what each party promises in Kensington & Chelsea local election

Kensington and Chelsea has been a Tory majority council since it was first created in 1965. Today, the Conservatives hold a comfortable majority with 36 out of 50 seats – but will they hold onto their control of the West London council in what feels like an unpredictable political climate?

Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Reform will all be fielding the maximum 50 candidates in the borough. There will be 25 candidates standing for the Greens and a total of four independent candidates.

Here are the major manifesto promises for the principal parties with candidates in Kensington and Chelsea, in the event they take or keep control of the council on May 7. You can see our full guide to London’s local elections for more information on what’s happening where you live.

You can see a full list of the Kensington and Chelsea election candidates, broken down by ward, in our dedicated article.

Conservatives

There are some of the key policies and things the Conservatives have pledged in Kensington and Chelsea. You can read their full manifesto on their website.

Communities

Make Portobello safer, greener and more resilient
Transform Gloucester Road with wider pavements, new surfaces and more trees
Open three new parks at Lots Road, Earl’s Court and Kensal

Grenfell community

Housing and services

65 new care units
80 new homes in Barlby Road, North Kensington
Raise the standard of council homes across the borough
Replace old customer service systems struck by cyber attack with new systems
We will move fast to clear the backlogs in planning and licensing

Economy and finance

Make Kensington Park Road the best of al fresco dining
Keep council tax in London’s lowest quartile
Focus on resident priorities, and on what works, by doing less
Run balanced budgets – without running down reserves

Environment and transport

Guarantee twice-weekly bin collections across the borough
Protect the whole borough resident parking permit
Do all in our power to reopen Albert Bridge to vehicles
No to LTN and “vanity schemes”
‘Report It’ style app will mean you can report dumped vehicles, graffiti and fly-tipping all in one place

Labour

There are some of the key policies and things Labour has promised in Kensington and Chelsea. You can read their full manifesto here.

Community and cost-of-living

Lobbying for the return of Golborne Youth Club
Antisocial behaviour wardens and expand CCTV coverage
Free swimming for under 16-year-olds
Expand School Streets and use camera enforcement in those streets
Grants to ensure free uniforms for those families who need them
Reverse decision to reduce council tax benefit for poorest 5k families

Grenfell community

Make sure council honours Grenfell commitments
Re-establish Grenfell Recovery Scrutiny Committee

Housing and services

Put RBKC housing department into special measures
Free adult home-care across the borough
Regulate short-term lets
Register for private landlords with more than one rental property
Private leaseholder charter to signpost support

Economy and finance

Resist council plans for 24-hour night-time economy and late night al fresco dining in Portobello Road
Create a community asset register for premises at risk of loss to the borough
Increase council tax on second homes to highest rate

Environment and transport

Deliver RBKC’s recommendations on flood defence
Expanding rooftop solar programmes
Support resident groups and listen re Kensal Canalside
Allow Cycle Superhighway 9 (CS9) to pass through the borough
Fight back against the dockless e-bikes
Secure funding to make Ladbroke Grove station step-free
Continue work on East-West Link underpass

Liberal Democrats

There are some of the key policies and things the Lib Dems have pledged in Kensington and Chelsea. You can find out more on their website.

Communities

Campaign for visible police presence in Kensington and Chelsea
Police hubs and police community forums set up in key areas
Work to identify and tackle antisocial behaviour hotspots with neighbourhood patrols
Use planning and licensing powers to protect the character of high streets

Housing and services

Strengthen enforcement on short-term lets and create a register for these
Back tenants by improving enforcement against poor housing conditions
Make sure landlords meet their legal responsibilities
Work to bring more empty homes in RBKC back into use
Act on long-term vacant properties that are left unused for extended periods of time

Economy and finance

Champion planning and licensing applications of businesses that contribute to the high street
Make RBKC a fairer borough where every resident can afford to thrive

Environment and transport

Work to reduce rat-running by enforcing speed limits
Support sustainable and active travel and fight to protect public transport from further mayoral and council cuts
Create a connected network of protected cycle routes and healthy school streets
Push for the introduction of a ‘carbon budget’ for the council
Maintain twice-weekly bin collections, whilst pushing the council to improve its recycling rate

Reform UK

There are some of the key campaign priorities for Reform UK in Kensington and Chelsea. You can find out more on their website.

Communities

Ensure residents’ best interests are served at the council
Be a strong local voice for residents
Fight for increased visible policing
Prioritise addressing violence against women and young girls by supporting victims and holding offenders accountable

Economy and finance

Prioritise crucial services rather than the ‘Net Zero agenda’
Tory-run Kensington and Chelsea Council are a “mess”

Housing and services

Put taxpayer money into frontline services

Green Party

There are some of the key campaign priorities for the Green Party in Kensington and Chelsea. You can find out more on their website.

Housing

Ensure repairs are carried out and damp and mould are tackled without delay
Tackle social housing waiting lists
Push for more genuinely affordable homes

Communities

Create safe spaces and clubs where young people can socialise
Expand career pathways for young people
Address the root causes of ASB and knife crime
Call on Westminster City Council to divest public money from companies profiting from the occupation of Palestine