The Ealing Council cabinet met on 11 June 2025, and approved a number of measures including updates to the corporate complaints process, highways works contracts, and the Early Help Strategy. The cabinet also discussed the 2024/25 revenue and capital outturn, and a ballot for the Make It Ealing Business Improvement District (BID).

Early Help Strategy 2025-2028 and Children's Centre Offer

The cabinet approved the Early Help Strategy 2025-2028, which had been developed with partners, parents, and residents. The strategy aims to provide timely and effective support for children, young people, and families.

As part of this, the cabinet considered the results of a public consultation on proposed changes to the delivery of the children's centre offer, detailed in the Children Centre Consultation Analysis Report, and an analysis of the impact of the proposals on the council's equalities duties, which can be found in the Equalities Analysis Assessment.

The cabinet agreed that 15 children's centres would continue to be designated with an improved offer:

• Acton Park Children's Centre
• John Perryn Children's Centre
• South Acton Children's Centre
• Jubilee Children's Centre
• Grange Children's Centre
• West Twyford Children's Centre
• Horsenden Children's Centre
• Hanwell Children's Centre
• Petts Hill Children's Centre
• Limetrees Children's Centre
• Islip Manor Children's Centre
• Perivale Children's Centre
• Dormers Wells Children's Centre
• Havelock Children's Centre
• Southall Park Children's Centre

The cabinet also agreed that the following eight children's centres would cease to be designated and would be repurposed:

• Maples Children's Centre (Acton) - Childcare provision
• Hathaway Children's Centre (Ealing) - Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) provision
• Log Cabin Children's Centre (Ealing) - Childcare and SEND short breaks provision
• Windmill Children's Centre (Greenford) - SEND provision
• Northolt Park Children's Centre (Northolt) - Childcare provision
• Grove House Children's Centre (Southall) - Childcare provision
• Windmill Park Children's Centre (Southall) - Childcare provision
• Greenfields Children's Centre (Southall) - Childcare and SEND provision

Two further children's centres, Copley Close Children's Centre in Hanwell and Academy Gardens in Northolt, would also cease to be designated and repurposed, with no change to the existing nursery provision.

The Department for Education will be notified of the de-designated children's centres. The Strategic Director of Children's Services has been delegated authority to implement the changes to the Early Help offer and children's centre delivery model.

Councillor Jonathan Oxley addressed the cabinet to discuss this item.

2024/25 Revenue and Capital Outturn

The cabinet noted the 2024/25 Revenue and Capital Outturn report, which showed a General Fund revenue budget outturn surplus of £1.070m, and an underspend against budget of £0.378m on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). The cabinet approved the transfer of the General Fund net underspend to the General Fund Reserve, bringing the total balance to £20.472m.

The cabinet also noted:

• The HRA balance as at 31 March 2025 of £4.925m and earmarked reserves of £9.010m.
• The year-end Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) total deficit of £5.641m within the DSG account, which comprised a High Needs block deficit of £8.514m, a School Block deficit of £0.339m, and Early Years with a surplus of £3.212m.
• The 2024/25 capital programme outturn underspend of £0.572m (0.28%).

The cabinet approved the re-profiling of 2024/25 capital programme schemes in excess of £1m, of £19.741m, into future years, as detailed in Appendix 2. An additional capital programme budget of £0.559m in relation to Disabled Facilities Grant¹, to be fully funded from grant, was also approved.

Councillor Peter Mason, Leader of the Council, thanked officers for their hard work in delivering this result, despite the ongoing pressures faced by local government.

Highways Works Term Contracts

The cabinet approved the extension of the existing Highways Maintenance Services contract and the Minor Civil Engineering Works contract with Murrill Construction Limited from 1 April 2026 for a period of five months, with the new expiry date of both contracts being 31 August 2026.

The cabinet also agreed to procure new term contracts for Highways Maintenance Works and Minor Civil Engineering Works for an initial period of five years commencing on 1 September 2026, with the option of two extensions of 12 months each. The Strategic Director of Housing and Environment has been delegated authority to award the contracts.

Councillor Julian Gallant addressed the cabinet to discuss this item.

Make It Ealing Business Improvement District (BID) Ballot

The cabinet instructed the Returning Officer to make arrangements to hold a BID Ballot in relation to the Make It Ealing BID Proposals, with the final day of the ballot scheduled for 30 October 2025.

The cabinet delegated authority to the Strategic Director for Economy and Sustainability to review the detailed BID proposals (Business Plan) once available, to ensure that the BID Proposals do not conflict with any formally adopted or published policies of the council, and to vote on behalf of the council, as a non-domestic ratepayer in the proposed Make It Ealing BID area.

If the outcome of the BID ballot is in favour of the Make It Ealing BID, the cabinet delegated authority to the Strategic Director for Economy and Sustainability to finalise a Baseline Agreement for the Provision of Standard Services and an Operating Agreement with the BID Company regarding the operation of the BID.

Councillor Kamaljit Kaur Nagpal, Cabinet Member for Decent Living Incomes, presented the report, highlighting that the BID Board is considering boundary changes to the south, which may exclude Ealing Studios during the 2026-31 term. The BID has proposed to increase the BID levy from 1% to 1.3% for the next term.

ICMD - Complaints Procedure

Councillor Stephen Donnelly, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, approved recommendations outlined in a report detailing key updates to the corporate complaints process.