Kingston Council's new portfolio holders were announced at a Full Council meeting on Thursday, 21 May.

This comes after the Liberal Democrats retained control of the council in the local elections earlier this month.

The new administration has set out a programme to continue to build a thriving borough, where prosperity is shared and the most vulnerable are protected.

The council says it will "continue working to give every child in Kingston the best possible start in life, support people to maintain their independence for as long as possible, protect the local environment and create communities where everyone feels safe and valued, whatever their background".

The councillors who have been made portfolio holders will have strategic oversight of different areas of the council's services, to help deliver on these commitments.

They will work with the Leader of the council to provide guidance on policy, with decisions taken collectively by councillors at committees.

Leader of Kingston Council, Councillor Andreas Kirsch said: "We are committed to delivering for communities across the borough. Last week residents began moving into brand new warmer, safer council homes on the Cambridge Road Estate.

"This major regeneration scheme will deliver more than 2,100 homes, including 974 council homes - part of our commitment to deliver genuinely affordable homes where people can thrive.

"As well as a home, we know families are stronger when they have the practical support they need.

"We are investing in support for the most vulnerable children and families, expanding family hubs and focusing on early intervention and prevention through the Best Start for Life programme."

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He continued: "In our adult social care services we're using innovative technology to empower residents with care needs to have the choice to stay in their own homes safely for longer, enabling them to retain more independence.

"We're supporting job creation across the borough, particularly green jobs, working with major employers to generate opportunities. There's also a wide range of support available in the skills and employment hub on the council website.

"Alongside this work, we are protecting the local environment, investing in parks and green spaces, and in sustainable transport.

"We are delivering more school streets, continuing to improve our cycle network and working with neighbouring councils and Transport for London to campaign for improvements in public transport.

"I look forward to working with the new portfolio holders to deliver on these commitments for residents and communities across the borough."

The portfolio holders and their responsibilities are as follows:

Leader and Portfolio Holder for Heritage and Culture - Councillor Andreas Kirsch

Responsibilities include heritage, culture including the museum, History Centre, music service, libraries, the Rose Theatre, overall responsibility for strategic partnerships such as police, university, external bodies such as GLA, LGA and London Councils, transformation programme, communications, consultation and engagement, emergency planning, voluntary sector commissioning, legal affairs, international partnerships and tourism.

Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Transport, Waste and Recycling and deputy leader - Councillor Nicola Nardelli

Responsibilities include transport, highways and street scene, parking, cycling, walking, healthy streets, public transport, waste and recycling.

Portfolio Holder for Finance and Assets - Councillor Manish Shukla

Responsibilities include Revenue and Capital monitoring and expenditure, revenue and benefits, pensions, assets and investments.

Portfolio Holder for Communities, Commissioning and Customer Contact and Governance - Councillor Anita Schaper

Responsibilities include contracts and commissioning (with portfolio holders in service areas), human resources, customer contact, governance, electoral services, IT and digital, adult education and neighbourhoods.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Economic Development and Planning Policy - Councillor Andrew Wooldridge

Responsibilities include leisure and sports, leisure activities, economic development and regeneration, business and skills, planning policy (including enforcement and development management), Local Plan, building control and the river.

Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Regulatory Services - Councillor Mike Massimi

Responsibilities include environment, air quality, biodiversity, green spaces, open spaces, energy, carbon emissions, bereavement services and citizenship and regulatory services.

Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Equalities - Councillor Sabah Hamed

Responsibilities include adult social care, mental health, equalities, adult safeguarding, dementia, community safety (protection and prevention), lead on adults' health via Kingston Partnership Board (KPB), Public Health Chair KPB.

Portfolio Holder for Children's services including Education - Councillor Sue Ansari

Achieving for Children commissioning (with Finance and Commissioning portfolio holders), 0-19 education including schools, school place planning, pupil referral units, approval of schools budget estimates and schools funding formulae (with Finance and Commissioning portfolio holders), Special Educational Needs and Disabilities including SEND transformational plan, children's centres, youth services, safeguarding, looked after children and unaccompanied asylum seeking children, early years and prevention and lead on children's health.

Portfolio Holder for Housing - Councillor Emily Davey

Responsibilities include Cambridge Road Estate regeneration, council led housing delivery, community housing, council housing, relations with housing associations, HMO licensing, homelessness, private leasing HRA (with Finance and Commissioning portfolio holders), private residential enforcement and district heating network.