Conservative calls for Merton council and its partners to step up their efforts on community cohesion have been rejected by Labour councillors. A Conservative motion submitted for discussion at Full Council this week challenged the Merton Partnership to urgently deliver the borough's delayed, new Community Cohesion Strategy and to ensure 'warm words' are replaced with clear targets and measurable goals. It also urged the Partnership to require that the use of the English language is promoted by all local groups receiving public funding.
Whilst the motion was drafted prior to events in Paris last week, the debate on Wednesday was made all the more poignant by the terrible terrorist attacks and subsequent developments in the French capital.
During the discussion, it was revealed that Merton's previous Community Cohesion Strategy had come to an end back in March 2015. Despite all this, however, Labour councillors opposed the original motion and watered it down with their own amendment.
Councillor David Williams - Conservative Community Engagement Spokesman - said:
"Councils have an important role to play in building cohesion locally as one of the many ways to battle extremism. Yet Merton's Labour Administration have given this important topic a low priority. Their approach is dangerously weak, complacent and self congratulatory.
"We need to help new communities feel secure here in Merton so that they can participate fully in the life of the borough and live in harmony with their neighbours. That means instilling a sense of British values and sharing a common language."
Notes
The Merton Partnership is the Local Strategic Partnership for Merton and is chaired by the Leader of the Council. It 'co-ordinates the delivery of services and other activities in the borough to improve the quality of life and physical environment experienced by Merton residents and visitors to the borough' (http://www.mertonpartnership.org.uk/).
The Partnership's timetable for replacing Merton's previous Community Cohesion Strategy (http://www.merton.gov.uk/120612_community_cohesion_strategy_v13.pdf) has slipped and a new strategy is not due to be implemented until February 2016.
The Conservative motion can be found at the following link: