Published: Thursday 15 May 2025
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Leader, Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, has announced some changes to her leadership team as the Council reaches the halfway point in delivery of its Council Plan.
Cllr Cem Kemahli and Cllr Johnny Thalassites will be taking on new roles as the council puts extra focus on emerging technology and making the most of digital opportunities. This includes working with AI and automation – alongside ongoing commitments to be prudent with taxpayers money, and providing the best possible services.
Leader Cllr Elizabeth Campbell said:
“With one year to go until local elections, we know what residents want from us – high standards of service, clean streets, and better quality housing.
“At the same time, the world is changing at a faster pace than ever before, and it is vital we are in a position to benefit from progress, and turn to AI and automation when services can be improved and where spending can be reduced.”
All new roles and responsibilities are listed below, with changes taking effect from Thursday 15 May 2025.
The refreshed leadership team, priorities, and responsibilities are:
Leader of the Council – Cllr Elizabeth Campbell
- Council Plan direction and delivery
- Council finances and overall budget responsibility
- Overall responsibility for Grenfell Recovery and legacy
- Strategy, performance, policy, communications and public affairs
- Driving corporate transformation and change
- Emergency and civil contingency planning
- Corporate services and human resources
- Electoral services, Governance, and decision making
- Liaison with Government, the Greater London Authority and London Councils
- Local and regional stakeholder liaison and strategic partnerships
Deputy leader and lead member for employment, culture and the economy - Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith
- Economic development, employment, and skills
- Working in partnership with cultural institutions
- Events and filming and cultural services
- Registrars and bereavement services
- Library and archive services
- Supporting Notting Hill Carnival
- Local employment
- Supporting local businesses and supply chains
- Street markets and street trading
- High Streets and retail space
- Apprenticeships and alternative career pathways
- Further education, skills, and employability
Lead member for housing – Cllr Sof McVeigh
- Grenfell housing support
- Building new homes
- Investing in and renewing housing estates
- Housing support, strategy, and policy
- Lancaster West improvements and projects
- Housing management services
- Driving up housing safety standards
- Tackling homelessness
- Housing revenue account and business plan
- Support for refugees and asylum seekers
- Partnerships with housing providers and private sector housing
Lead member for adult social care and public health – Cllr Josh Rendall
- Safeguarding of vulnerable adults
- Public health and promotion of healthy living
- Tackling health inequalities
- Social services for adults
- Services to support the elderly
- Services to support people with learning disabilities
- Provision of 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 transports
- Chair of Health and Wellbeing Board
Lead member for communities and community safety – Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke
- Community safety and crime
- Dedicated services for Grenfell Bereaved and Survivors
- Grenfell community programmes
- Grenfell legacy, alongside the leader of the Council
- Support and grant funding for voluntary, and community sectors
- Ward budgets (City Living Local Life)
- The Mayoralty and Youth Council
- Delivery of the fairer action plan and council’s equality strategy
- Consultation and engagement
Lead member for family and children’s services – Cllr Catherine Faulks
- Safeguarding of vulnerable children and young people
- Support for children and young people in learning and educations settings
- Support for children and young people affected by Grenfell
- Ensuring robust corporate parenting
- Services for schools and pupils
- Nursery schools and childcare
- Children’s centres
- Youth services, youth justice, and youth offending team
Lead member for environment and planning – Cllr Johnny Thalassites
- Transport strategy and transportation policies.
- Parking fees, charges, policy and operations
- On street licensing and licensing enforcement
- Trading standards
- Waste management, recycling, street cleaning, and pest control
- Highways maintenance and street lighting
- Environmental regulation - Health and safety, noise, food hygiene
- Net zero, air quality, and environmental commitments
- Lead local flooding authority
- Improving private sector housing enforcement
- Planning policy and building control
- Amazing spaces
Lead member for property, parks and leisure services – Cllr Emma Will
- Property
- Facilities management
- Parks, green spaces, and community gardens
- Cemeteries
- Mortuary and coroner’s services
- Leisure centres and sports facilities
Lead member for finance, digital, and efficiency – Cllr Cem Kemahli
- Customer services
- AI policy, strategy, and use
- Revenue and capital budget planning, monitoring and capital budget delivery
- Investments, treasury management
- Commercial and income generation
- Support with cost of living
- Council tax and benefits
- Digital and service transformation
- Legal services
- Procurement policy
- Corporate health and safety