Ealing Council has approved a 4.99% rise in council tax alongside new spending on community safety, street cleaning and youth facilities after councillors voted through the authority’s 2026/27 budget.
The Labour-run council passed the budget at a full council meeting on Tuesday (3 March 2026). The increase combines a 2.99% rise in core council tax with a further 2% adult social care precept.
For a Band D property, the total annual bill will be £2,138.53. Of that, £1,628.02 will fund Ealing Council services while £510.51 will go to the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority.
According to the council, the budget had been made possible by additional government funding following the Fairer Funding Review, alongside what it described as careful financial management.
Included in its spending plans are measures to tackle antisocial behaviour and environmental crime. The budget allocates £860,000 for 50 new mobile CCTV cameras and £600,000 over three years for street-lighting enhancements. It also includes funding for 50 new alley-gating schemes and further work to remove abandoned vehicles and take action against unregistered houses in multiple occupation.
On street cleaning, the council has proposed £510,000 to introduce “Tidy Teams”, described as a fly-tipping hit squad, alongside £540,000 to pilot a touring neighbourhood household reuse and recycling service. Charges for some waste services are also expected to be lower, with the garden waste subscription set to fall from £98.20 to £75 a year (£50 for concessions) and bulky waste collections reduced from £49 to £30.
The budget also plans to double funding for early help services for families to more than £8m.
Councillor Peter Mason, leader of Ealing Council said: “It’s not enough for politicians to quote statistics about crime when people just don’t feel safe. We know residents feel Ealing is a very safe borough in the day, but people need to be reassured that this is a safe borough at night. We are taking action to respond to residents’ concerns. This budget will provide for cleaner streets and a safer borough.”
The council also confirmed investment in activities and facilities for young people. Five new play zones will be created in Greenford, Perivale, Northolt, Southall and Acton. A further £1.6m will be invested in playgrounds across the borough, including new floodlighting intended to extend the times playgrounds can be used in autumn and winter.
Councillor Steve Donnelly, cabinet member for inclusive economy, said the budget was intended to balance investment with the pressures facing local government finances.
Councillor Donnelly said: “We have always been a council committed to sound finance and this budget is no exception. We continue to support the growing demand for Children’s and Adults’ Social Care, for transport for children with special education needs, and for residents in temporary accommodation.”
He added: “Our council tax will be one of the lowest in the country and is £175 lower than if it had simply risen in line with inflation since 2010.”
Opposition councillors criticised the budget and the council tax increase, arguing residents were being asked to pay more while some services remained under pressure.
Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats, said: “Liberal Democrats are surprised that Labour are saying they are not cutting front-line services when they still plan to shut 10 Children’s Centres and Acton’s Michael Flanders Day Centre for vulnerable users.”
Councillor Malcolm added: “We can see that it has taken time but the council have made a u-turn to the Liberal Democrat policy of charging less for the bulk waste collection services, which the high cost has prompted people to fly tip rather than use the service. With council taxes rising as well it means many families will struggle again this year.”
Councillor Julian Gallant, leader of Ealing Conservatives, said residents were “being ignored” by the council. Councillor Gallant said: “This is a bland and neutral budget from a Labour council that’s given up on making the major changes your Ealing needs. Labour has hiked council tax by the maximum 4.99%, which means our council tax bills have gone up by a staggering 60% over ten years.”
He added: “Street cleaning and other services have been cut. And let’s not forget that some of our council tax goes to the Mayor of London, so he’d better explain why there are fewer police officers. Ealing residents are being ignored; they are paying more for less.”
