Councillor Apologises for Code of Conduct Breach

18 October 2025

Kingston upon Thames Councillor Kamala Kugan has apologised for breaching the Members Code of Conduct, following a determination by the Standards Sub-committee. The apology comes after a complaint was made against her on 19 July 2024 by the Executive Director for Children's Services and the Chief Executive regarding a series of emails she sent during April and May 2024.

The Standards Sub-committee, which met on 30 September 2025, found that Councillor Kugan failed to show respect to officers in emails regarding a family whose children are in council care. She also breached confidentiality by sharing details of the children's circumstances with people who were not entitled to have such information.

The complaint was filed because of concerns Councillor Kugan raised about the actions taken by Achieving for Children (AfC) in relation to three children in care. She was critical of the actions taken by AfC and personally of the Executive Director.

The Standards Subcommittee Report to Council 14 October 2025 determined that Councillor Kugan should write a letter of apology to the Executive Director for Children's Services and his Achieving for Children colleagues. She must also attend mandatory Code of Conduct training, specifically covering member conduct and communication with officers. The report noted that the training is to be arranged by the Monitoring Officer and completed before the end of the calendar year, and that Councillor Kugan will also be offered coaching support to help her manage her behaviour.

Additionally, the Chair of the Sub-committee will write to Councillor Kugan's Group Leader to convey the hearing's outcome and request his support in ensuring Councillor Kugan's adherence to the Code of Conduct in the future. Councillor Kugan's access to the all-member email distribution list will be reinstated, subject to the understanding that the behaviour which led to the Standards hearing will not be repeated.

The Public reports pack Tuesday 14-Oct-2025 19.30 Council stated that the purpose of the Member Code of Conduct is to promote high standards among elected members serving the community.

It is understood that Achieving for Children works in partnership with the Kingston upon Thames Council to provide children's services.

Councils Involved

Kingston upon Thames

Meetings Involved

the Council of Kingston upon Thames Council on 14 October 2025

People Involved

Afy Afilaka Liberal Democrat Hook and Chessington North Ward

Councillor Sue Ansari Portfolio Holder for Children’s services including Education and Co-Chair - People Committee Liberal Democrat Hook and Chessington North Ward

Councillor Rowena Bass Leader of the Conservative Group Conservative Coombe Hill Ward

Councillor Mark Beynon Chair - Planning Committee; Chair - Pension Fund Panel Liberal Democrat King George's and Sunray Ward

Andrew Bolton Liberal Democrat Coombe Vale Ward

Jamal Chohan Deputy Leader of the Opposition; Opposition Spokesperson for Leisure and Economic Development Kingston Independent Residents Group Tudor Ward

Councillor Emily Davey Portfolio Holder for Housing Liberal Democrat Norbiton Ward

Jackie Davies Liberal Democrat Berrylands Ward

Councillor Lorraine Dunstone Chair - South of the Borough Neighbourhood Committee Liberal Democrat Hook and Chessington North Ward

Councillor Mark Durrant Chair - New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Committee Liberal Democrat New Malden Village Ward

Councillor Ian George Conservative Coombe Hill Ward

Councillor James Giles Leader of the Kingston Independent Residents' Group Kingston Independent Residents Group Green Lane and St James Ward

Mariana Goncalves Liberal Democrat Tolworth Ward

Liz Green Chair of the Health Overview Panel Liberal Democrat St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Councillor Helen Grocott Chair - Health Overview Panel Liberal Democrat King George's and Sunray Ward

Councillor Noel Hadjimichael Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Liberal Democrat Canbury Gardens Ward

Patrick Hall Chair of Pension Fund Panel Liberal Democrat Tudor Ward

Councillor Sabah Hamed Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Equalities Liberal Democrat Kingston Town Ward

Councillor Roger Hayes Liberal Democrat Kingston Town Ward

Councillor Lesley Heap Liberal Democrat New Malden Village Ward

Lynn Henderson Chair - Audit, Governance & Standards Committee Liberal Democrat Motspur Park and Old Malden East Ward

Peter Herlinger Liberal Democrat Alexandra Ward

Councillor Alison Holt Liberal Democrat Surbiton Hill Ward

Councillor Amir Ali Khan Liberal Democrat Alexandra Ward

Councillor Robert Dongsung Kim Liberal Democrat New Malden Village Ward

Councillor Andreas Kirsch Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holder for Heritage and Culture Liberal Democrat Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Councillor Griseldis Kirsch Liberal Democrat Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Kamala Kugan Opposition Spokesperson for Corporate and Resources Kingston Independent Residents Group Coombe Vale Ward

Councillor Ian Manders Liberal Democrat Alexandra Ward

James Manthel Liberal Democrat Canbury Gardens Ward

Councillor Mike Massimi Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Regulatory Services Liberal Democrat Old Malden Ward

Councillor Sharukh Mirza Liberal Democrat Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Councillor Nicola Nardelli Deputy Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Transport and Waste and Recycling Liberal Democrat Kingston Town Ward

Anne Owen Liberal Democrat Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Elizabeth Park Liberal Democrat Old Malden Ward

Councillor Tom Reeve Chair - Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee Liberal Democrat Surbiton Hill Ward

Farshid Sadr-Hashemi Liberal Democrat Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Anita Schaper Portfolio Holder for Communities, Commissioning and Customer Contact & Governance and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee; Portfolio Holder for Communites, Commissioning, Customer Contact and Governance Liberal Democrat Berrylands Ward

Councillor Andrew Sillett Chair - Licensing Committee Liberal Democrat Coombe Vale Ward

Susan Skipwith Liberal Democrat Norbiton Ward

John Sweeney Liberal Democrat Kingston Town Ward

Councillor Thay Thayalan Mayor Liberal Democrat Tolworth Ward

Richard Thorpe Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Governance and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee Liberal Democrat Motspur Park and Old Malden East Ward

Councillor Yvonne Tracey Kingston Independent Residents Group Green Lane and St James Ward

Councillor Olly Wehring Chair - Kingston and North Kingston Neighbourhood Committee Liberal Democrat Norbiton Ward

Diane White Portfolio Holder for Children's Services (including Education) and Co-Chair - People Committee Liberal Democrat St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Councillor Andrew Wooldridge Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Economic Development and Planning Policy Liberal Democrat Tolworth Ward

Councillor Yogan Yoganathan Liberal Democrat St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Topics

Kamala Kugan Executive Director for Children's Services Chief Executive Achieving for Children (AfC) Members Code of Conduct