Richmond Council to vote on retaining committee system

30 January 2026

Richmond Council is set to vote on whether to retain its committee system of governance, a structure that has been in place since 2019. The decision will be made at a Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 27 January 2026.

A report presented to the Council recommends continuing with the committee system, which has operated well for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames since 2019 . This continuation would provide a five-year protected period, expiring on 26 January 2031, allowing for a review of governance arrangements by 25 January 2032. The review will assess the need to secure effective and convenient local government for the area and will determine whether to retain the committee system, move to a strong leader and cabinet form of governance, or hold a referendum on the latter option.

This decision comes as amendments to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill suggest that councils may have the option to continue with a committee system. The Bill, as initially drafted, would have required councils operating a committee system to change to executive arrangements within one year of commencement. However, amendments laid in late November 2025 appear to offer an option for councils to retain committee system arrangements, though the commencement date of the Bill is not yet known and the amendments could still be altered or removed before Royal Assent.

The committee system allows for broader participation from councillors in decision-making, in contrast to a cabinet system where power is concentrated in a smaller group. Councillors have expressed that the committee system is a more democratic option than simply vesting power in the hands of two or three people and that it is vital for individual councillors to have the ability to go to committee to give their opinions on their relevant committee and to speak at other committees . Conversely, the cabinet system is described as disempowering the opposition councillors and that a small number of councillors who are making all the decisions , with other councillors potentially limited to specific scrutiny panels.

If the Council resolves to retain the committee system, it will be made available for public inspection at the Council's offices and published in a local newspaper. This decision is part of a broader agenda item concerning amendments to the Council's Constitution, which also includes the adoption of new Contract Standing Orders. These new orders are intended to reflect best practice and ensure adherence to procurement legislation, aiming to secure value for money, stimulate market competition, and support supplier diversity and sustainability objectives. The proposed Contract Standing Orders detail principles of procurement, the roles and responsibilities of Executive Directors, ethics and interests, committee approval processes, contract authorisation levels, and tendering thresholds.

The full details of the report and the proposed changes can be found in the public reports pack for the Council meeting here. Further information on retaining the committee form of governance is available here, and the proposed Contract Standing Orders are detailed in Appendix A.

Councils Involved

Richmond upon Thames

Meetings Involved

the Council of Richmond upon Thames Council on 27 January 2026

People Involved

Councillor Matthew Hull Liberal Democrat Party Fulwell and Hampton Hill

Councillor Jo Humphreys Liberal Democrat Party Whitton

Councillor Alan Juriansz Vice-Chair, Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee and Lead Member for Sport Liberal Democrat Party West Twickenham

Ben Khosa Liberal Democrat Party St Margarets and North Twickenham

Councillor Rhi Lee Liberal Democrat Party South Twickenham

Councillor Katie Mansfield Richmond Town Centre Project Lead Member and White Ribbon Champion Liberal Democrat Party St Margarets and North Twickenham

Zoe McLeod Liberal Democrat Party East Sheen

Councillor Anton McNulty-Howard Liberal Democrat Party Mortlake and Barnes Common

Councillor Nancy Baldwin Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrat Party North Richmond

Richard Bennett Chair of Audit, Standards and Statutory Accounts Committee Green Party South Twickenham

Councillor Carey Bishop Liberal Democrat Party Hampton North

Alice Bridges-Westcott Liberal Democrat Party Kew

Robin Brown Liberal Democrat Party Hampton Wick and South Teddington

Councillor Michael Butlin Armed Forces Champion Liberal Democrat Party South Twickenham

Councillor Julia Cambridge Chair of Education and Children's Services Committee Liberal Democrat Party East Sheen

Councillor Jonathan Cardy Chair of the Planning Committee Liberal Democrat Party Fulwell and Hampton Hill

Councillor James Chard Vice-Chair Transport & Air Quality Committee. Liberal Democrat Party Twickenham Riverside

Councillor John Coombs Spokesperson for Arts and Culture Liberal Democrat Party Heathfield

Ian Craigie Vice-Chair of the Joint Pensions Committee Liberal Democrat Party Kew

Niki Crookdake Green Party Mortlake and Barnes Common

Councillor Sam Dalton Liberal Democrat Party Hampton

Councillor Margaret Dane Disability Champion Liberal Democrat Party East Sheen

Councillor Jeremy Davis Liberal Democrat Party Hampton North

Councillor Alexander Ehmann Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee Liberal Democrat Party St Margarets and North Twickenham

Councillor Charlie Engel Vice-chair, Audit, Standards and Statutory Accounts Committee Liberal Democrat Party Teddington

Petra Fleming Liberal Democrat Party Hampton Wick and South Teddington

Andrée Frieze Leader of the Opposition Green Party Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside

Councillor Penelope Frost Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrat Party Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside

Councillor Elizabeth Gant Liberal Democrat Party Hampton North

Councillor Phil Giesler Business and Growth Lead Member Liberal Democrat Party Teddington

Councillor Andy Hale Liberal Democrat Party Barnes

Councillor Jim Millard Deputy Leader and Finance and Resources Lead Member Liberal Democrat Party Hampton Wick and South Teddington

Marjory Millum Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee Liberal Democrat Party Barnes

Councillor Julia Neden-Watts Deputy Leader and Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Services Committee Liberal Democrat Party Twickenham Riverside

Suzette Nicholson Liberal Democrat Party Hampton

Laura O'Brien Liberal Democrat Party West Twickenham

Stephen O'Shea Liberal Democrat Party Twickenham Riverside

Rob O`Carroll Liberal Democrat Party Whitton

Tony Paterson Liberal Democrat Party Mortlake and Barnes Common

Councillor Lesley Pollesche Liberal Democrat Party Heathfield

Councillor Richard Pyne Liberal Democrat Party North Richmond

Gareth Richards Cycling Champion Liberal Democrat Party Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside

Councillor Gareth Roberts Leader of the Council Liberal Democrat Party Hampton

Councillor Fiona Sacks Sanctuary Champion Liberal Democrat Party Barnes

Councillor Kuldev Sehra Liberal Democrat Party Whitton

Councillor Chris Varley Lead Member for Housing and Vice-Chair Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Committee Liberal Democrat Party South Richmond

Councillor Paulina Vassileva Tenants’ Champion Liberal Democrat Party South Richmond

Councillor Clare Vollum Deputy Mayor and Dementia Champion Liberal Democrat Party Kew

Chas Warlow Deputy Leader of the Opposition Green Party South Richmond

Councillor Richard Warren Chair of Policy and Performance Review Board Liberal Democrat Party North Richmond

Councillor Michael Wilson Liberal Democrat Party Heathfield

Caroline Wren Green Party Fulwell and Hampton Hill

Councillor Piers Allen Chair of the Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Services Committee and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board Liberal Democrat Party West Twickenham

Councillor Richard Baker Liberal Democrat Party Teddington

Topics

English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill committee system of governance Richmond Council Contract Standing Orders