New-look Leadership Team

Leader Cllr Elizabeth Campbell has announced changes to the Leadership Team, with lead members moving to new portfolios.

Following a number of changes to the leadership team, announced by Cllr Elizabeth Campbell today, deputy leader Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith moves to a new brief.

After overseeing the response to Grenfell Tower tragedy for six years, he will retain his role of deputy leader, but move on to be lead member for employment, culture and economy.

Cllr Taylor-Smith has been an integral part of making sure the organisation continues to learn the lessons from the tragedy, build more affordable homes, makes homes safer, and continues to improve housing services right across the borough.

He has written an open letter to thank the residents and communities of Kensington and Chelsea.

Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: 

 

“Kim stood up, when many others wouldn’t have, or been able to, in such a time of crisis and disaster, the sort of which London hadn’t seen before in peace time.

 

“He rolled his sleeves up, and over time helped to support people in rebuilding their lives. He has built some lasting relationships and worked tirelessly every day. He has always put people before process and politics and did so much work behind the scenes to make things happen for others.

 

“I hope the communities he served will recognise his efforts, and his unwavering support for them. I’m glad he has decided to continue working in our leadership team, and I know his experience will continue to be of huge benefit for all of us.

 

“His new brief opens the door to help people further and wider in the recovery from Grenfell, and he will of course remain my deputy leader.”

In the changes, Cllr Sof McVeigh takes over the housing brief, Cllr Emma Will has been given the property and social investment brief, and Cllr Johnny Thalassites has picked up cross-cutting work on getting the Council and the borough towards Net Zero. Communities and Community Safety has been brought together under Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke, with Cllr Josh Rendell moving to Adult Social Care and Public Health.

The new-look leadership team is: 

Leader of the Council - Cllr Elizabeth Campbell

• The Council Plan and Grenfell Legacy
• Overall responsibility for Grenfell Recovery
• Overall strategy, performance, policy, and budgeting
• Continued delivery of corporate transformation and change
• Emergency and civil contingency planning
• Grenfell Public Inquiry and other external examinations of the Council
• Corporate services, including Strategy, HR and Communications 
• Governance and decision making
• Liaison with Government, Greater London Authority, London Councils
• Local strategic partnerships and engagement with partner agencies

Deputy Leader, Employment, Culture, and Economy - Cllr Kim Taylor Smith

• Economic development, employment, and skills
• Working in partnership with museums and galleries; public art; events and film and overseeing council cultural services. 
• The council’s role in supporting Notting Hill Carnival
• Helping local people into work or better work
• Linking local businesses into supply chain opportunities. 
• Library and Archive Services, including North Ken Library
• Street markets and street trading
• Sustainability of high streets and retail
• Apprenticeship within the council, local partners, and suppliers
• Alternative career pathways for residents 16+
• Further and adult education, skills, and employability
• Cllr Taylor-Smith will also oversee the Council’s role in the Grenfell restorative justice programme

Housing Management, Housing Safety, and Building New Homes - Cllr Sof McVeigh

• Grenfell Housing support, policy, and delivery
• Improvement and investment in estates
• Lancaster West improvements and projects
• Overarching investment in housing
• Housing strategy and policy
• Council housing management services
• Driving improvements in housing safety standards 
• Housing support
• Homelessness and allocations policy
• Housing Revenue Account business plan
• Supporting refugees and asylum seekers
• Registered housing provider and private sector housing relationships and partnerships

Adult Social Care & Public Health - Cllr Josh Rendall 

• Public health: COVID-19 recovery; promote healthy living; strengthen health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities
• Safeguarding of vulnerable adults
• Community based support for adults affected by Grenfell
• Assessment and care management of social services for vulnerable adults 
• Services to support elderly people
• Services to support people with learning disabilities
• Provision of mental health services in partnership with NHS
• Physical disability services
• Transitions from children’s services
• Partnership working and service integration with the local NHS
• Discretionary welfare provision and subsidised transport
• Chairs Health and Wellbeing Board, holds health services to account

Communities and Community Safety – Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke 

• Community engagement, consultation, and empowerment
• Supporting equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Grenfell Community Programme
• Grenfell Dedicated Service for bereaved and survivors
• Grenfell legacy, alongside the leader of the Council
• Community safety
• Strengthening police partnerships and relationships to help reduce crime
• Chairs Community safety partnership board
• Working with the Voluntary Community Sector
• Grant funding the Voluntary Sector Support Fund
• Overseeing ward budgets
• Mayor’s Office 

Family & Children’s Services - Cllr Catherine Faulks 

• Safeguarding of vulnerable children and young people
• Ongoing support for children and young people in learning and educational 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 the Youth Offending Team (YOT)

Property, Parks and Leisure - Cllr Emma Will 

• Property
• Social investment
• Hard and soft facilities management 
• Parks and open spaces
• Community gardens
• Leisure centres and sports facilities
• Mortuary and coroners’ services
• Cemeteries

Planning and Public Realm- Cllr Cem Kemahli 

• Planning policy and planning briefs for major sites, including Grenfell Memorial
• Transport strategy and transportation policies
• Parking policy and operations, including fees and charges
• On-street and licensing enforcement
• Trading Standards, food hygiene and health and safety
• Placemaking and improving the built environment
• Waste management, recycling, street cleaning and pest control
• Maintenance and improvement of highways and street lighting
• Development control and enforcement; Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106
• Responsibilities as Lead Local Flood Authority

Finance, Customer Services, Net Zero Council - Cllr Johnny Thalassites 

• Revenue and capital budget planning and monitoring, with the Leader
• Investments, treasury management, income generation
• Capital programme delivery 
• Delivery of the Council’s Net Zero 2030 and 2040 commitments
• Support with cost of living 
• Customer services improvements and modernisation
• Registrars and bereavement services
• Digital transformation and enablement
• Policy and use for Artificial Intelligence
• Legal and Electoral Services
• Procurement Policy, Corporate Health and Safety
• Council tax and benefits.