Leader announces new-look team

Published: Tuesday 19 May 2026

Last night, Cllr Elizabeth Campbell was confirmed as leader of the Conservative group after they secured a majority in the recent local elections. Today she is announcing proposed changes to the leadership team. All changes will take effect following full council on May 27.

Cllr Campbell said:

 

“With thanks to the residents of Kensington and Chelsea, I have been given another opportunity to lead this council, and it is not something I ever take for granted. I am announcing a refreshed leadership team today to take us forward and really meet the challenges ahead.
 
“The leadership team will be focused on four big themes; Clean streets and amazing places, value for money, continuing to get the basics right, and working hard to make residents lives easier. We are embarking on huge transformation here at K&C and we need to make sure we are ready for the next decade. With this leadership team working hand in hand with dedicated and talented officers, I am confident about the future of this Council and the borough.”

Lead members and their portfolios

Leader of the Council – Cllr Elizabeth Campbell

  • Council Plan direction
  • Overall budget responsibility and accountability
  • Overall responsibility for Grenfell commitments and legacy
  • Strategy, performance, policy, communications and public affairs
  • Emergency and civil contingency planning
  • Driving corporate transformation and change
  • Corporate services, human resources, electoral services, governance and decision making
  • Liaison with Government, the Greater London Authority and London Councils
  • Local and regional stakeholder liaison, strategic partnerships, and external examinations

Lead member for Finance and Property, and Deputy Leader – Cllr Emma Will

  • Revenue and capital budget planning, monitoring
  • Capital budget and project delivery
  • Investments, treasury management
  • Commercial and income generation
  • Council Tax and benefits
  • Legal services and procurement policy
  • Property and facilities management

Lead member for Housing – Cllr Cem Kemahli

  • Delivering homes
  • Investing in and renewing housing estates
  • Housing management services
  • Housing support, strategy, and policy
  • Housing revenue account and business plan
  • Grenfell housing support
  • Lancaster West commitments
  • Tackling homelessness, support for refugees and asylum seekers
  • Partnerships with housing providers and private sector housing
  • Representing Council on London Wide Housing Boards

Lead member for Modernisation and Change – Cllr Tom Bennett

  • AI policy, strategy, and service use
  • Council’s equality diversity and inclusion strategy and policy
  • Dedicated services for Grenfell bereaved and survivors
  • Grenfell community programmes
  • Grenfell legacy, alongside the Leader of the Council

Lead member for Business and Communities – Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke

  • Funding for voluntary and community sectors and City Living Local Life
  • The Mayoralty and Youth Council
  • Consultation and community engagement
  • Economic development, employment, skills, and apprenticeships
  • High streets, retail space, markets, and street trading
  • Special events, filming, cultural services and partnerships
  • Registrars and bereavement services
  • Further education, skills, and employability

Lead member for Resident Services, Planning, and Enforcement – Cllr Johnny Thalassites

  • Customer services
  • Corporate health and safety
  • Planning and building control
  • Community safety and crime
  • On street licensing, licensing enforcement, and trading standards
  • Notting Hill Carnival 
  • Environmental health and regulation – health and safety, noise, food hygiene 
  • Enforcement private sector housing
  • Mortuary and coroner’s services

Lead member for Transport, Parks, and Clean Streets – Cllr Josh Rendall

  • Parks, cemeteries, green spaces, and community gardens
  • Transport strategy and transportation policies
  • Amazing Spaces
  • Leisure centres and sports facilities
  • Parking fees, charges, policy and operations
  • Waste management (including WRWA) and recycling
  • Street cleaning, highways maintenance and street lighting
  • Air quality and environmental commitments
  • Lead local flooding authority

Lead member for Adult Social Care and Public Health – Cllr Lucy Knight

  • Safeguarding of vulnerable adults
  • Public health policy and strategy 
  • Social services for adults
  • Services to support the elderly and people with learning disabilities
  • Mental health services in partnership with NHS and partners
  • Physical disability services
  • Transitions from children’s services
  • Partnership working and service integration with local NHS
  • Discretionary welfare provision and subsidised transport
  • Chair of Health and Wellbeing Board

Lead member for Families and Children – Cllr Catherine Faulks

  • Safeguarding of vulnerable children and young people
  • Support for children and young people in learning and education settings
  • Support for children and young people affected by Grenfell
  • Libraries and archive service
  • Ensuring robust corporate parenting
  • Services for schools and pupils
  • Nursery schools and childcare
  • Children’s centres
  • Youth Services, youth justice, and Youth Offending team