Following local elections, Kensington and Chelsea Council is set to clear any motions that have been published on the Full Council agenda but not debated. The decision, recommended by the Administration Committee, aims to ensure that all motions considered by the council reflect the current mandate from residents.

The Administration Committee met on Thursday, 11 September 2025, and agreed to present to Full Council a proposal to add the following text to Standing Order 14:

'14.12 Any motion that has been published on a Full Council agenda but not debated shall lapse if not debated before the four-yearly local council elections.'

This change will affect the six motions currently on the Full Council agenda. The change is being proposed because, according to the Public reports pack 11th-Sep-2025 17.30 Administration Committee, there are six motions already published or due to be included on the next Full Council agenda, with only four meetings remaining before the pre-election period. The report pack stated that if meetings are cancelled for any reason, such as a general election, it may take many months or even over a year for a motion to be debated.

The Administration Committee considered several alternative options, including:

  • Motions lapsing after the meeting at which they were first tabled.
  • Motions lapsing at the end of the municipal year in which they were first tabled.
  • Making no changes to the current system.

The arguments against retaining the current system were that the current system is not working and that failing to make changes might lead to more procedural points being raised at Council meetings, reducing the time for Council's deliberations on other matters important to local people.

Arguments against using the current formula for Questions to Lead Member for local or Ward issues as well were that it does not reflect the current balance efficiently and that it is vulnerable to changes that may occur following the Council elections in May 2026.

The committee also considered not introducing a date before which questions or requests to raise ward issues could not be submitted, but rejected this because it would retain the current problem of some councillors submitting requests in advance, with the risk that questions and issues become less relevant to the time when they are asked.

Finally, the committee considered introducing an earlier 'opening' date for councillors to submit questions to Lead Members or register to speak on a ward issue, but rejected this because if the date is too early, any question may lose its relevance or allow important problems that could have been resolved by a direct approach to a Lead Member or Executive Director to remain unaddressed.

However, the committee ultimately decided that allowing undebated motions to lapse at the four-yearly elections was the most appropriate course of action, as it aligns most closely with residents' wishes as expressed through the election of councillors.

While the report acknowledges that events outside the mover's and seconder's control may prevent debate, members still have the option to request an extraordinary Full Council meeting.