Kingston Council Opposes Gov't Push for Leader & Cabinet System

1 December 2025

Kingston upon Thames Council has voted unanimously to oppose the government's push for all councils to adopt a Leader and Cabinet system, reaffirming its commitment to the committee system which it believes provides clarity, accountability, and inclusivity in local decision-making.

The decision was made at the Corporate and Resources Committee meeting on 27 November 2025, following a motion referred from the Council on 14 October 2025. Councillor James Giles proposed the motion, with Councillor Jamal Chohan seconding it. The motion was made in response to the government's intention to abolish the committee system via Clause 57 and Schedule 25 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (EDCEB).

The motion acknowledges the Minister of State for Local Government & English Devolution's view that the committee system is unclear, duplicative, and wasteful and the government's intention to abolish it, compelling councils to use a Strong Leader and Cabinet model.

However, the council strongly disagrees, believing that the committee system empowers all councillors to play a meaningful role in shaping the borough's future and puts residents first. The motion states that imposing a one-size-fits-all governance structure undermines local autonomy and diminishes the democratic engagement of elected representatives.

The council has resolved to:

Oppose the government's plans to abolish the committee system.
Continue to champion governance arrangements that put residents first and empower all councillors.
Communicate this position through a cross-party letter to the Minister of State for Local Government & English Devolution and to the local MPs representing Kingston upon Thames.

Officer comments included in the Public reports pack note that the government is pursuing the compulsory shift through primary legislation, with an anticipated transition deadline of May 2027. Regulations were laid in July 2025 to pause any council-initiated governance changes.

While the council is communicating its opposition, the Public reports pack also includes officer comments indicating that all councils currently operating under the Committee System model of Governance will have no choice but to transition to a Leader and Cabinet Model.

It is currently unclear what specific governance changes Kingston upon Thames Council had initiated prior to the July 2025 regulations that paused council-initiated changes.

Councillor Andreas Kirsch (Leader of the Council & Portfolio Holder for Heritage and Culture and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee), Councillor Anita Schaper (Portfolio Holder for Communities, Commissioning and Customer Contact and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee), and Councillor Richard Thorpe (Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Governance and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee) were among those present at the meeting.

Councils Involved

Kingston upon Thames

Meetings Involved

the Corporate and Resources Committee of Kingston upon Thames Council on 27 November 2025

People Involved

Councillor Ian George Conservative Coombe Hill Ward

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

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 Rowena Bass Leader of the Conservative Group Conservative Coombe Hill Ward

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

Patrick Hall Chair of Pension Fund Panel Liberal Democrat Tudor Ward

Councillor Amir Ali Khan Liberal Democrat Alexandra Ward

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

Councillor Ian Manders Liberal Democrat Alexandra Ward

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

Councillor Thay Thayalan Mayor Liberal Democrat Tolworth Ward

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

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

Topics

Kingston Council Strong Leader and Cabinet model committee system Minister of State for Local Government & English Devolution Councillor James Giles Jamal Chohan Leader of the Council (Kingston upon Thames Council) Portfolio Holder for Heritage and Culture (Kingston upon Thames Council) Portfolio Holder for Communities, Commissioning and Customer Contact (Kingston upon Thames Council) Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Governance (Kingston upon Thames Council) Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee (Kingston upon Thames Council)