Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council
Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council | ||
---|---|---|
Chief Executive | Sarah Ireland since 16 May 2023[3] | |
Structure | ||
Seats | 48 councillors | |
Political groups |
| |
Elections | ||
First past the post | ||
Last election | 5 May 2022 | |
Next election | 7 May 2026 | |
Meeting place | ||
Guildhall, High Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1EU | ||
Website | ||
www |
Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council, which styles itself Kingston Council, is the local authority for the
History
The town of
The old borough did not cover the whole
The modern borough was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, covering the combined area of the former Municipal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames, the Municipal Borough of Malden and Coombe and the Municipal Borough of Surbiton. The area was transferred from Surrey to Greater London to become one of the 32 London Boroughs.[13] Kingston's royal borough status transferred to the enlarged borough. The council's full legal name is the "Mayor and Burgesses of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames", although it styles itself Kingston Council.[14][2]
From 1965 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the
Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.[16]
Governance
The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation, and has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It sets council tax and as a
Political control
The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2018.
The first election was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows:[19]
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Conservative | 1965–1986 | |
No overall control | 1986–1994 | |
Liberal Democrats | 1994–1998 | |
No overall control | 1998–2002 | |
Liberal Democrats | 2002–2014 | |
Conservative | 2014–2018 | |
Liberal Democrats | 2018–present |
Leadership
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Kingston upon Thames. Political leadership is instead provided by the
Councillor | Party | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
C. M. Cotton | Conservative | 1972 | 1974 | |
Mike Knowles | Conservative | 1974 | 1983 | |
David Edwards | Conservative | 1983 | 1985 | |
Frank Hartfree | Conservative | 1985 | 1986 | |
Chris Nicholson | Alliance | 1986 | 1987 | |
Steve Harris | Alliance | 1987 | 1988 | |
Frank Hartfree | Conservative | 1988 | 1990 | |
Paul Clokie | Conservative | 1990 | 1994 | |
John Tilley | Liberal Democrats | 1994 | 1997 | |
Derek Osbourne | Liberal Democrats | 1997 | 1998 | |
David Edwards | Conservative | 1998 | 2001 | |
Kevin Davis | Conservative | 2001 | 2002 | |
Roger Hayes | Liberal Democrats | 2002 | 2003 | |
Derek Osbourne | Liberal Democrats | 2003 | Jun 2013 | |
Liz Green | Liberal Democrats | 19 Jun 2013 | May 2014 | |
Kevin Davis | Conservative | May 2014 | May 2018 | |
Liz Green | Liberal Democrats | May 2018 | 24 Mar 2020 | |
Caroline Kerr | Liberal Democrats | 24 Mar 2020 | 26 Oct 2021 | |
Andreas Kirsch[2] | Liberal Democrats | 26 Oct 2021 |
Composition
Following the 2022 election, a by-election in November 2022 and a change of allegiance in November 2023,[22] the composition of the council was as follows:
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | 43 | |
Conservative | 2 | |
Kingston Independent Residents Group | 2 | |
Independent | 1 | |
Total | 48 |
The Kingston Independent Residents Group and the independent councillor sit together as the 'Opposition Group'.[23] The next election is due in May 2026.
Premises
The council meets at the Guildhall on the High Street in Kingston upon Thames, which had been completed in 1935 for the old borough council.[24] Most of the council's offices are into two 1970s buildings behind the Guildhall, known as Guildhall 1 and Guildhall 2.[25]
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 48 councillors representing 19 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[26]
Criticism
Size of staff departure payments
In the financial years 2015–19, under a Conservative and then Liberal Democrat administration the council spent £2.4 million of public money on so-called ‘golden goodbyes’ to departing senior staff, including:
- Over £250,000 for Bruce McDonald, the former CEO of the council.[27][28]
- £316,000 to Charlie Adan, former council chief executive, who left her role two months after the May 2018 local elections, reportedly because she clashed with new council leader, Liz Green.[29]
- £160,000 to Roy Thompson, who served as temporary Chief Executive for less than six months, while Adan's successor was found, with his post as deputy being axed as a cost saving.[30][29]
- £442,000 split between five ‘senior officers’.[29]
References
- ^ "Council minutes, 16 May 2023". Kingston Council. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "New Leader appointed at Kingston Council". Kingston Council. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ Griffiths, Elliot (18 May 2023). "Sarah Ireland appointed as new Kingston Chief Executive". Public Sector Executive. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Reports from places in any district. 1834. p. 2892. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 3. London: Victoria County History. 1911. pp. 487–501. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ Municipal Corporations Act. 1835. p. 460. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames". The Times. 27 October 1927. p. 14.
- ^ "Surbiton Improvement Act 1855". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "No. 23195". The London Gazette. 7 December 1866. p. 6834.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1894", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1894 c. 73, retrieved 21 April 2024
- ^ "Malden and Coombe Urban District / Municipal Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Surbiton Urban District / Municipal Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ISBN 0-901050-67-9.
- ^ "Clean air". London Gazette. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 5 April 2024
- ISBN 978-0714648590.
- ^ "Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities". Council Tax Rates. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Local Plan Responses – within and outside London". Mayor of London. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Council minutes". Kingston upon Thames Council. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ "London Boroughs Political Almanac". London Councils. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ Burford, Rachael (21 November 2023). "Senior London Tory councillor quits in fury over Gaza ceasefire stance". The Standard. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Your councillors by party". Kingston Council. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "The Guildhall (Grade II) (1080065)". National Heritage List for England.
- ^ "Contact us". Kingston Council. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (Electoral Changes) Order 2021", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2021/417, retrieved 21 April 2024
- ^ "Former Kingston Council chief executive to get more than £250,000 payout for "resigning"". Surrey Comet. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ "MyLondon News". 9 July 2018.
- ^ a b c Private Eye, Issue 1502, p.18
- ^ "Campaigners raise concerns after Kingston Council deputy chief executive axed". Surrey Comet. Retrieved 14 August 2021.