Labour-run Ealing Council has set out its proposed 2026/27 budget, including a council tax rise of 4.99%, ahead of local elections on 7 May 2026. The council said it is the first budget in 16 years without cuts to frontline services.
Ealing Council said it needed to increase council tax to help meet growing demand for adult social care, support for children with additional needs and temporary accommodation. For a Band D property, the annual bill would rise by £77.38 to £1,628.02.
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. The proposals will require approval by full council on 3 March 2026 before implementation in April 2026.
Included in its spending plans are measures to tackle antisocial behaviour and environmental crime. The draft 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: “Residents tell us they want a borough that is safe, clean and fair. The council is listening and this budget supports that vision.”
Councillor Steve Donnelly, cabinet member for an inclusive economy, added: “This is the first time in 16 years we have been able to balance the books without cuts to frontline services, whilst meeting increasing demand for social care and affordable homes.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats said of the proposed Ealing Council budget: “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.”
He 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 that residents are “being ignored” by Ealing Council. He told EALING.NEWS: “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.”
“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.”
