Councillor Nicolai Due-Gundersen

The Council decided to lobby the government for increased climate change funding and to publish a borough-wide Heat Resilience Action Plan by 31 December 2026. The Council also resolved to publish a timetable for its successor Air Quality Action Plan by 30 September 2026.

The Corporate and Resources Committee, Council decided on 14 July 2026 to approve recommendations for the de-establishment of the Member-led Blue Badge Appeals Panel process and to delegate authority for overseeing revised outsourced arrangements for the concessionary travel service. The Council also agreed to de-establish the Blue Badge Appeals Panel and delete section 4.8 of Part 3A of the Council's Constitution. This includes implementing a revised single-stage review process from 15 July 2026 and presenting a performance and quality assurance report six months after implementation.

The Corporate and Resources Committee, Council recommended to full council on 14 July 2026 that a separate Health and Wellbeing Board be re-established. The committee also recommended the de-establishment of the Kingston Partnership Board and that authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to make consequential amendments to the Constitution.

The Council of Kingston upon Thames Council decided on 22/06/2026 to respond to public questions regarding the Draft Local Plan. The Council noted that the Green Belt Review identified an area north of Clayton Road as potential Grey Belt land. The Council also stated that the Draft Local Plan requires major development sites to provide Gypsy and Traveller pitches to meet a significant unmet need.

The Council decided to recommend the final draft of the Local Plan (Regulation 19) to the Full Council for public consultation on 22 June 2026. This recommendation includes approving the publication document and authorising officers to proceed to the next stage, subject to no major modifications arising from the consultation. Authority is delegated to the Director for Planning and Regeneration, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to make final amendments to the documents prior to public consultation.