Leader and Portfolio Holders
The Leader of the political Group which holds a majority of seats on the Council is automatically the Leader of the Council. The Leader can appoint up to 10 Portfolio Holders who have oversight of different areas of the Council’s services. The Leader and Portfolio Holders provide guidance on policy but have no decision-making powers in their own right. Decisions must be taken by Councillors acting collectively in a Committee of the Council or a meeting of the Full Council.
The largest Opposition Group on the Council can appoint spokespersons to shadow the Portfolio Holders.
The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Heritage and Culture is Cllr Andreas Kirsch (Chessington South and Malden Rushett ward) Responsibilities include: 2025 Celebrations, Heritage, Culture including Museum, History Centre, Music Service, Libraries, The Rose Theatre, Overall responsibility for Strategic partnerships such as police, university, external bodies such as GLA, LGA and London Councils, Transformation Programme, Communications, Consultation and Engagement, Emergency planning, Voluntary sector commissioning, Legal affairs and International partnerships and Tourism.
The Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Communities, Leisure and Economic Development is Cllr Alison Holt (Surbiton Hill Ward). Responsibilities include: Leisure and Sports, Green Spaces leisure activities, Bereavement Services and Citizenship, Neighbourhoods, Economic Development and Regeneration, Business and Skills.
The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Governance is Cllr Richard Thorpe (Motspur Park and Old Malden East Ward). Responsibilities include: Revenue and Capital Monitoring and Expenditure, Revenue and Benefits, Pensions, Assets and Investments, Governance, Electoral Services.
The Portfolio Holder for Commissioning, Customer Contact and Equalities is Cllr Afy Afilaka (Hook and Chessington North Ward). Responsibilities include Contracts and Commissioning (with PH in Service Areas), Equalities, Human Resources, Customer Contact, ICT and Digital, Regulatory Services, Adult Education.
The Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy is Cllr Ian Manders (Alexandra Ward). Responsibilities include: Environment, Air Quality, Biodiversity, Open Spaces, River, Energy, Carbon Emissions, Planning Policy (including Enforcement and Development Management), Local Plan, Building Control.
The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Transport and Waste and Recycling is Cllr Nicola Nardelli (Kingston Town Ward). Responsibilities include: Transport, Highways and Street Scene, Parking, Cycling/walking/healthy streets, Public Transport, Waste and Recycling.
The Portfolio holder for Housing is Cllr Emily Davey (Norbiton Ward). Responsibilities include: CRE Regeneration Council led housing delivery, Community Housing, Council Housing, Relations with Housing Associations, HMO Licensing, Homelessness, Private Leasing HRA (with Finance and Commissioning PHs), Private Residential Enforcement.
The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services including Education is Cllr Diane White (St. Mark’s and Seething Wells Ward). Responsibilities include: AfC commissioning (with Finance and Commissioning PHs), 0-19 Education including Schools, School Place Planning, Pupil Referral Units, Approval of Schools Budget Estimates and Schools Funding Formulae (with Finance and Commissioning PHs), Special Educational Needs and Disabilities inc SEND Transformational Plan, Children’s Centres, Youth Services, Safeguarding, Looked after Children and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking, Early Years and Prevention, Lead on Children’s Health.
The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Public Health is Cllr Sabah Hamed (Kingston Gate Ward). Responsibilities include: Adult Social Care, Mental Health, Adult Safeguarding, Dementia, Community Safety (protection and prevention), Lead on Adults’ Health via KPB, Public Health Chair KPB.