Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

The Council unanimously approved the conferment of the freedom of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames to the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps (FANY). This is a civic honor recognizing the organization's service to the community. An illuminated scroll will be prepared and presented at a future date. This is a non-procurement civic honors matter.

The committee considered and approved a temporary street trading licence for Christmas tree sales at King Charles Road, Surbiton, under the London Local Authorities Act 1990. The licence is for a defined period in late 2026 and is subject to the Council’s street trading policy and standard conditions.

Members approved a re-procurement strategy for the mechanical street cleansing residual treatment and recycling contract. Officers said the current contract, in place since 2021 and expiring in 2028, has delivered low cost and higher recycling rates, and the new contract will be a like-for-like replacement commissioned jointly with other SLWP boroughs to improve market attractiveness and value for money. The transcript does not state a specific tender value, so no estimate is provided.

The committee approved an outline application to demolish the vacant Hobkirk House care home and build an 80-bed residential care home. Discussion focused on the revised design, parking, servicing, landscaping, sustainability measures and the need for specialist care accommodation; members accepted that the revised scheme addressed earlier refusal reasons.

The new Kingston Leisure Centre is progressing through external cladding and internal fit-out, including mechanical and electrical systems, and remains on budget and on track for spring 2027 opening.

The committee was briefed on the updated Mental Health Act 2025, its objectives, and the expected 10-year phased implementation. The reform is intended to modernise the 1983 Act, strengthen patient autonomy, reduce inappropriate detention, and address racial inequalities, with a new code of practice expected in 2027 to 2028. This creates a long-term policy and commissioning change for adult social care, NHS partners, and mental health providers.

The meeting focused on three planning applications with significant development, design, heritage, housing and amenity implications. The most consequential decision was the refusal of Kingston University’s Middle Mill teaching building after debate over height, massing, heritage impacts, daylight/sunlight and public benefits. Members also approved removal of an HMO restriction on Mall/Malmo Road flats and approved a revised care home at Hobkirk House, with discussion of specialist care demand, parking, transport and sustainability.

The meeting was dominated by a major climate-resilience debate, including calls for central government funding, updates on heat and flood adaptation work, and confirmation that several local climate measures are already underway. Members also discussed procurement and contract decisions for cycle hire, supported housing care provision, the blue badge appeals process, and regeneration works. Other notable items included responsible investment policy, local food and sustainability, and a decision to establish a new Health and Wellbeing Board.

The panel discussed major changes to the Mental Health Act 2025 and the implications for Kingston services, including new detention safeguards, nominated persons, advanced choice documents, and potential resourcing impacts over a 10-year rollout. Members also received a verbal update on the Mental Capacity Act following the Supreme Court decision, with officers explaining that deprivation-of-liberty processes are being adjusted while awaiting fuller national guidance. Several questions focused on place-of-safety arrangements, tribunal/IMHA workload, advocacy, and how patients and carers will be informed and supported.