The Cabinet of Ealing Council met on Thursday, 9 July 2026, to discuss several key issues. The Cabinet approved the capital budget for the acquisition of 95 affordable homes at Bollo Yard, the expansion of specialist educational provisions at two schools, and the adoption of the Ealing Development Guide 2026-2031. The meeting also addressed the future of land at West Middlesex Golf Course.

Bollo Yard Bulk Acquisition

The Cabinet approved a capital HRA budget of up to £30.280m for the acquisition of Block J/K at Bollo Yard, South Acton. This acquisition will provide 95 genuinely affordable social rented homes, funded through a combination of GLA grant, Right to Buy receipts, and borrowing. Councillor Louise Brett, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Safe and Genuinely Affordable Homes, highlighted this as fantastic news that will provide homes for 95 families. Councillor Gallant raised concerns about safeguards if the developer fails to complete the building and questioned the use of funds originally earmarked for temporary accommodation. Councillor Welsby inquired about how future acquisitions would reflect social housing needs, noting the proposed mix of one, two, and three-bedroom homes. The decision was made to proceed with the purchase and enter into the necessary development and sale agreements.

Determination of Special Educational Needs (SEN) Statutory Proposals and Capital Approvals

The Cabinet approved proposals to establish Specialist Resourced Provisions (SRPs) at Acton Gardens Primary School and Brentside High School. Acton Gardens Primary School will gain a 36-place SRP, and Brentside High School will establish a 30-place SRP, both with phased intakes beginning in September 2027. Councillor Blerina Hashani, Cabinet Member for a Fairer Start, stated these alterations would allow for 36 places for specialist provision at Acton Gardens and further 30 places for Brentside High. A capital budget of £1.461m was approved for these works, funded by the High Needs Provision Capital Allocations grant. Councillor Gallant questioned whether future, larger SEN projects would bypass Cabinet approval and sought confirmation on value for money and the integration of children with special educational needs. Councillor Welsby asked for assurance that the provisions would be well resourced once it's up and running. Councillor Hashani confirmed that funding comes from the Dedicated Schools Grant and that the council would fund additional leadership capacity to support the expansion.

Ealing Development Guide 2026-2031

The Cabinet agreed to adopt the Ealing Development Guide 2026-2031 for all council and partner-led housing. Councillor Louise Brett described the guide as setting Ealing ahead of the curve in terms of, you know, home standards or good home standards. The guide aims to ensure future homes are fit for purpose, addressing challenges such as escalating construction costs, skills shortages, and grid constraints. Councillor Gallant questioned its compatibility with the recently voted council plan and its alignment with the local plan. Councillor Welsby asked why the standards were not mandatory and what the prioritisation principles for deviation would be. Councillor Brett explained that the guide sets a high benchmark and is a guide and it's what we want, a sense of achievement of what we want from the homes that we build. The guide promotes high standards of energy efficiency, sustainability, and resident wellbeing, aligning with the council's commitment to tackling the climate crisis and fighting inequality.

The Future of West Middlesex Golf Course

The Cabinet agreed to Heads of Terms regarding the land at West Middlesex Golf Course. This agreement involves accepting the surrender of a long lease, granting a new short-term lease to West Middlesex Golf Club until September 2027, and entering into an agreement for a second short-term lease until May 2028. Crucially, the council will also dispose of a 2.27-acre site to Greenford Road Limited under an option and overage agreement. Councillor Stephen Donnelly, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, stated the proposal's purpose was to resolve a long-standing legal dispute and to recover the land to the use of the council for purposes yet to be determined. Councillor Malcolm, Leader of the Opposition, questioned the consultation with golf club members and whether alternative land had been considered. Councillor Gallant asked if the deal would affect GLA funding for the West London Regional Park and why the council would take on maintenance costs. Councillor Welsby asked for the decision to be deferred for broader public consultation and whether the sale would set a precedent for the loss of publicly owned green spaces. Councillor Donnelly clarified that the negotiations were with Greenford Road Limited, who control West Middlesex Golf Club, and that the current decision was focused on resolving the legal dispute and reacquiring the land, not on its future use. The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Resources to finalise the legal documents.