video content for residents, which is disseminated on social media and through direct mail or messaging. All of these videos are captioned – as standard – to ensure they reach as many people as possible and that those with hearing impairments are able to access the information. Regarding accessibility to services, we have some staff trained or currently training in British Sign Language (BSL) in reception and we offer a hearing loop for those with a hearing impairment. BSL interpreters are available on request for the more complex requirements. Specification for a new delivery model of translations services includes the provision of ad-hoc video conferencing services. Council meetings are held in rooms with a hearing loop. Whilst signing could be made available on request this has not been requested so is not provided as standard. However[,] any adjustments required by Councillors or members of the public can be discussed and requested and we would encourage all those working with residents with accessibility issues to support them to raise any requests with the council when needed.