Richmond Council, its Leader, Cabinet and Councillors

The London Borough of Richmond is a vibrant and rich collection of towns and villages with a rich history and close community ties.  The area is overseen by the Richmond Council. 

The Council, Leader and Cabinet

The Richmond Council which is comprised of a total of 54 members are elected every four years. The council itself is made up of a widely diverse group of citizens who have committed themselves to the purpose of serving the greater good of the overall Richmond community.

The operation of the council is conducted under the "leader and cabinet" style of direction.  This method was adopted by the council on May 22, 2001.  This style of direction means that the full council is needed to review and approve Policy and budget issues while other issues and operational decisions are acted upon by the cabinet or in some cases by individual members under the purview of "cabinet member decisions". 

The Council is headed by the Leader of the Council who appoints cabinet members to work with him responsible for varying Council roles. These are:

·                             Leader of the Council – Lord True

·                             Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources – Geoffrey Samuel

·                             Cabinet Member for Adult services, Health and Housing – Nicola Urquhart

·                             Cabinet Member for Community Development – Samantha Salvoni

·                             Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture – Pamela Fleming

·                             Cabinet Member for Education, Youth & Children’s Services – Christine Percival

·                             Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning, Parks and Highways – Virginia Morris

·                             Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene – Chris Harrison

·                             Cabinet Member for Performance – Tony Arbour

·                             Cabinet Member for Schools – Paul Hodgins

The purpose of the council is to promote best interest of the community through a wide variety of programs and oversee opportunities.  The Cabinet Members listed above head departments which work directly with the community to provide for the needs and desires of the greater Richmond district on the whole.

The council leader is responsible for publishing a public document every month which acts as a forward plan for the next month.  This documents sets out the key issues on which action or decisions need to be considered over the following four month period.

The 54 Councillors

The council members as of June 2011 are:           

Name/Councillor                                 Party                           Role

Barnes

Councillor Paul Hodgins                     Conservative               Cabinet Member for Schools

Councillor Rita Palmer                        Conservative

Councillor Christine Percival              Conservative               Strategic Cabinet Member for            

Education,

Youth and Children’s Services

 

East Sheen

Councillor Virginia Morris                    Conservative               Strategic Cabinet Member for

Environment,

Planning, Parks and Highways

 

Lord True                                            Conservative               Leader of the Council

 

Councillor Nicola Urquhart                  Conservative               Cabinet Member for Adult services,

Health and Housin

 

 

 Fulwell & Hampton Hill

Councillor Jonathan Cardy                 Liberal Democrat

Councillor Malcolm Eady                    Liberal Democrat        Opposition Spokesperson for

Education and Schools

Councillor Jerry Elloy                          Liberal Democrat        Opposition Spokesperson for

 Transport

 Ham, Petersham & Richmond Riverside

Councillor Sue Jones                          Liberal Democrat

Councillor Brian Miller                         Liberal Democrat

Councillor Sir David Williams             Liberal Democrat        Deputy Leader of the Opposition;

Opposition Spokesperson for Finance and Performance

 Hampton

Councillor Janet Langhorne                Liberal Democrat

Councillor Suzette Nicholson             Liberal Democrat        Opposition Spokesperson for

Children’s and Family Services

Councillor Gareth Roberts                  Liberal Democrat

 Hampton North

Councillor Ellen Day                           Liberal Democrat        Opposition Spokesperson for Youth

Councillor Geoffrey Samuel                Conservative               Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member

for Resources

Councillor Darren Thornton                Liberal Democrat

 Hampton Wick

Councillor Tony Arbour                       Conservative               Cabinet Member for Performance

Councillor Gareth Evans                     Conservative

Councillor Dr. Tania Mathias             Conservative

 Heathfield

Councillor Alan Butler                         Conservative

Councillor John Coombs                    Liberal Democrat        Opposition Spokesperson for

 Housing

Councillor Bill Treble                           Liberal Democrat

 Kew

Councillor Meena Bond                       Conservative               Deputy Mayor of the Borough

Councillor Jean-Francois Burford       Liberal Democrat        Opposition Spokesperson for

 Libraries, Arts and Sports

Councillor David Linnette                    Conservative

Mortlake & Barnes Common

Councillor Paul Avon                           Conservative

Councillor Richard Martin                   Conservative

Councillor Gemma Stockley               Conservative

 North Richmond

Councillor Lisa Blakemore                  Conservative

Councillor Katharine Harborne           Conservative

Councillor Richard Montague             Conservative

 South Richmond

Councillor Frances Bouchier              Conservative

Councillor Pamela Fleming                Conservative               Strategic Cabinet Member for

 Community, Business and Culture

Councillor Thomas O'Malley               Conservative

 South Twickenham

Councillor Clare Head                         Conservative               Mayor of the Borough

Councillor David Marlow                     Conservative

Councillor David Porter                       Conservative

St Margaret's & North Twickenham

Councillor Geoff Acton                        Liberal Democrat        Opposition Spokesperson for

Business and Community Development

Councillor Chris Harrison                   Conservative               Cabinet Member for Highways and

 Street Scene

Councillor Ben Khosa                         Liberal Democrat        Opposition Spokesperson for

Community Safety

Teddington

Councillor Jennifer Churchill               Liberal Democrat

Councillor Martin Elengorn                  Liberal Democrat        Opposition Spokesperson for

                                                                                                Environment and Planning

Councillor Stephen Knight                  Liberal Democrat        Leader of the Opposition

