The Ealing Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the call-in of a decision regarding the Improved Early Help Offer, to review the Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25, and to agree on the Scrutiny Work Programmes for 2025-26. The committee voted to send the decision regarding the Improved Early Help Offer back to the cabinet for reconsideration. The committee approved the Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25 and the Scrutiny Work Programmes for 2025-26.

Call-in of Decision - Improved Early Help Offer and Early Help Strategy 2025-2028

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the call-in of the Cabinet's decision on the Improved Early Help Offer and Early Help Strategy 2025-2028 and voted to send it back to the cabinet for reconsideration. The call-in was requested by a group of councillors led by Councillor Gary Malcolm, and supported by members of the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Groups. The councillors who requested the call-in believed that the decision did not adequately take into account principles of proportionality, due consultation, respect for human rights and equalities, openness, clarity of aims, and consistency with council policies.

The main points of contention raised in the call-in form included:

• Proportionality: Concerns were raised about the reduction in the number of children's centres from 25 to 15, arguing that there was a lack of evidence to demonstrate how the closure of centres would improve access and reach to services. The call-in form stated that:

Nowhere in the consultation was there an option to drive greater reach through retention of the current estate of Children's Centres through for example an enhanced information plan. Such an option should have been developed if reach was indeed the objective. The failure to include one is either a serious process failure or suggests that increasing reach was not, in fact, the main reason driver of the policy but rather the need to find budget savings.

• Due Consultation: The consultation process was criticised for not giving proper consideration to consultation responses and professional advice. Specifically, the call-in form mentioned reports from the Institute of Fiscal Studies that highlighted the positive outcomes of Sure Start Children Centres[^1]. [^1]: Sure Start is a UK government programme which aims to improve the health and well-being of families with young children in disadvantaged areas.
• Respect for Human Rights and Equalities: Concerns were raised about how the closures would impact disadvantaged groups, including those from minority ethnic backgrounds and those with disabilities.
• Openness: The Council was accused of not being transparent about the data used to inform the decision-making process.
• Clarity of Aims: The call-in form argued that there was a lack of clarity in the aims and desired outcomes of the strategy, particularly in how it linked to corporate strategy and implementation.
• Consistency with Council Policies: It was argued that the Council had failed to demonstrate that the outcomes for children, particularly the most disadvantaged, would not be adversely affected by the closures, as required by statutory guidance.

Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25

The committee approved the Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25, which will be sent to the Council for consideration on 15 July 2025. The report provides an overview of the scrutiny function at Ealing Council, highlighting its role in holding senior officers and members accountable, scrutinising policy development, and promoting democracy, accountability, and transparency.

The report details the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the various scrutiny panels, including the Health and Adult Social Services Scrutiny Panel, the Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny Panel, the Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panel, the Children's Services Scrutiny Panel, and the Strategy and Change Scrutiny Panel.

The report also includes a list of recommendations made by the panels and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 2024-25.

Scrutiny Work Programmes 2025-26

The committee agreed to the Scrutiny Work Programmes for 2025-26. The work programmes outline the topics that the various scrutiny panels and committees will be examining in the coming year.

Some of the key areas that scrutiny is due to consider this year are the outcome of the Social Housing inspection, consideration of the use of Artificial Intelligence and other digital technology on council services, a closer look at the Council's homelessness service, scrutiny of the Council's partnership working arrangements and evaluation of the 'Better Lives Better Days' programme.