Councillor Julian Gallant, leader of the Ealing Conservatives, gives his views on Labour-run Ealing Council’s new four-year plan, approved at a full council meeting on Tuesday (30 June 2026).
“The burgeoning presence of AI means that Ealing Council reports are beginning to sound like 19th century prose, good for nodding off to but light on detail and genuine targets.
“The new Ealing Council Plan, debated in a long session in Ealing Council on Tuesday (30 June 2026), is full of warm words about everyone “sharing in the benefits of growth” or creating “the conditions for people to come together, take part in decisions and agree the changes that are required to live well alongside one another.” However, does the rhetoric match the reality?
“Ealing Council leader, Councillor Peter Mason, opening the debate, elaborated on his printed foreword with similar gush. I’d have preferred a blunter offer focusing on reality, amount, dates of delivery and hard choices.
“There are some undeniably good things in pipeline.
“I’m a practical supporter of the initiative to increase employer participation in apprenticeship opportunities and inspire young people on career paths. (I’ve already done two full day sessions on standing for public office for Y10s at the Ravenor Farm Studios. And if you think that isn’t exhausting…)
“The plan announces a healthy weight service and a programme to improve oral health for children and families. That’s very good, and I think there are some excellent opportunities to marry this effort with private charitable projects in the Borough.
“I confess I was initially sceptical about Your Voice, Your Town but the Y1 rollout was promising. I want to hear more detail about the Community CIL that’s going to back up its funding. I am concerned that the initiative is going to eat vast amounts of administrative resources and that the number of residents actively involved will start to dwindle.
“I’m glad that this new South Atrium in Perceval House has opened but there must also be a fully functioning information desk. I do not want to hear residents complaining that they simply can’t talk to someone in the council. This problem is not well addressed in the council plan.
“It’s when the focus goes to housing, development, crime and the local economy that we stop believing it.
“We all want more safe and affordable homes and an end to rough sleeping, but I can’t get my head round statements like “Implement an action plan to ensure council tenant and leaseholder engagement is representative of the wider community”. “Maximise delivery of viable affordable housing through the planning system” could mean almost anything.
“The housing programme needs backing up with dates and deadlines.
“Councillors Flora MacLoughlin and Kristian Mower, two of our newly elected councillors in North Greenford, spoke about the massive proliferation of HMOs, turning family streets into densely populated, transient communities. When poorly managed they can lead to increasing fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour, areas this council plan fails to address.
“Mission 6 talks smoothly about a “viable delivery route for Gurnell”, when there is still no final funding strategy for the proposed leisure centre and nothing more than outline planning permission for the 300 homes that are supposed to be part of that. In four years’ time, I hope we’ll be looking at more than a pile of rubble on a flood plain.
“There is no mention anywhere of the Broadway Living debacle which has created £6m of debt to be paid down over 50 years. On Tuesday it was the subject of two opposition questions, answered obliquely by the portfolio holder. There is clear evidence that this company should have been wound up years ago.
“And what about plans to build an Ealing Lido? It appears to have been quietly dropped from the new council plan, but the portfolio holder, during the debate on Tuesday, confirmed that plans for an outdoor swimming pool were alive and kicking.
“The Ealing Council plan is insular. People don’t live confined in 20-minute neighbourhoods. The plan should be talking about exploiting employment opportunities at Heathrow. About developing close and pragmatic business partnerships with neighbouring boroughs like Hillingdon.
“Everybody knows that there are big problems in West Ealing, exacerbated by the demise of Henry Construction, the state of the construction industry and the epidemic of shoplifting and antisocial behaviour. The plan promises to “complete the West Ealing Placemaking Delivery Plan and commence 1 year delivery”. There needs to be a 10 year for West Ealing with timelines for re-construction and commercial development.
“As my colleague Councillor Sean Hanrahan rightly pointed out in debate, Ealing Broadway also needs attention. Yes, it’s surrounded by affluent residential areas, but it’s also the beating commercial heart of the Borough and needs a thorough overhaul if it’s going to be a real destination.
“Ealing Council must use its convening powers to connect Ealing SMEs with each other and attract businesses into Ealing. That’s not the same thing as sending 9 emissaries to UKREiif conference.
“Criticism of the party in control is the luxury of opposition, and to be resisted where possible. All councillors need to help put backbone – deadlines, dates and amounts – into this well-intentioned but woolly Ealing Council plan.”
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