The Full Council meeting of Kensington and Chelsea Council on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, addressed significant financial pressures facing the borough, the adoption of a new four-year Council Plan, and ongoing concerns regarding the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service. Key decisions included the agreement to adopt the Council Plan 2026-2030, which outlines priorities for Clean streets and amazing spaces, Getting the basics right, Making your life easier, and Value for money, alongside a commitment to co-design a Resident Pact. The Council also passed a motion to protect the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service, urging the NHS to ensure continuity of care and long-term funding.

Financial Pressures and the Council Plan

The Council's Leader, Councillor Elizabeth Campbell, highlighted severe financial challenges, stating that the borough faces a £127 million funding gap over the next four years due to government funding cuts. She announced that council tax would need to rise, but stressed that every effort would be made to find savings before increasing bills. In response, Councillor Monica Press, Leader of the Opposition, criticised the government's funding decisions and advocated for a cross-party approach to lobby for a fairer deal.

The Council subsequently agreed to adopt the new Council Plan for 2026-2030, titled A Better Kensington and Chelsea for Everyone. This plan is built around four key priorities: Clean streets and amazing spaces, Getting the basics right, Making your life easier, and Value for money. Councillor Campbell emphasised that the plan was shaped by resident consultations and would guide the Council's work over the next four years, despite the challenging financial context. Councillor Josh Rendall, Lead Member for Transport, Parks, and Clean Streets, spoke in support, highlighting the Council's achievements in parks and green spaces. Councillor Press, while acknowledging the plan's eye-catching design, raised concerns about the implementation strategy and the lack of detail on costings and timelines, particularly regarding the recovery from a recent cyber-attack and the approach to voluntary sector grants. Councillor Linda Wade expressed significant concerns about the provision for older people and the stripping of resources from voluntary centres. Councillor Ned Whitley delivered his maiden speech, supporting the Council Plan and highlighting its benefits for his ward.

Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service. Councillor Anne Cyron and Councillor Portia Thaxter moved a motion calling for the protection of this vital service, highlighting the ongoing trauma experienced by the Grenfell community and the uncertainty surrounding the service's future funding beyond 2027. Councillor Cyron emphasised the need for continuity of care, culturally sensitive support, and for decisions to be based on need rather than budget constraints, especially with upcoming sensitive milestones such as the tower's dismantling and the 10th anniversary. Councillor Dr Max Chauhan, speaking as a member of the Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee and a doctor, stressed the clinical importance of continuity of care for complex trauma. Councillor Linda Wade spoke about the intergenerational impact of trauma and the need for long-term support. Councillor Catherine Faulks, Lead Member for Family & Children's Services, spoke about the impact on children and young people. Councillor Claire Simmons, Chair of the Housing and Communities Select Committee, welcomed the cross-party support for the motion, drawing parallels with the Aberfan disaster and stressing the need for continued support for the Grenfell community. Councillor Sof McVeigh also expressed full support, highlighting the service's effectiveness and the importance of cross-party working. Councillor Dr Marc Goldfinger raised concerns about the uncertainty of NHS England's future and the impact of constant changes on service provision. Councillor Emma Will, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Finance and Property, expressed full support for the motion and pledged to write to the government for funding assurances. Councillor Knight, Lead Member for Adult Social Care & Public Health, responded to the debate, reiterating her full support for the motion and her commitment to securing long-term funding and ensuring the service continues to meet the needs of the bereaved, survivors, and the wider community. The motion was declared carried.

Other Key Discussions

Pension Fund Investments: Public speakers Dominic Miqueta and May Elgindi raised concerns about the Council's pension fund investments, particularly in relation to companies complicit in Israel's violations of international law and illegal settlement activity in the West Bank. They urged the Council to divest from such companies and adopt Pillar 3 of the London CIV's responsible investment framework. Councillor Emma Will, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Finance and Property, stated that any proposal to exclude companies must be assessed against legal frameworks, financial implications, and UK government policy, noting that the Investment Committee would review its investment strategy statement and responsible investment policy. Councillor Sina Lari, speaking as a lay member and Labour Party spokesperson, expressed strong support for Pillar 3, drawing parallels with the Council's divestment from companies associated with Grenfell.

