Kingston Extends Terms of Independent Audit Members

20 December 2025

Kingston upon Thames has extended the terms of two independent audit members, Julian Adams and Manpreet Mahal, for a further two years and five months, to 15 October 2028. The extension aims to provide continuity, bringing their total term of office to four years, according to the council's report pack.

The decision was made at a council meeting on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, following a recommendation from the Audit, Governance & Standards Committee.

Adams brings over 35 years of experience in financial services, including leadership roles in the Financial Services Authority. Mahal is a qualified accountant with extensive public sector audit experience.

The Audit, Governance and Standards Committee noted that the purpose of the Independent Member is to bring specialist knowledge and insight to the workings and deliberations of the Committee in order to assist it in monitoring the robustness of the Council's financial and governance arrangements. The position helps to secure independent challenge to, and assurance of, the adequacy of the Authority's risk management framework, its financial and non-financial performance and internal control framework and wider governance processes. This aligns with Kingston upon Thames' broader governance strategy.

Independent members of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee receive an annual allowance of £643.79, as outlined in the Scheme of Members Allowances.

Adams and Mahal were initially appointed following an open recruitment process in 2024. The process attracted considerable interest from suitably qualified individuals, and seven candidates were shortlisted for interview by the Chair of the Committee, the Monitoring Officer, and the Deputy S151 Officer. The interview Panel recommended Adams and Mahal to fill the vacancies.

Councils Involved

Kingston upon Thames

Meetings Involved

the Council of Kingston upon Thames Council on 16 December 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 & Co-Chair - People Committee 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 and Co-Chair - People Committee 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 and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee 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 and Co-Chair - Place Committee Liberal Democrat Old Malden Ward

Councillor Sharukh Mirza Liberal Democrat Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Councillor Nicola Nardelli Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Transport and Waste and Recycling and Co-Chair - Place Committee 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 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 of the Royal Borough of Kingston 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 and Co-Chair - Place Committee Liberal Democrat Tolworth Ward

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

Topics

Independent Member Julian Adams Manpreet Mahal Kingston upon Thames council