This week in Ealing:

Southall Community Centre Redevelopment Sparks Debate

The Planning Committee met on Wednesday to discuss a planning application for the redevelopment of the Southall Community Centre site, located at 20 Merrick Road, Southall, UB2 4AU. The proposal involves demolishing the existing buildings and constructing a mixed-use development with buildings ranging from 6 to 22 storeys, including community and commercial spaces, and 215 flats.

• The planning officer's report recommended granting planning permission, subject to conditions and legal agreements.
• The development includes 215 flats, with only 19% (35 flats) designated as affordable.
• The tenure mix of the affordable units (76% shared ownership and 24% London Affordable Rent) does not align with the council's preferred mix of 60% London Affordable Rent / Social rent and 40% intermediate.
• The report states that viability assessments concluded that the scheme could not viably support more affordable housing or planning obligations.
• The proposal involves the loss of a locally listed building, but the report argues that the benefits of the development outweigh this loss.
• The development is car-free and includes 405 cycle parking spaces.
• The scheme is expected to provide around £2.2 million in section 106¹ and Community Infrastructure Levy² (CIL) contributions.

The decision is significant because it involves balancing the need for new housing with concerns about affordability, the loss of a locally listed building, and the impact on the community. The low percentage of affordable housing and the tenure mix may raise concerns about whether the development will truly meet the needs of lower-income residents.

Kenya In The Park Licence Faces Resident Opposition

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to meet on Wednesday to consider a new premises licence application for Kenya In The Park CIC, seeking permission to host live music, recorded music, performances of dance, and the sale of alcohol at Acton Park, The Vale, Acton, W3 7JT.

• The application requested permission for licensable activities on Saturdays and Sundays, with varying timings for alcohol sales, live music, recorded music, and dance performances.
• Five representations were received from local residents, raising concerns about crime and disorder, public nuisance, and public safety.
• Residents cited concerns about noise from music, potential disorder due to alcohol sales, inadequate crowd safety planning, and a lack of community engagement.

The decision is important because it balances the desire to host community events with the need to protect residents from potential negative impacts such as noise, disorder, and safety concerns. The sub-committee had the option to grant the application in full, grant it with conditions, modify the conditions, or reject the application.

Council Audits Finances and Risk

The Audit Committee met on Thursday to discuss the council's treasury management, financial accounts, audit strategies, and risk management.

• The committee reviewed the Treasury Management Outturn Update for 2024/25, which showed that all treasury management activities were executed within agreed parameters.
• The council earned an average investment return of 4.815% on short term investments, just below the average SONIA³ overnight rate of 4.896%.
• The committee reviewed the draft Statement of Accounts for 2024/25, which provides details of the council's financial position.
• The committee reviewed the draft Annual Governance Statement (AGS) for 2024/25, which explains how the council has complied with its code of corporate governance.
• The committee received an update on the performance of the Internal Audit and Investigations team, which concluded that the council's governance, risk management, and internal control arrangements are generally effective.
• The committee noted progress on the Strategic Risk Register (SRR) and Heat Map, and key risks identified.
• The committee considered the audit strategy from Forvis Mazars for both the council and the Ealing Pension Fund.

The decisions made by the Audit Committee are crucial for ensuring the council's financial stability, transparency, and accountability. By reviewing the council's financial performance, governance arrangements, and risk management strategies, the committee helps to protect public funds and ensure that the council is operating effectively and efficiently.

Workforce Strategy Aims to Attract Young Talent

The Strategy and Change Scrutiny Panel met on Tuesday to discuss the council's Workforce Strategy and other key initiatives.

• The panel received a workforce strategy progress report, which highlighted the council's efforts to develop its existing workforce, attract and retain staff, and foster a culture of continuous learning.
• The report noted that 60% of the workforce is over 45, while only 2.6% are aged 16–24.
• The report listed key updates to the strategy, including the launch of leadership development programmes, the creation of career grades for hard-to-recruit roles, and the introduction of family-friendly policies.
• The panel received a value for money report on the Your Voice Your Town (YVYT) consultancy, which provided advice and expertise to establish Town Forums across the borough.
• The panel received an overview of the Strategy and Change Directorate, which covers a range of corporate responsibilities including human resources, health and safety, and strategic commissioning.

The Workforce Strategy is particularly important given the aging workforce and the need to attract younger talent to the council. The initiatives outlined in the report, such as leadership development programmes and family-friendly policies, could help to make the council a more attractive employer for younger generations.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 06 August 2025. Link to meeting

This week in Ealing:

Council to Invest £17m in Sustainable Infrastructure Fund Amid Pension Performance Concerns

Ealing Council's Pension Fund Panel met on Thursday to discuss the performance of the pension fund and its future investment strategies. Despite a recent dip in performance, the panel approved a £17 million commitment to the Gresham House British Sustainable Infrastructure Fund III (BSIF III).

