The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Ealing Council was scheduled to discuss the council's budget strategy for the upcoming financial year, review the performance and strategic direction of Greener Ealing Limited, and consider the committee's work programme.

2026-27 Budget Strategy

The committee was scheduled to review the Ealing Council Plan 2022-2026 and Ealing's strategic objectives, focusing on how the proposed budget for 2026-27 aligns with these priorities. The report was set to outline the Council's Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026/27 to 2029/30, detailing the Revenue budget for 2026/27, the current approved Capital Programme, and the adequacy of reserves. It was also to include information on central government funding, Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), and other grant funding. The strategy was expected to include a recommendation to Council on setting the Council Tax and Social Care precept levels for 2026/27, as well as the Council's Council Tax Support scheme. The report was also to provide background on the economic and financial outlook, the Council's priorities, and the budget planning process, assessing various risks and factors impacting the budget. Revenue savings identified as part of the 2026/27 budget setting process were to be presented to Cabinet on 11 February 2026 for approval, alongside new capital proposals. The report was to be accompanied by several appendices detailing the summary revenue budget, savings and pressures, fees and charges, the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, the parking account, new capital schemes, the capital programme, the capital strategy, the treasury management strategy, the MRP statement, the annual investment statement, the reserves forecast, and an equality analysis assessment for the Council Tax increase.

Greener Ealing Limited

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on Greener Ealing Limited (GEL), the council's wholly owned Local Authority Trading Company (LATCO). The report was to provide background on GEL's establishment, governance, and objectives, along with an overview of its past and recent delivery, including performance, value for money, and benchmarking. A forward-looking assessment of the strategic context facing environmental and parking services was also to be presented. GEL was established in July 2020 to deliver core environmental services such as refuse and recycling collection, street cleansing, and grounds maintenance. Its remit has since expanded to include graffiti and fly-tipping removal, and from April 2024, parking enforcement. The report was to highlight GEL's consistent focus on workforce stability, with reduced reliance on agency labour and all staff paid at least the Real Living Wage. Performance across core environmental services was reported to have improved markedly since GEL's inception, with customer complaints reducing substantially. Key service indicators, including missed collections, street cleanliness, and fly-tipping response times, were reported to consistently meet or exceed contractual targets. Parking enforcement performance was also noted as stable following its transfer to GEL. The report was to include a detailed Key Performance Indicator (KPI) table for GEL, showing performance trends across core environmental services and parking enforcement up to March 2025. Independent national and London benchmarking analysis was to demonstrate GEL-delivered services performing favourably against comparable boroughs. The report was also to discuss value for money and wider benefits, including cumulative efficiency savings of over £1.5 million to the Council since 2021, and social value initiatives. Future challenges and opportunities for GEL were to be outlined, including cost pressures, workforce recruitment and retention, fleet renewal, regulatory changes, and public visibility. The report was to conclude that the LATCO model has equipped the Council with a resilient and adaptable delivery vehicle. The committee was also to be provided with the Greener Ealing Limited Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review its work programme for 2025-26 and consider potential items for 2026-27. The report was to outline that the April meeting would be the final full meeting of the committee for 2025-26, with items including scrutiny of the Safer Ealing Partnership and the Youth Justice Plan. A report outlining scrutiny for 2026-27 was to be agreed, with potential topics including the scrutiny of Broadway Living, another council-owned company, and how the council manages Houses of Multiple Occupation. Members were to be informed that any suggestions for future scrutiny items could be sent to the Chair or Head of Democratic Services. The report was to include Appendix 1, detailing the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for 2025-26, listing scheduled items, brief descriptions, and lead officers.