Leader and Portfolio Holders
The Leader of the political Group which holds a majority of seats on the Council is automatically the Leader of the Council. The Leader can appoint up to 10 Portfolio Holders who have oversight of different areas of the Council’s services. The Leader and Portfolio Holders provide guidance on policy but have no decision-making powers in their own right. Decisions must be taken by Councillors acting collectively in a Committee of the Council or a meeting of the Full Council.
The largest Opposition Group on the Council can appoint spokespersons to shadow the Portfolio Holders.
The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance is Cllr Andreas Kirsch (Chessington South and Malden Rushett ward) Responsibilities include: Revenue and Capital monitoring and expenditure, Overall responsibility for Strategic partnerships such as police, university, external bodies such as GLA, LGA and London Councils, Revenue and Benefits, Pensions, Emergency planning, Voluntary sector commissioning, The Rose (reporting to Place committee), Legal affairs, International partnerships
The Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Leisure is Cllr Alison Holt (Surbiton Hill Ward). Responsibilities include: Economic development and regeneration, Business and skills, Leisure, Communications, Consultation and Engagement
The Portfolio Holder for Assets, Commissioning and Waste is Cllr Noel Hadjimichael (Canbury Gardens Ward). The responsibilities include: Assets and investments, Contracts and Commissioning (with PH in Service Areas), Cemeteries and Citizenship, Waste and Recycling
The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Governance is Cllr Afy Afilaka (Hook and Chessington North Ward). The responsibilities include Heritage, Culture including Museum, History centre, Music service, Libraries, Adult Education, Equalities, Governance, Electoral Services, Human Resources, Tourism, Customer Contact, ICT and Digital.
The Portfolio Holder for Climate Action and Sustainable Transport is Cllr Ian Manders (Alexandra Ward). The responsibilities include: Environment, Air Quality, Biodiversity, Open Spaces, Energy, Transport, Highways and Street Scene, Parking, Cycling/walking/healthy streets, Public Transport
The Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Regulatory Services is Cllr Roger Hayes (Kingston Town Ward). The responsibilities include: Planning policy, Local Plan, Building control, River,Regulatory services
The Portfolio holder for Housing is Cllr Emily Davey (Norbiton Ward). The responsibilities include: Community Housing, CRE Regeneration Council led housing delivery, HMO Licensing, Homelessness, Private Leasing HRA (with Finance and Commissioning PHs), Private Residential Enforcement
The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services including Education is Cllr Steph Archer (Hook and Chessington North Ward). The responsibilities include: AfC commissioning (with Finance and Commissioning PHs), 0-19 Education including Schools, School Place Planning, Pupil Referral Units, Approval of Schools Budget Estimates and Schools Funding Formulae (with Finance and Commissioning PHs), Special Educational Needs and Disabilities inc SEND Transformational Plan, Children’s Centres, Youth Services, Safeguarding, Looked after Children and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking, Early Years and Prevention, Lead on Children’s Health.
The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Public Health is Cllr Sabah Hamed (Kingston Gate Ward) The responsibilities include: Adult Social Care, Mental Health, Adult Safeguarding, Dementia Care Home, Community Safety (protection and prevention), Lead on Adults’ Health via KPB, Public Health Chair KPB.