Council & Community
RBKC officers put resident through years of hell over wooden terrace they had already APPROVED
A homeowner was dragged through a planning nightmare by the council for two-and-a-half years and forced to spend nearly £10,000 defending a roof terrace screen — only for a government inspector to rule the council had already approved it. In a humiliating defeat for...
Leader Cllr Elizabeth Campbell’s new term – and teary – speech in FULL
Cllr Elizabeth Campbell addressed the full council meeting as she took office for the third time. During the part of her speech that referred to out-going Deputy Leader Kim Taylor-Smith, Ms Campbell became gripped by emotion. As she considered her political "anchor"...
Cllr Monica Press, Leader of the Labour Group of Councilllors – FULL speech
Cllr Monica Press, Leader of the Labour Group of councillors, who represents Colville ward, addressed the full meeting of the new council. Here is her speech in full Thank you Madam Mayor and congratulations on your election. And congratulations to Cllr Nur on...
“I’m really thrilled and excited. We knocked it out of the park” – Leader Elizabeth Campbell as unbreakable blue wall remains solid
Jubilant Tories were celebrating victory today after comfortably tightening their grip on power in a landmark RBKC election. After rises in Council Tax and the controversial premium on second homes, the man or woman on the King’s Road omnibus might have expected the...
Election Special: Blue is STILL the colour. Tories romp home
The Tory Party scored a resounding victory in the local elections yesterday to return as the leading power group. The Party secured 34 out of 50 seats in an election that brought 35,344 votes, with a 37.3% turnout. The newly formed council is: 34 Conservative - 7...
The Citizen’s BIG Five Questions to the Big Five Parties*
As voters prepare to go to the polls, The Chelsea Citizen’s JOHN COOKSON cuts through the campaign noise (and all those annoying, highly shreddable letterbox leaflets) to pose FIVE sharp, no-nonsense questions to representatives from the five main parties seeking...
Two major victories for campaigners at the Council’s Planning Applications committee
Applause and cheers rang out across Kensington Town Hall last night as residents welcomed two planning decisions — both the subject of sustained coverage by The Citizen. First, councillors refused gambling operator Silvertime’s application to open a 40-machine slot...
Workers demand Council does not scrap its £1,800 FREE travel perk
Furious council workers erupted in protest outside Kensington Town Hall yesterday after bosses slashed a long-standing travel perk — leaving many nearly £1,800 a year out of pocket. The cash-strapped authority is wielding the axe as it grapples with a staggering £108...
Kingsgate House Hell – The Citizen wins action for angry residents and an apology from Peabody
Housing giant Peabody has apologised to the long-suffering residents of Kingsgate House and vowed to resolve a litany of complaints — thanks to The Chelsea Citizen. Since The Citizen aired the serious unease felt amongst residents in a story last month, the housing...
Scary council tax grab hike to deter owners of “ghost homes”
Wealthy owners of Chelsea’s so-called "ghost homes" are about to get a very serious fright - their council tax bills are set to DOUBLE. Last night Town Hall chiefs voted to escalate council tax on second homes across Kensington and Chelsea as part of the new budget...