Kensington and Chelsea is ‘the most exciting part of the most exciting and attractive city', according to its new leader, Nicholas Paget-Brown.  He boasts of its history as one of the oldest councils with the ability to raise its own taxes in the 19th century.

Kensington & Chelsea RLBC's leader is obviously biased, it is hard to argue that he hasn't got a good case to make for the borough which boasts a Royal palace, parks, and some of the most sought-after residential streets in the country.

Cllr Paget-Brown may have a lot to be proud of – but he also has a tough act to follow.  He has taken over after the successful duo of Sir Merrick Cockell – who stepped down as leader to concentrate on his role as chairman of the Local government Association – and chief executive Derek Myers, who retired earlier this
year.

Under the ‘Merrick and Derek regime', the council managed to win the praise of communities secretary Eric Pickles for the innovative bi-borough partnership which saw it merge staff and services with Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster City Council.

But, while Cllr Paget-Brown may be new to the role, he is not new to Kensington and Chelsea.  He was elected to the Hans Town ward in 1986 – 28 years ago. Prior to taking over the leadership of the council, he was deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, transport and the arts.

Cllr Paget-Brown's career was in media and marketing.  At one point, he stood for a parliamentary seat in the Don Valley, but he had always been interested in local government.

Throughout his time on the council, he has held a number of posts, including cabinet member for community safety, regeneration and the voluntary sector, chief whip to the Conservative group and chair of the housing committee.

In his regeneration role, he oversaw the restoration of the Albert Bridge, and more recently he was responsible for the refurbishment of Exhibition Road.  But while Kensington is famous for its museums, he tells The MJ: ‘The creative industries have always been important in Kensington and Chelsea.'

From Chelsea College of Art and Design, to the fashion scene, art is part of the genetic make up of the borough.  There is even an Arabic Arts Festival – reflecting just one aspect of the cultural diversity of the place.

Despite his many years in service to the borough, Cllr Paget-Brown admits it was a steep learning curve when he took over as leader.  In particular, he says he had no
experience in social care.

Luckily, Derek Myers – himself a former social worker – showed the new leader the ropes before his retirement.

He has spent time sitting with social workers, has seen the ‘complexity' of different cases, and is learning to understand the problems they face.  What the new leader is clear about is his three priorities:

To innovate on housing renovation and renewal.
Communicating better with residents.
The need to be aware of the funding situation the council is in.

On housing, he says: ‘Looking at some our post-war estates, it may be a better option for some of our tenants to start again rather than to try to patch up the housing.

‘But, we need to do that on close consultation with local people and tenants.  If we can make the quality of life better, then I think we should.'

The paradox of the borough is the extremes of poverty, and while he is struggling with poor quality post-war estates, at the other end of the spectrum, there are the basement extensions.

The council is seeing more and more applications to excavate below ground to expand high value housing.  While it is welcomed by the homeowners, the extensions cause major local upheaval and are often unpopular with neighbours.

The leader says residents often do not understand what little control the council has over its planning permissions and government restrictions mean they cannot charge more for extensive planning. 

Money is now at the forefront of everything they do.

‘The story of the tri-borough is that we have gone stage-by- stage though every service.  Trying to save money and protect services is something that everyone should support.'

He is not in favour of reorganising London local government. ‘I don't favour "super boroughs" – I think constantly restructuring local government is damaging.  It is a recipe for inefficient turf wars and protectionism.

‘We are thinking hard about budgets in local government.  And, I think that needs to be replicated in central government.'

Cllr Paget-Brown would like to see government departments taking a more cross-cutting approach to their territories – and a ‘more mature' relationship between central and local government, especially when it comes to financing.

He adds: ‘The problem in the UK is there is too often a one-size fits all approach.'  There is not even a one-size-fits-all approach in Kensington and Chelsea.