• The fund's investments decreased to £1,713.7 million as of March 31, 2025, down from £1,758.7 million at the end of 2024.
• The fund returned -2.75% for the quarter, underperforming against a benchmark of -1.79%.
• Baillie Gifford's poor performance was under close review.
• The investment in Gresham House BSIF III aims to diversify the fund, meet ESG¹ and net-zero objectives, and address an underweight position in infrastructure.
• The fund targets a 12% net Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and 5% cash yield per annum, focusing on sustainable infrastructure projects in the UK.

The decision comes as the panel also noted updates on the government's response to the Mansion House Accord and the Fit for the Future consultation, which includes proposals requiring all LGPS² funds to pool investments by March 2026. This could mean significant changes to how Ealing manages its pension investments in the near future.

Council Mulls Changes to Petition Scheme Amid Concerns Over Signature Requirements

Ealing Council was scheduled to discuss proposed changes to its Petition Scheme at a meeting on Tuesday, aiming to modernize the process and address issues with the current system.

• The current scheme requires signatories to live, work, or study in the borough, which is difficult to verify.
• The threshold for triggering a debate petition is 1,500 signatures, representing 0.4% of the borough's population.
• The proposed changes aim to address these issues and streamline the petition process.

The proposed changes could make it harder for residents to get their concerns heard by the council, as the new scheme may increase the number of signatures required to trigger a debate.

New Housing Strategy Aims for Genuinely Affordable Homes Amid Public Scepticism

Ealing Council's Cabinet was scheduled to consider a new Housing Strategy for 2025-2030, titled Great Homes, Better Lives, which sets out the council's priorities for addressing local housing challenges.

• The strategy aims to ensure everyone has a good quality, genuinely affordable home within a strong, thriving community.
• A public consultation received 929 responses, raising concerns about anti-social behaviour, the meaning of genuinely affordable homes, and the potential loss of green spaces.
• The strategy includes 40 policy position statements aimed at addressing these concerns and supporting the Local Plan examination.

The strategy outlines four strategic priorities: supporting growth, quality homes and neighbourhoods, well-managed homes, and better lives and connected communities. However, the report pack noted that there was scepticism about the council's commitment to delivering on its promises.

Other Matters

• The Council was scheduled to discuss the renewal of its licensing policy, including a focus on Ealing's Economy After 6 PM Strategy and its Strategy to Tackle Male Violence Against Women and Girls.
• The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the adoption of a Community Charter, setting out shared principles for how the council will work with communities in the future.
• The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the procurement of electric vehicle charge points across six London boroughs through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme.
• The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the demolition of buildings on the High Lane Estate to make way for a redevelopment project.
• The North West London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) met on 17 July 2025 to discuss maternity provisions, adult mental health services, and the reconfiguration of the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Upcoming Meetings

• Scrutiny Panel 4 - 2024/2025: Strategy and Change is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 22 July 2025 to discuss the panel's terms of reference and work programme, an overview of strategy and change, a value for money report on Your Voice Your Town consultancy, and a workforce strategy progress report. Link to meeting
• The Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 23 July 2025 to discuss a planning application for the redevelopment of the Southall Community Centre site, and to approve the minutes of their previous meeting. Link to meeting
• The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 23 July 2025 to discuss a new premises licence application and panel procedure guidance. Link to meeting
• The Audit Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday 24 July 2025 to discuss the Treasury Management Outturn, the year-end Statement of Accounts, and the work and strategy of Internal Audit. Link to meeting

This week in Ealing:

Al Shorfa Licence Under Review After Violence

The Licensing Sub-Committee met on Thursday to review the premises licence for Al Shorfa Ltd, a venue at Centre House, St Leonards Road, Park Royal, following a request from the Metropolitan Police. The review was prompted by a serious crime and disorder incident on June 9th, 2025.

• Police Constable Victoria Hewison stated that the licensee had failed to uphold licensing objectives, specifically the prevention of crime and disorder, and public safety.
• PC Hewison's statement included a list of incidents at the premises since April 2024, including assaults, drug dealing, and a fight involving 30 people.
• CCTV footage reportedly showed individuals, including Rehan Ahmed, in possession of weapons and engaging in violence.
• The sub-committee had previously imposed interim measures, including upgraded CCTV, ID scanners, and real-time CCTV access for police.
• The sub-committee could have modified the licence conditions, removed licensable activities, removed the designated premises supervisor, suspended the licence, revoked the licence, or left it unchanged.

The outcome of the meeting was not available at the time of writing.

Children's Services Scrutiny Focuses on Kinship Care and SEND

The Children's Services Scrutiny Panel met on Tuesday to discuss the progress of children's services following an Ofsted inspection, and to review the Children's Social Care Self-Evaluation for 2024/25.

• The panel reviewed the actions taken to address recommendations from the 2024 Ofsted report, which graded the area of 'Help and Protection' as 'Requires Improvement to be Good'.
• The panel recommended that the council continue developing a strategy for kinship carers, who provide care for children unable to live with their parents.
• The panel also requested a future report on transition planning for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including how businesses could contribute.

Safer Neighbourhood Board Discusses Crime Trends and Project Funding

The Ealing Safer Neighbourhood Board met on Tuesday to discuss police reports, ward panel updates, and project funding.

