Cllr Andreas Kirsch

Supporting those struggling most in the community is a vital role of any local council. This comes into even sharper focus as we move towards winter, with the colder weather placing extra strain on household budgets.

Being a council leader is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling jobs. But with the funding crisis facing local authorities across the country it is also one of the most challenging.

I WAS delighted to attend Kingston Museum’s Saxon Fayre in the Ancient Market Place on the last weekend of July. It was a great celebration of Kingston’s history and culture, bringing the past to life with a wonderful array of activities, music, performances and re-enactments.

I am proud that Kingston is one of the safest boroughs in London. Continuing to make our neighbourhoods even safer for all our residents and visitors is a priority for Kingston Council—a key part of our plan to create a fairer, safer, greener borough.

We are now setting our budget for 2024-25 and once again find ourselves having to do more with less.

The new year can be a time many of us think about making changes in our lives, perhaps upskilling or finding a new job.

As we come to the end of the year, it’s a time to reflect on the past 12 months. I feel extremely proud of the many wonderful things that have happened in the Royal Borough of Kingston throughout 2023.

I’m incredibly proud of Kingston’s unique place in history as England’s oldest royal borough and the site of the crowning of the first King of England.

Listening to our diverse communities to understand the issues they face and make our borough more inclusive is crucial to building a fairer Kingston — something brought into sharp focus as we mark UK Disability History month in November.

I am always humbled by the service and sacrifice we are reminded of at this time each year as we mark Remembrance Sunday.