The Council of Ealing Council met on Wednesday 25 March 2026, with the primary item on the agenda being the consideration of awarding Freedom of the Borough status to five individuals. The meeting was scheduled to take place at Gunnersbury Park Museum.

Freedom of the Borough Awards

The meeting's agenda included a report recommending five individuals for the honorary title of 'Freeman of the Borough'. This award is granted to individuals who have rendered eminent services to the borough under section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972¹. The report proposed that Sarah Nathan, Eric and Jessica Huntley (as a posthumous joint award), Virendra Sharma, and Pragna Patel be recognised.

The report outlined that the Local Government Act 1972 requires such awards to be made at a specially convened Council meeting, with at least two-thirds of the Council members voting in favour. Ealing Council has a policy for awarding honorary freedom, which was agreed upon in May 2023. Nominations for individuals who have provided eminent services to the borough were sought from the public over the past two years, and the Civic Honours Committee considered these nominees before proposing the five individuals for the award.

The report author was Sam Bailey, Head of Democratic Services, and the responsible director was Rhian Davies, Interim Director of Legal and Democratic Services. The report indicated no legal implications.