Open Council Network - Kingston upon Thames - Council - 26/02/2026

Special Meeting, Council - Thursday 26 February 2026 7:30 pm

February 26, 2026 at 7:30 pm Council View on council website

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Summary

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The Council of Kingston upon Thames convened for a special meeting on Thursday 26 February 2026. The primary item scheduled for discussion was the potential conferment of the Freedom of the Borough on the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps).

Freedom of the Borough for the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps)

The meeting agenda included a proposal to award the Freedom of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames to the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps). This honour, enabled by Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972¹, is typically bestowed upon individuals or bodies considered to be of distinction or who have rendered eminent services to the Borough. The report pack indicated that the council was asked to consider this conferment in recognition of the organisation's eminent service to the community.

It was recommended that the status of Freedom of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames be conferred on the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps). Additionally, the recommendation included making arrangements for an illuminated scroll to be presented to representatives of the organisation at a future date. The report pack noted that this vote would require at least a two-thirds majority of those present and voting to succeed.

Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 is a piece of legislation that grants local authorities the power to award the Freedom of a Borough. ↩

Attendees

Councillor Afy Afilaka Liberal Democrat • Hook and Chessington North Ward

Councillor Sue Ansari Deputy Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames • Liberal Democrat • Hook and Chessington North Ward

Councillor Rowena Bass Leader of the Minority Opposition Group • Conservative • Coombe Hill Ward

Councillor Mark Beynon Chair of Planning Committee • Liberal Democrat • King George's and Sunray Ward

Councillor Andrew Bolton Liberal Democrat • Coombe Vale Ward

Councillor Jamal Chohan Deputy Leader of the Opposition; Opposition Spokesperson for Leisure and Economic Development • Kingston Independent Residents Group • Tudor Ward

Councillor Emily Davey Portfolio Holder for Housing & Co-Chair - People Committee • Liberal Democrat • Norbiton Ward

Councillor Jackie Davies Liberal Democrat • Berrylands Ward

Councillor Lorraine Dunstone Chair - South of the Borough Neighbourhood Committee • Liberal Democrat • Hook and Chessington North Ward

Councillor Mark Durrant Liberal Democrat • New Malden Village Ward

Councillor Ian George Conservative • Coombe Hill Ward

Councillor James Giles Leader of the Opposition; Opposition Spokesperson for Housing, Sustainable Transport, Waste and Recycling, Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy • Kingston Independent Residents Group • Green Lane and St James Ward

Councillor Mariana Goncalves Liberal Democrat • Tolworth Ward

Councillor Liz Green Chair of the Health Overview Panel • Liberal Democrat • St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Councillor Helen Grocott Liberal Democrat • King George's and Sunray Ward

Councillor Noel Hadjimichael Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames • Liberal Democrat • Canbury Gardens Ward

Councillor Patrick Hall Chair of Pension Fund Panel • Liberal Democrat • Tudor Ward

Councillor Sabah Hamed Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Equalities and Co-Chair - People Committee • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Roger Hayes Liberal Democrat • Kingston Town Ward

Councillor Lesley Heap Chair - New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Committee • Liberal Democrat • New Malden Village Ward

Councillor Lynn Henderson Chair - Audit, Governance & Standards Committee • Liberal Democrat • Motspur Park and Old Malden East Ward

Councillor Peter Herlinger Liberal Democrat • Alexandra Ward

Councillor Alison Holt Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Economic Development & Co-Chair - Place Committee • Liberal Democrat • Surbiton Hill Ward

Councillor Amir Ali Khan Liberal Democrat • Surbiton Hill Ward

Councillor Robert Dongsung Kim Liberal Democrat • New Malden Village Ward

Councillor Andreas Kirsch Leader of the Council & Portfolio Holder for Heritage and Culture and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee • Liberal Democrat • Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Councillor Griseldis Kirsch Liberal Democrat • Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Councillor Kamala Kugan Opposition Spokesperson for Corporate and Resources • Kingston Independent Residents Group • Coombe Vale Ward

Councillor Ian Manders Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy & Co-Chair - Place Committee • Liberal Democrat • Alexandra Ward

Councillor James Manthel Liberal Democrat • Canbury Gardens Ward

Councillor Mike Massimi Liberal Democrat • Old Malden Ward

Councillor Sharukh Mirza Liberal Democrat • Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Councillor Nicola Nardelli Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Transport, Waste and Recycling and Co-Chair - Place Committee • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Town Ward

Councillor Anne Owen Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Elizabeth Park Liberal Democrat • Old Malden Ward

Councillor Tom Reeve Chair - Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee • Liberal Democrat • Surbiton Hill Ward

Councillor Farshid Sadr-Hashemi Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Anita Schaper Portfolio Holder for Communities, Commissioning and Customer Contact and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee • Liberal Democrat • Berrylands Ward

Councillor Andrew Sillett Chair - Licensing Committee • Liberal Democrat • Coombe Vale Ward

Councillor Susan Skipwith Liberal Democrat • Norbiton Ward

Councillor John Sweeney Liberal Democrat • Kingston Town Ward

Councillor Thay Thayalan Liberal Democrat • Tolworth Ward

Councillor Richard Thorpe Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Governance and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee • Liberal Democrat • Motspur Park and Old Malden East Ward

Councillor Yvonne Tracey Opposition Spokesperson for Social Care (including Education), Public Health and Equalities • Kingston Independent Residents Group • Green Lane and St James Ward

Councillor Olly Wehring Chair - Kingston and North Kingston Neighbourhood Committee • Liberal Democrat • Norbiton Ward

Councillor Diane White Portfolio Holder for Children's Services (including Education) and Co-Chair - People Committee • Liberal Democrat • St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Councillor Andrew Wooldridge Liberal Democrat • Tolworth Ward

Councillor Yogan Yoganathan Liberal Democrat • St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

Meeting Documents

Agenda

Reports Pack