Grenfell Tower Inquiry and Prosecutions: Public speakers Rahul Imran and David Carr raised questions regarding the Council's understanding of corporate manslaughter following the Met Police's referral to the CPS, and the Council's governance reforms in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry findings. They also asked how bereaved families and survivors would be kept informed of developments in the prosecution process and what local support mechanisms were in place. Councillor Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of the Council, stated that the CPS would independently consider the evidence for any criminal charges, and that the Council's acceptance of the inquiry's findings was separate from the legal question of criminal liability. Councillor Claire Simmons, Chair of the Housing and Communities Select Committee, expressed concerns about the Council's suitability to govern North Kensington and stressed the importance of keeping affected communities informed and adequately funded advocacy and wellbeing services.

Pension Fund Valuation and Climate Risk: Miss Samantha Batra and Miss Jasmine Mahmood questioned the Council's handling of the 2025 pension fund valuation, specifically the legal adequacy of the climate risk assessment and how climate risks were factored into the funding strategy when the Council's contribution rate was set at zero for three years. Councillor Will stated that due to ongoing legal proceedings, he was unable to comment on specific legal arguments. Councillor Lucy Shaw, Vice-Chair of the Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee, acknowledged the concerns about climate risks but highlighted the Council's ambitious net-zero targets and criticised national Conservative Party policy on climate change. She also noted that the Council was falling behind on meeting its own targets and suggested ways the Council could do more.

Planning System Reforms: The Council discussed and adopted changes to its planning procedures in response to the new national scheme of delegation. Councillor Greg Hammond, Chair of the Licensing Committee, expressed disappointment with the government's decision to reduce local involvement in planning decisions, particularly for smaller applications where local knowledge is crucial. Councillor Kim Taylor-Smith, Chair of the Planning Committee, supported the proposed approach, emphasising the Council's efforts to preserve member scrutiny within the new framework. Councillor Anne Cyron, Chair of the Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee, highlighted the importance of resident engagement and the need for councillors to be well-informed on planning matters. Councillor Sof McVeigh, Vice-Chair of the Environment Select Committee, thanked officers and legal teams for their work in adapting to the changes and noted the potential for earlier member input into the process. Councillor Claire Lowry criticised Councillor Taylor-Smith's speech as performative and highlighted the government's role in imposing these changes. Councillor Peter Marshall, Opposition spokesperson for Planning, acknowledged the hard work of officers and the planning and legal teams. The Council agreed to adopt the recommendations.

Housing Management Performance and Complaints: Councillor Alex Porter, Opposition spokesperson for Housing & Communities, presented a critical view of the Housing Management Performance and Annual Complaints reports, highlighting significant failings in social housing, particularly concerning repairs and communication. She cited the Housing Ombudsman's C3 rating and a high maladministration rate. Councillor Peter Marshall, Opposition spokesperson for Planning, echoed these concerns, pointing to the high percentage of upheld housing management complaints, particularly those related to repairs, and the ongoing issues with communication. Councillor Cem Kemahli, Lead Member for Housing, responded by stating that the Council was working on improving repairs and addressing systemic issues. The Council agreed to note the Housing Management Performance and Annual Complaints reports.

Cyber Attack and Data Breach: Councillor Peter Marshall questioned Councillor Tom Bennett, Lead Member for Modernisation and Change, about the timescale for informing residents of the exact nature of the personal data breach following the cyber attack and the likely risks incurred. Councillor Bennett confirmed that 99% of services had been restored and that improvements were being made to online services. He stated that a detailed forensic review was underway, prioritising sensitive data, and that this analysis could take up to 12 months, with completion expected by March 2027. He assured that affected individuals would be contacted directly and offered support, and that no copied data had been published to date. Councillor Marshall expressed disappointment with the lack of transparency and accountability regarding the cyber attack.

Central Line Noise and Transport Issues: Councillor Georgia Hardisty raised concerns about persistent Central Line noise affecting residents in Holland Park and Notting Hill Gate, following TfL's removal of noise-dampening pads. Councillor Natacha Tannous Ritchie also raised concerns about TfL's proposed changes to bus routes, including the potential scrapping of the C3 bus, which would impact residents in Chelsea Riverside. Councillor Sof McVeigh raised concerns about the impact of major development work at South Kensington Tube Station, seeking reassurance on regular meetings with councillors and residents, a designated officer for concerns, and the ring-fencing of £12 million committed by the Council for step-free access.

Motions: The Council debated and passed several motions, including one to protect the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service, and motions regarding the Amazing Spaces programme, the Earl's Court Public Spaces Protection Order, and helping residents reduce energy bills. Motions to Stop the Tourist Tax and Stop the Mansion Tax were also debated.