Peer Review Presents Positive Picture of Ealing Council

But weaknesses identified in housing, social care and finances

The report had praise for the leadership of council CEO Tony Clements and council leader Peter Mason

August 28, 2025

The Local Government Association’s Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) report for Ealing Council, conducted in May 2025, presents a broadly positive picture. There is a favourable assessment of the council’s leadership, strategic direction, and commitment to transformation, while areas requiring urgent attention and improvement are also identified.

The peer team found Ealing to be a well-led authority with respected political and managerial leadership. The council’s leader Peter Mason, appointed in 2021, and chief executive Tony Clements were praised for their collaborative approach and clear vision. Notably, Ofsted rated the borough’s children’s services as “good” in 2024, a significant improvement from the previous “requires improvement” rating. However, adult social care was rated “requires improvement” by the Care Quality Commission in early 2025, indicating ongoing challenges in demand-led services.

A central theme of the report is the council’s “Connected Communities” vision, which aims to increase social connection and empower residents across the borough. The peer team described the council as transitioning from a “discovery phase” into “courageous delivery,” and recommended that Connected Communities be embedded as the overarching framework for transformation. The council was encouraged to clarify expectations, build accountability, and align resources across departments to support this shift.

Financial resilience was another key focus. While Ealing has avoided reliance on reserves and improved its financial position through treasury management underspends, the report warns that these conditions are not sustainable. The council faces a projected budget gap rising to £57.7 million by 2028/29, driven largely by pressures in social care and temporary accommodation. The peer team acknowledged the council’s governance structures and transformation programmes aimed at addressing these challenges but stressed the urgency of decisive action.

Housing was identified as a critical area of concern. The council self-referred to the Regulator of Social Housing in 2022 over safety compliance issues, and a regulatory notice remains in place. The report highlights weaknesses in progress and calls for sharper governance, prioritisation, and decision-making. Ealing’s temporary accommodation pressures are among the highest in London, with nearly 3,000 households affected. The council’s £150 million Accommodation Acquisitions Framework was noted as a proactive step, but the peer team emphasised the need for rigorous oversight.

The report also commends Ealing’s performance management framework, which includes quarterly reporting to senior leadership and cabinet. The council performs well in areas such as planning application processing and recycling rates but lags in housing benefit claim processing, linked to rising demand.

In terms of governance and culture, the peer team observed a strengthened assurance framework and a positive organisational culture. Staff engagement is high, and new workforce values aligned with Connected Communities are beginning to take root. However, the report recommends improvements to the overview and scrutiny function and better engagement with opposition councillors and trade unions.

Finally, the report calls for a system-wide digital transformation strategy and a robust organisational development programme to support the scale of change envisioned. The council is advised to publish an action plan within five months and undergo a progress review within twelve months.

In summary, the CPC report recognises Ealing Council’s strong leadership and strategic ambition, particularly through its Connected Communities vision, but urges the authority to accelerate delivery, strengthen accountability, and address pressing financial and housing challenges with urgency and clarity.

Leader of Ealing Council, Councillor Peter Mason, said, “When I became leader we set out to become the kind of open, transparent and inclusive council I knew the residents of Ealing wanted us to be. I’m incredibly proud that the improvements we have secured have been recognised by the LGA in their thorough and independent review.

“We continue to be relentlessly focussed on getting the basics right, holding ourselves to the standards that our residents expect from us, and being ruthlessly efficient in getting the best value for taxpayers’ money. We know we still have more to do, as we always will.”