The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Ealing Council met on Thursday 22 October 2026 to review the Ealing Youth Justice Plan 2024-27 and discuss the management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The committee also considered a call-in regarding the contract extension for Greener Ealing Limited.

Youth Justice Plan 2024-27

The committee reviewed the annual progress of Ealing's three-year Youth Justice Plan. Helen, who presented the report, highlighted significant progress in reducing re-offending rates, which fell from 31.7% in the 2021-22 cohort to 17.3% in the 2023-24 cohort. Serious youth violence also saw a reduction, from 11 per 10,000 in 2024-25 to 4.99 per 10,000 in 2025-26. Education, training, and employment outcomes for young people leaving the Youth Justice Service were also reported as being above the local target, with around four in five children completing their order with suitable provision.

However, challenges remain, including increasing complexity of children's needs, persistent disproportionality, unstable funding, and significant unmet health, education, and accommodation needs. Black and mixed-heritage boys, children looked after, and neurodivergent children remain overrepresented in the system, particularly at the more serious end. Emerging concerns were also noted regarding some Arabic-speaking children being vulnerable to grooming and exploitation.

National policy changes, including the Youth Justice White Paper, are expected to place greater emphasis on early intervention and preventative work, which may increase referrals and demand on the service. Financially, the Youth Justice Board grant has been frozen while operational costs rise, and there has been a reduction in funding for the Turnaround programme.

Councillors raised questions about the impact of knife crime on new offenders, the effectiveness of deferred prosecutions for re-offenders, and the LION programme's specific interventions. Concerns were also voiced about the proportion of children leaving orders not in education, training, or employment, and the effectiveness of partnership working. The report noted that refugee status is not routinely captured, but a small cohort of children from refugee backgrounds are being supported, experiencing significant adversity.

Management of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

The committee received a joint report detailing how the council regulates Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) through both planning and property licensing. Alex Jackson, Head of Development Management, explained that HMOs meet an important housing need, and the council's objective is to ensure good quality, well-managed accommodation while addressing evidenced harm.

Planning controls, including Article 4 Directions implemented in Perivale and most of the borough, mean that planning permission is now required for changes of use to smaller HMOs. The report indicated that since the Article 4 Directions came into effect, a higher proportion of full planning applications for HMOs have been refused, often due to quality and layout issues not meeting practical guidance.

Charlotte Ward, Head of Private Sector Housing, highlighted that Ealing currently operates mandatory HMO licensing alongside a five-year borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme, which is due to expire on 31 March 2027. A consultation on renewing this scheme closed in September 2026, with a decision expected in December's Cabinet meeting. The licensing evidence shows significant risks, with 4,890 hazards identified across known HMOs during inspections, and a high inspection failure rate. The report detailed numerous ASB incidents linked to HMOs, including noise, waste, and serious ASB, leading to enforcement actions such as warning letters, civil penalties, and licence refusals.

The council has recruited specialist officers to tackle ASB and waste management issues specifically within licensed properties. Joint working between planning, property licensing, enforcement, community safety, and waste services is being strengthened to share intelligence and coordinate action.

Councillors raised concerns about the number of ASB incidents and the council's capacity to inspect all HMOs. Questions were also asked about the impact of HMOs on housing supply, the council's homelessness strategy, and the effectiveness of current measures in addressing over-concentration and cumulative effects. The report noted that while the council does not directly place people in HMOs, the Housing Options team may signpost individuals at risk of homelessness to HMO providers.

The committee was informed that the proposed renewal of the additional HMO licensing scheme from April 2027 aims to maintain standards, tackle poor management, and improve the quality of HMOs across the borough.

Call-in of decision: Greener Ealing Limited Contract Extension

The committee considered a call-in regarding the Cabinet's decision to extend the contract for Greener Ealing Limited (GEL). Councillor Jonathan Oxley, speaking on behalf of the call-in signatories, expressed concerns about the proportionality and transparency of the decision. He argued that the contract extension, potentially worth £450 million over 15 years, was disproportionately large to be non-competitive and that the value for money assessment was backward-looking, failing to adequately account for future investment requirements, particularly fleet renewal. Councillor Oxley also highlighted persistent failures in meeting the target for missed assisted collections, disproportionately affecting vulnerable residents.

Councillor Dominic Moffitt, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, defended the decision, stating that the process was not non-competitive and that the LATCO structure allows for council control and responsiveness. He corrected the assertion that the process was non-competitive, explaining that a shadow bid was conducted as a cost-effective alternative to a full competitive tender. Councillor Moffitt presented evidence of GEL's improved performance, including a significant reduction in complaints, a 17% reduction in emissions, and the payment of the London Living Wage to all staff.

Councillors debated the merits of the call-in, with concerns raised about the lack of transparency regarding future financial liabilities, the number of vehicles, and leasing arrangements. Councillor Oxley reiterated the need for a forward-looking assessment of capital expenditure. Councillor Moffitt countered that the shadow bid contained the necessary financial information and that the LATCO structure allows for ongoing scrutiny and adjustments.

The committee discussed the call-in. The majority indicated that the call-in did not provide sufficient grounds to refer the decision back to Cabinet for reconsideration.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2026-27

The committee reviewed the draft work programme for 2026-27. Members were invited to suggest additional items for inclusion. Items already scheduled included the scrutiny of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), the Youth Justice Plan, and the Budget. The committee also discussed the Digital Strategy and Safer Ealing Partnership.