Twickenham Riverside

Councillor Susan Chappell                 Conservative

Councillor Scott Naylor                       Conservative

Councillor Samantha Salvoni             Conservative               Cabinet Member for Community

Development

 West Twickenham

Councillor Piers Allen                          Liberal Democrat

Councillor Helen Lee-Parsons            Liberal Democrat

Councillor Lesley Pollesche               Liberal Democrat

Whitton

Councillor Gareth Elliott                      Conservative

Councillor Arnie Gibbons                    Liberal Democrat

Councillor Liz Jaeger                          Liberal Democrat        Opposition Spokesperson for Social

 Care and Health

Committees

To conduct the business of the council, Councillors sit on various committees:

    Appeals Committee

    Appeals Sub-Committee

    Appointments Committee

    Audit Committee

    Cabinet

    Community and Police Partnership

    Council

    Cycling Liaison Group

    Education and Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee

    Environment, Sustainability and Community Overview & Scrutiny Committee

    Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee

    Health, Housing and Adult Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee

    Investigating and Disciplinary Committee

    Licensing Sub-Committee

    Pension Fund Committee

    Planning Committee

    Pupil and Student Support Appeals Panel

    Regulatory Committee

    Remuneration Committee

    Standards Assessment Sub-Committee

    Standards Committee

    Standards Hearing Sub-Committee

    Standards Review Sub-Committee

    Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education

    Statutory Accounts Committee

    Transport Consultative Group

 

The Chief Executive and Staff

The Chief Executive of the Council is responsible for heading the paid service of the council, and as such works closely with elected members to ensure that principles of Leadership, Strategic Direction, Partnerships, Responsible Operational management as expected from the electorate are delivered to the community.  As such this means the Chief executive is constantly working to ensure that strong and visible leadership and direction are being provided to the community.  This is done by encouraging and enabling managers to motivate and inspire their teams.  The executive is also responsible for ensuring that all staff understand and adhere to the strategic aims of the organization and follow the direction set by the elected members.    The executive also works with the elected members directly by aiding in the development of strong partnerships across the local community to achieve improved outcomes and better public services for local people.  His final task is to make sure that constant and responsible oversight of financial accounts and performance management takes place.  This means being ever mindful and informed of issues regarding risk management, people management and change management within the council.

The council's departments are listed below: 

Adult and Community Services Directorate

Commissioning Care Services

Commissioning Corporate Policy & Strategy

Community Service Operations

Adult and Community Services Finance

Communications

This department is responsible for all communications from the council to the general public.  The department has purview over press releases, news kits, media events and press conferences. 

Democratic Services

Democratic Services is responsible for all the meetings via which the authority conducts its business. The department also provides a wide variety of council Support function, including the running of the Mayor's Office, organizing civic and ceremonial events and establishing a calendar for the general council meetings and such.

Education, Children's and Cultural Services

Children's Services

Protective and Preventative Services

School Effectiveness

Culture

Finance and Resource

Environment Directorate

Development and Street Scene

Property, Parks and Sustainability

Traffic and Transport

Finance and Performance

Accountancy

Customer, Information Services and Revenues & Benefits

Legal and Electoral Services

Audit

Finance and Corporate Services

Human Resources

            Personnel

            Office of Pension Services

 

Key Words

London Borough of Richmond,

Council, Leader, Cabinet, Richmond Council,Leader of the Council, Lord True, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, Geoffrey Samuel, Cabinet Member for Adult services, Health and Housing, Nicola Urquhart, Cabinet Member for Community Development, Samantha Salvoni, Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture, Pamela Fleming, Cabinet Member for Education, Youth & Children’s Services,  Christine Percival, cabinet Member for Environment, Planning, Parks and Highways, Virginia Morris, Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene, Chris Harrison, Cabinet Member for Performance, Tony Arbour, Cabinet Member for School, Paul Hodgins, conservative, liberal democrat, barnes, east sheen, Fulwell & Hampton Hill, Ham, Petersham & Richmond Riverside,  Hampton North,  Hampton Wick,  Hampton, heathfield. Kew, Mortlake & Barnes Common, north Richmond, south Richmond, south twickenham, St Margaret's & North Twickenham, west Twickenham, Twickenham riverside, Teddington, Whitton,   Appeals Committee,    Appeals Sub-Committee

    Appointments Committee

    Audit Committee

    Cabinet

    Community and Police Partnership

    Council

    Cycling Liaison Group

    Education and Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee

    Environment, Sustainability and Community Overview & Scrutiny Committee

    Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee

    Health, Housing and Adult Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee

    Investigating and Disciplinary Committee

    Licensing Sub-Committee

    Pension Fund Committee

    Planning Committee

    Pupil and Student Support Appeals Panel

    Regulatory Committee

    Remuneration Committee

    Standards Assessment Sub-Committee

    Standards Committee

    Standards Hearing Sub-Committee

    Standards Review Sub-Committee

    Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education

    Statutory Accounts Committee

    Transport Consultative Group,

Chief Executive,

Adult and Community Services Directorate

Commissioning Care Services

Commissioning Corporate Policy & Strategy

Community Service Operations

Adult and Community Services Finance

Communications

Democratic Services

Education, Children's and Cultural Services

Children's Services

Protective and Preventative Services

School Effectiveness

Culture

Finance and Resource

Environment Directorate

Development and Street Scene

Property, Parks, Sustainability

Traffic,  Transport

Finance, Performance

Accountancy

Customer, Information Services, Revenues, Benefits

Legal, Electoral Services

Audit

Finance, Corporate Services

Human Resources

                Personnel

                Office of Pension Services

 

 

 

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