• The police reported a 20% decrease in calls for service, but an increase in knife crime incidents.
• They also noted an increase in organised criminal gangs using county lines to distribute drugs into Ealing.
• The board discussed funding for several community safety projects, facing a shortfall of over £6,000.

General Purposes Committee Reviews Food and Health Safety Plans

The General Purposes Committee met on Wednesday to review the Food and Health and Safety Service Plans for 2025-2026.

• The Food Service Plan outlined the council's obligations under the Food Safety Act 1990, noting that Ealing has approximately 3,500 registered food premises.
• The Health and Safety Service Plan detailed how the council plans to enforce health and safety regulations, as mandated by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
• The plans identified potential challenges, including staff resourcing, service reorganisation, and the cost of living crisis.

Health Scrutiny Panel Examines Adult Social Care and Borough Health

The Health and Adult Social Services Scrutiny Panel met on Thursday to discuss adult social care, borough health, and the work of Ealing Healthwatch.

• The panel received an update on the progress of work addressing recommendations made in previous Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Local Government Association (LGA) inspection reports.
• The CQC had previously rated Ealing as 'requires improvement' for adult social care.
• The panel considered the Health of the Borough Report 2024-2025, which highlighted the Ealing Health Inequalities Dashboard and the work of Ealing's Community Champions.
• The panel also received the annual report from Ealing Healthwatch, detailing its activities and impact over the past year.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 15 July 2025 to discuss the scrutiny annual report, the licensing policy renewal, and the council's petition scheme. Link to meeting
• The Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 16 July 2025 to discuss a new housing strategy, electric vehicle infrastructure, community engagement, and improvements to Warren Farm. Link to meeting
• The Pension Fund Panel is scheduled to meet on Thursday 17 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The North West London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) is scheduled to meet on Thursday 17 July 2025. Link to meeting
• Scrutiny Panel 4 - 2024/2025: Strategy and Change is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 22 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 23 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Audit Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday 24 July 2025. Link to meeting

This week in Ealing:

Children's Centres Face Reconsideration After Call-In

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday to discuss the call-in of a decision regarding the Improved Early Help Offer and Early Help Strategy 2025-2028. The committee voted to send the decision back to the cabinet for reconsideration, following concerns raised about the planned reduction of children's centres from 25 to 15.

• Councillors who requested the call-in, including Councillor Gary Malcolm and Councillor Jon Ball, argued that there was a lack of evidence to show how the closures would improve access to services.
• They also criticised the consultation process, stating that it was biased and did not adequately consider the needs of disadvantaged groups.
• The committee agreed that the cabinet should reconsider the decision, taking into account the concerns raised.

Schools Forum Agrees to Claw Back Excess Balances

The Ealing Schools Forum met on Wednesday to discuss school funding for 2024-25 and 2025-26. A key decision was made to implement a clawback mechanism for schools with excessive surplus balances.

• The forum reviewed school balances and deficits as of 31 March 2025, revealing that 62 schools had a surplus while 13 were in deficit.
• The forum considered reasonable levels of balances to be up to 8% of budget for nursery, primary and special schools, and 5% of budget for high schools.
• The excess amount above those thresholds represented £4.53 million.
• The forum agreed to claw back excess surplus balances from schools with increasing excessive balances over a three-year period, resulting in up to £0.02 million clawback.
• The resulting fund will support high needs pressures and potential school organisation changes.
• The forum also agreed to retain early years block Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)¹ reserves to manage the high needs block deficit.

Kim Price, head of Education Planning, Resources and Sustainability, stated that the Schools Operational Guide for 2026 to 2027 is expected to be published in the autumn term.

Climate Resilience and Preventative Work Discussed

The Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny Panel met on Tuesday to discuss sustainability and resilience, and preventative work.

• The panel was scheduled to discuss a report on climate adaptation and resilience, noting that the impacts of climate change are already being felt, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
• The report stated that Ealing was assessed to be the 9th most 'socially vulnerable to high heat' borough in the country.
• The panel was also scheduled to discuss a report on preventative work being done by the Climate Action & Sustainability, Learn Ealing and Work Ealing teams, who are collaborating to support the borough's most vulnerable communities.
• The report stated that the council's Regeneration, Economy & Skills department is responsible for the Council Plan strategic objective on 'creating good jobs', including the creation of 10,000 new job opportunities.

Other Matters

• The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday and agreed to the Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25 and the Scrutiny Work Programmes for 2025-26.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Scrutiny Panel 3 - 2023/2024: Children's Services is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 08 July 2025 to discuss panel operations, the progress being made following an OFSTED inspection of children's services, and the Children's Social Care Self-Evaluation 2024/25. Link to meeting
• The Ealing Safer Neighbourhood Board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 08 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The General Purposes Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 09 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Health and Adult Social Services Scrutiny Panel is scheduled to meet on Thursday 10 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday 10 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 15 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 16 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 16 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Pension Fund Panel is scheduled to meet on Thursday 17 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The North West London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) is scheduled to meet on Thursday 17 July 2025. Link to meeting