The Cabinet of Ealing Council met on Wednesday 9 September 2026. The Cabinet agreed in principle to grant a lease for a temporary theatre and music venue for Ealing, noted a significant General Fund forecast overspend for the first quarter of the financial year, and authorised the Director of the West London Alliance to enter into grant agreements to accept up to £30 million in grant funding for a Jobs Guarantee scheme. The Cabinet also agreed to procure two separate contracts for Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) services for council housing, approved the Provider Improvement Strategy and the associated Provider Improvement Plan and programme of work to improve social housing provision, and agreed to enter into a deed of novation for the Green Man Lane Development Agreement. Finally, the Cabinet agreed to Heads of Terms for property transactions concerning West Middlesex Golf Course.

Temporary Theatre and Music Venue for Ealing

The Cabinet agreed in principle to grant a lease to Troubadour Theatres Ltd for a temporary theatre in Walpole Park for 3.5 years. This decision is subject to planning permission, and a final decision will be made after a statutory consultation. The theatre aims to test the viability of a large-scale venue in Ealing, potentially supporting a future permanent theatre. The proposal is expected to bring significant cultural and economic benefits, including increased footfall for local businesses and job creation. The lease agreement will generate income for the council, which will be used to support parks and open spaces.

Budget Monitoring Report Quarter 1 2026/27

The Cabinet noted an estimated General Fund forecast overspend of £7.797 million (1.84%) for 2026/27, alongside a Housing Revenue Account forecast underspend of £0.812 million. A significant deficit of £16.498 million was also noted for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). The report highlighted that the General Fund overspend is largely driven by demand-led social care services, partially offset by surpluses in treasury management and contingency budgets. The council is reviewing options to address these pressures and financial risks to improve financial resilience. The Cabinet approved the re-profiling of £262.190 million of capital programme budgets and the decommissioning of £51.287 million of capital schemes. An additional capital programme budget of £4.750 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant, fully funded by grant, was also approved.

West London Alliance (WLA) - Jobs Guarantee Scheme and Wider Employment Services

The Cabinet authorised the Director of the West London Alliance (WLA) to enter into grant agreements to accept up to £30 million in funding for the delivery of the Jobs Guarantee scheme. This scheme will provide six-month paid jobs for eligible 18-24 year olds who have been claiming Universal Credit for 18 months. The funding will be passed to the seven West London boroughs, including Ealing, to support employment services for young people not in education, employment, or training. The Cabinet also delegated authority to the Director of WLA to accept future grant funding for employment services during the current Comprehensive Spending Review period and to vary the West London Strategic Employment Support Contract with The Shaw Trust to extend existing services and add new ones.

Procurement of Mechanical and Electrical Capital Works Services Contracts for Council Housing

The Cabinet agreed to procure two separate contracts for Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) services for council housing through a mini-competition under the Communities & Housing Investment Consortium (CHIC) Mechanical & Electrical Framework Agreement 2025. This programme is necessary due to the ageing condition of M&E services in high-risk buildings and 1960s blocks, which are past their estimated lifecycle and have been underinvested in. The two contracts, divided geographically, aim to improve service quality, accountability, and resident-focused outcomes. The estimated combined annual value for both contracts is £18.5 million over five years, which can be met within the approved capital programme budget.

Regulator of Social Housing - Provider Improvement Strategy and Action Plan

The Cabinet approved the Provider Improvement Strategy as the council's overarching framework to meet and exceed a C1 regulatory grading, and approved the associated Provider Improvement Plan and programme of work. The strategy and plan are designed to address issues identified by the Regulator of Social Housing, following a regulatory judgement of C2. The report highlighted progress made in improving housing services, with a focus on resident safety, repairs, and engagement. The plan aims to embed improvements into everyday service delivery and demonstrate sustained positive outcomes for residents. Governance and assurance arrangements for monitoring and delivery were also noted.

Green Man Lane Development Agreement Proposed Changes

The Cabinet agreed to enter into a deed of novation for the principal development agreement for the Green Man Lane Regeneration project. This change aims to replace the existing contractor, Rydon, with Higgins Construction, allowing construction to recommence on the final phases of the project. This will enable the delivery of 363 new homes, increasing the number of genuinely affordable homes in the borough. The decision follows challenges faced by the project, including contractor insolvency and economic pressures.

West Middlesex Golf Course Property Transactions

The Cabinet agreed to Heads of Terms for property transactions at West Middlesex Golf Course. These transactions include accepting the surrender of a long lease from West Middlesex Golf Club (WMGC), granting WMGC a new short lease until September 2027, and entering into an agreement for a second short-term lease until May 2028. Additionally, the council will dispose of a 2.27-acre site to Greenford Road Limited under an options agreement. These agreements are intended to settle ongoing litigation between the council and WMGC and allow the council to reacquire the majority of its land. The council received 26 objections to the proposed disposals, but concluded that they did not present substantive grounds to alter the proposed course of action. The future use of the surrendered land will be subject to public consultation after the deal concludes.