Ealing Liberal Democrats have set out proposals to amend Labour-run Ealing Council’s 2026 to 2027 budget, saying they have identified £1.6m to redirect towards frontline services.
The opposition group’s amendment includes plans to keep 10 children’s centres scheduled for closure open at a cost of £368,000, alongside £500,000 for additional street sweeping and fly-tip removal. Lib Dems also propose £1m in additional capital spending on pavement repairs and road resurfacing, supported by £100,000 in revenue funding.
Further measures include 24 additional bins for small electrical items, community skip events aimed at reducing fly-tipping, and a targeted rollout of lockable bins for flats above shops.
The Lib Dem amendment would also reverse the council’s “Stop and Shop Plus” parking policy at a cost of £200,000 and set aside £10,000 for an independent review of the sustainable drainage scheme (SuDS) in Lammas Park. The Liberal Democrats say the scheme has been poorly delivered over the past two years and point to recent flooding outside the newly dug drainage area, which they say blocked access to the park’s play area.
To fund the proposals, the Liberal Democrats say the amendment identifies savings including £1.18m from reducing spending on agency and contractor staff, excluding adult services, public health, children’s services and housing and environment. A further £453,750 would be saved from reducing non-statutory printing costs, while maintaining statutory mail such as council tax and parking letters. The Lib Dems said Ealing Council should review its reliance on agency staff and focus on permanent recruitment.
Councillor Gary Busuttil, the Liberal Democrats’ shadow finance spokesperson for performance and council honesty, said: “Liberal Democrats are proposing a package of fully costed and practical measures to improve the lives of many in Ealing. Labour is actively cutting front line services for the most vulnerable residents through children centre and adult day centre closures.”
Gary Malcolm, leader of the opposition, said: “In the last 15 years Ealing Labour has presided over a decaying borough in which residents and the local high street has been taken for granted.”
EALING.NEWS reached out to Ealing Council for comment.
