Opposition Gains Increased Representation on Kingston Council Committees

22 May 2026

Opposition parties have secured increased representation on Kingston Council's strategic committees following a unanimous decision at the Annual Council meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The move represents a deviation from strict legal proportionality, aiming to enhance scrutiny and foster a spirit of pluralism.

Councillor James Giles, Leader of the Opposition, proposed a motion to ensure that each of the two opposition groups would have one seat on each of the Council's three strategic committees. This arrangement aims to waive proportionality requirements out in law on those committees and the rest of it will be as per the legal requirements. Previously, representation was based on a strict interpretation of the Local Government and Housing Act , which may not have guaranteed a seat for each opposition group on every strategic committee.

Councillor Rowena Bass, Leader of the Minority Opposition Group, seconded the proposal, emphasizing the benefits of having two opposition members on committees for debate and to reduce intimidation. While the specific nature of these intimidation concerns is not detailed, the implication is that a greater opposition presence will create a more balanced environment.

Councillor Andreas Kirsch, Leader of the Council, confirmed the administration's support for this arrangement, noting that the administration's support for ensuring representation for both opposition parties on strategic committees was confirmed. The current proposal ensures that on each of the Council's three strategic committees, those are the committees that set the policy of the Council, there will be one seat allocated to each of the two opposition groups.

This decision comes in the context of Kingston's electoral system, where in the election, the Liberal Democrats across Kingston received 45% of the votes, Conservatives received 15% of the votes, Coke received 8% of the vote and indeed some 30% of the vote didn't result in any of those parties receiving a seat under our frankly deeply flawed first past the post system. So for 45% of the votes, the Liberal Democrats end up with 92% of the seats.

Appointments to various other committees, panels, and bodies for the 2026/27 municipal year were also confirmed. This included appointments to the Kingston Partnership Board, the Health Overview Panel, London Councils committees, and the Local Government Association. Non-elected members were also appointed to committees and panels.

Further details on the council's proceedings can be found in the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet for the meeting.

Councils Involved

Kingston upon Thames

Meetings Involved

the Council of Kingston upon Thames Council on 21 May 2026

People Involved

Councillor Sue Ansari Deputy Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames • Liberal Democrat • Hook and Chessington North Ward

Councillor Rowena Bass Leader of the Minority Opposition Group • Conservative • Coombe Hill Ward

Councillor Mark Beynon Chair of Planning Committee • Liberal Democrat • King George's and Sunray Ward

Councillor Emily Davey Portfolio Holder for Housing & Co-Chair - People Committee • Liberal Democrat • Norbiton Ward

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

Councillor Mark Durrant Liberal Democrat • New Malden Village Ward

Councillor Ian George Conservative • Coombe Hill Ward

Councillor James Giles Leader of the Opposition; Opposition Spokesperson for Housing, Sustainable Transport, Waste and Recycling, Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy • Kingston Independent Residents Group • Green Lane and St James Ward

Councillor Helen Grocott 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

Councillor Sabah Hamed Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Equalities and Co-Chair - People Committee • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Roger Hayes Liberal Democrat • Kingston Town Ward

Councillor Lesley Heap Chair - New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Committee • Liberal Democrat • New Malden Village Ward

Councillor Alison Holt Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Economic Development & Co-Chair - Place Committee • Liberal Democrat • Surbiton Hill Ward

Councillor Amir Ali Khan Liberal Democrat • Surbiton Hill 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

Councillor Ian Manders Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy & Co-Chair - Place Committee • Liberal Democrat • Alexandra Ward

Councillor Mike Massimi Liberal Democrat • Old Malden Ward

Councillor Sharukh Mirza Liberal Democrat • Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Councillor Nicola Nardelli Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Transport, Waste and Recycling and Co-Chair - Place Committee • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Town Ward

Councillor Elizabeth Park Liberal Democrat • Old Malden Ward

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

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

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

Councillor Thay Thayalan Liberal Democrat • Tolworth Ward

Councillor Yvonne Tracey Opposition Spokesperson for Social Care (including Education), Public Health and Equalities • Kingston Independent Residents Group • Green Lane and St James Ward

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

Councillor Andrew Wooldridge Liberal Democrat • Tolworth Ward

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

Councillor Brian Austen • Liberal Democrat • Coombe Vale Ward

Councillor Kim Bailey • Liberal Democrat • Coombe Vale Ward

Councillor Joanne Barker • Liberal Democrat • Hook and Chessington North Ward

Councillor Helen Milestone • Liberal Democrat • St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Councillor Sam Foulder-Hughes • Liberal Democrat • Norbiton Ward

Councillor Rizwana Malik • Liberal Democrat • Berrylands Ward

Councillor Nicolai Due-Gunderson • Liberal Democrat • Canbury Gardens Ward

Councillor Stephen Evans • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Mark Manners • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Callum Morrissey • Liberal Democrat • Motspur Park and Old Malden East Ward

Councillor Robert Sadler • Liberal Democrat • St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Councillor Sarah Wait-Sillett • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Peter Higgins • Liberal Democrat • Canbury Gardens Ward

Councillor Jane Lim • Liberal Democrat • Tolworth Ward

Councillor Blaise Murphet • Liberal Democrat • Tudor Ward

Councillor Manish Shukla • Liberal Democrat • Surbiton Hill Ward

Councillor Sachin Tulyani • Liberal Democrat • Tudor Ward

Councillor Wimal Wimalathasan • Liberal Democrat • Motspur Park and Old Malden East Ward

Topics

London Councils LGA Kingston Council's strategic committees James Giles Rowena Bass Councillor Andreas Kirsch Kingston Partnership Board Health Overview Panel