Joint statement from the Leader and Chief Executive
In July 2025, a team of senior councillors and officers from other councils spent four days reviewing how the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea works. This is called a Corporate Peer Challenge – an external assessment that every council is expected to undergo at least once every five years.
The peer team met over 75 people, reviewed our performance data, examined our plans, and observed how we operate. Their report is clear-eyed and constructive. It recognises significant progress while identifying where we might further improve.
What they found
The peer team acknowledged areas where we excel. Our children's services and adult social care are both rated outstanding – we're one of only two councils in England to achieve this. We have strong political and managerial leadership, sound finances, and effective governance. Partners told the peers that we're a reliable organisation to work with.
The report also identifies where we still need to improve. Some residents – particularly those in social housing – still don't see or feel the change we believe we've made. We need to be more consistent in how we engage residents, clearer about our values and behaviours, and better at working as one council rather than separate directorates.
The peer team made six specific recommendations about our long-term vision, neighbourhood working, public participation, organisational culture, transformation approach, and internal processes.
What happens next
These six recommendations pose big questions about the sort of Council we want to be in the future, about how we address an £84 million budget gap through our transformation programme, about what our independent culture review examines, and about how we develop our approach to place and partnership.
In January, the Leadership Team will be asked to approve a response to the Peer Challenge with an action plan. That plan will set out how each recommendation will inform our approach to these big challenges.
After the Grenfell tragedy we have been challenged to become the best council for all our residents. These peer challenge findings – both the recognition of progress and the clear identification of where we're falling short - are part of that journey.
If you have reflections on what you've read, or ideas about what we should prioritise, we'd welcome hearing them. You can write to the team at [email protected].
Councillor Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of the Council
Maxine Holdsworth, Chief Executive