Councillor Tai Tylen Installed as New Mayor of Kingston Council

22 May 2026

Councillor Tai Tylen has been installed as the new Mayor of Kingston Council for the 2026-2027 term, following a nomination process where Councillor Wooldridge put forward Councillor Tylen, seconded by Councillor Dunstan. The Annual Council meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026, saw Councillor Tylen officially take on the role, with Councillor Jane Lim appointed as his Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Tylen, who arrived in the UK from Sri Lanka in 1970, has a long history of community involvement in Kingston upon Thames. He played a significant role in establishing the Surrey Seamers Cricket Club in 1983, using sport to bring people together, and co-founded the ITC Kingston Tamil School in 1986, helping generations of young people stay connected to their language, heritage, and culture. He has represented Tolworth Ward as a Councillor since 2014.

During his Mayoral term, Councillor Tylen stated his vision is to promote community cohesion, inclusion and support for the local charities and vulnerable residents across the borough.

A vote of thanks was also approved for the retiring Mayor, Councillor Noel Hadjimichael, and the retiring Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sue Ansari, in recognition of their service during the past municipal year. Councillor Griseldis Kirsch proposed the vote of thanks, commending their dedication, humanity, and commitment to community resilience.

Councillor Hadjimichael and Councillor Ansari were praised for their hands on approach and for actively engaging with community organizations. Notably, Councillor Hadjimichael convened Kingston's first ever resilience board, which became a best practice for London, and he served as the GLA spokesperson for community resilience. He also successfully met with 42 community groups for coffee and conversations, exceeding his goal of 40. The pair championed two women-led charities: Leah, Learning English at Home, and the Fanny, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. Councillor Hadjimichael described his role as partially conscripted but an absolute privilege and joy to undertake.

Further details of the council meeting can be found in the Public reports pack.

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

Tai Tylen Kingston Council Jane Lim Councillor Noel Hadjimichael Councillor Sue Ansari Councillor Griseldis Kirsch Surrey Seamers Cricket Club ITC Kingston Tamil School