St James Ward Representatives

Councillor Howard Jones

Howard Jones has been a Councillor for eight years, and had led the Conservative opposition in Kingston for the last four.

He moved to New Malden with his family and his children were all educated at local schools. A former senior police officer at New Scotland Yard, one of his most satisfying memories is when he was the officer in charge of the CID in Kingston.

He is committed to ensuring the improvement of the Council’s essential services and improving the council’s financial management and value for money.

Councillor Priyen Patel

Priyen worked at Kingston Council after university as a research and media officer for the Conservative group of Councillors, before moving to the Federation of Small Businesses as a policy advisor. This has brought him valuable knowledge and skills which has helped him develop policies and campaigns which help small firms and the local community. He also has experience working in the financial services sector during his gap year before university, and also the Kingston Mill pub in Kingston town centre.

At university, Priyen studied politics and enjoyed playing football and golf. He continues to have a strong interest in local politics and local issues. Outside of work and politics, Priyen enjoys watching copious amounts of football (as a Tottenham Hotspur fan he can wave goodbye to all Arsenal votes), enjoys film and spending time travelling abroad.

Councillor Ken Smith

Ken having spent time as a regular soldier in the Parachute Regiment seeing service in many parts of the world He is also Chairman of the Largest Branch of the Parachute Regiment association in the Country whose member assist those who have served or who are still serving.

Ken recently retired after 15 years as a JP in Kingston so understands how crime effects us on many levels, he still keeps a keen interest in local crime figures and supports any initiative that aims to reduce crime. and as worked in rising funds for National and local charities.

On leaving the Forces he then went on to work for a large Multi National Company in the field of metrology, and was able to grasp at first hand the strict rules in management and costings , so is fully aware of the need to ensure that every penny of Council tax money is not wasted.

He believes that the Lib Dems have no real idea when it comes down to how to manage a large organisation, but they rely on knee jerk reaction instead of long term costings and planning.

He also believe the importance of keeping in touch with resident ether my his blog or more importantly as many off you know by personal contact. his record attending meetings is among the highest in the council and his attendance on Business and Pre Agenda meeting also take up much of his time, Ken apart from his duties as Vice Chair of the Malden’s and Coombe Neighbourhood Committee and Planning sub Committee is also a member Development Control Committee, and as just been appointed to the Shadow executive.

He is also lead member on the Working Group Review of Independent Transport trying to ensure that no one in need is left out of the loop, talks with Age Concern, Blind organisations and other groups to ensure best practices. He is currently Deputy Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.