The Environment Select Committee of Kensington and Chelsea Council was scheduled to meet on Monday, 24 November 2025, to discuss the proposed budget for the Environment and Neighbourhoods department for the 2026-2027 financial year. The committee was also set to review key performance indicators for the department and receive an update on its work programme.

Environment and Neighbourhoods Departmental Budget 2026-2027

The committee was scheduled to scrutinise the budget proposals for the Environment and Neighbourhoods department for the 2026-2027 financial year. This included examining the General Fund allocation and the Capital Budget. The report indicated a projected council-wide budget gap of £41.5 million in 2026/27, rising to £140 million by 2029/30. Balancing this gap would require cost reductions or income increases. Specific proposals for the Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorate included budget pressures/growth of £1.2 million, savings of £3.7 million, new capital schemes totalling £2.2 million, and adjustments to fees and charges. The report also highlighted the potential impact of the government's Fair Funding 2.0 review, which was expected to adversely affect the council's funding.

The report detailed the directorate's financial outturn for 2024/25, which showed an underspend of £7.955 million, largely due to increased income in Parking Services. For the current financial year (2025/26), a further underspend of £5.010 million was forecast, again significantly influenced by parking income. Organisational changes were noted, with the Culture and Place team transferring to the Communities department.

Looking ahead to the 2026/27 budget, proposed growth for the Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorate included £705,000 for improving street cleaning services, £319,000 for new waste and recycling crews, and £100,000 for maintenance following the transformation of Cremorne Wharf Park. Proposed savings included £2.0 million from increased parking income, £400,000 from bus shelter advertising, £350,000 from energy savings following street lighting investment, and £200,000 from cost efficiencies in the Leisure Services contract. A new capital project for Street Lighting LED installation was also proposed, costing £2.2 million over four years. The report also outlined proposed increases to fees and charges, averaging 5% for 2026/27, with specific adjustments for services like street cleaning, commercial waste, and pest control.

Environment and Neighbourhoods Key Performance Indicators

The committee was scheduled to review key performance indicators (KPIs) for the Environment and Neighbourhoods department, providing an overview of performance against internal measures and external indicators for the year-end 2024/25 and the first two quarters of 2025/26. The report indicated that areas requiring improvement included recycling rates.

Key achievements for the Greener theme in 2024/25 included the retrofitting of heat pumps and energy efficiency measures in schools and council buildings, exceeding tree planting targets, and the completion of the Sloane Street Amazing Spaces project. Air quality improvements were noted, with National Air Quality Objectives met at all but one monitored location. The report also highlighted the expansion of cycling infrastructure and the adoption of a new Local Plan.

Performance metrics showed that the borough's carbon emissions had decreased by 23% since 2018/19. However, the recycling rate in Q4 2024/25 was 22.7%, below the target of 23.5%, although this was an improvement on the previous year. The contamination rate of recyclable waste was 10.8%, slightly above the target of 10% or lower. For the Fairer theme, the council was noted to be under-performing in housing delivery, having delivered only 63% of its housing requirement over the previous three years.

For the Safer theme, the installation of speed indicator devices and road safety improvements were highlighted. Air quality monitoring showed a decrease in yearly average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, but provisional data for early 2025 indicated higher concentrations than the previous year. The report also noted that air quality is affected by factors beyond the borough's boundary and by weather conditions.

The report also included performance data for the Communities and Culture Department, focusing on Arts Grants and museum visitor numbers. In 2024/25, 22 Arts Grants were awarded totalling £38,620. For the first two quarters of 2025/26, 15 Arts Grants had been awarded totalling £30,390. Museum visitor numbers for 2024/25 were 69,038, with income from admissions, venue hire, and retail also detailed. Filming income for 2024/25 was £104,028 after payment to Film Fixer.

Select Committee Work Programme 2025/2026

The committee was to receive an update on its work programme for the municipal year 2025/2026. The work programme is designed to focus on scrutinising council services, policy development, and resident concerns. The report indicated that representatives from Transport for London (TfL) would attend a future meeting to discuss public transport in the borough. The Local Plan Policies Review Working Group, chaired by Councillor Sam Mackover, was nearing the completion of its examination of seven Local Plan policies, with a final report and recommendations due to be presented to the committee on 4 February 2026. The work programme also outlined scheduled discussions on waste and recycling, streetscapes, cleaner and greener services, local flood risk management, and planning enforcement. Items to be scheduled included the Statement of Licensing Policy, the Cemeteries Strategy, and a mid-term review of the Markets Plan.