Ealing Council Proposes Maximum Council Tax Rise

'No cuts' budget includes ‘tidy teams’ and mega-skips

Mega-skips are already provided in boroughs such as Wandsworth. Picture: Wandsworth Council

February 4, 2026

Ealing Council is preparing to raise council tax by the maximum permitted 4.99 per cent as part of its 2026/27 budget, alongside a package of new spending on street cleaning, enforcement and youth facilities. The increase — made up of a 2.99 per cent general rise plus a 2 per cent adult social care precept — will be voted on by full council in early March.

The Labour group in the borough has described it as a ‘no cuts’ budget which makes Ealing one of the few councils to balance its books without dipping into reserve. This has been enabled by the government’s Fairer Funding Review from which the borough has received additional money to meet the growing demands faced by councils.

If approved, the rise will add £77.38 to the annual bill for a Band D property, taking it to £1,628.02 not including the GLA precept. Band A households would pay £51.58 more, while Band H homes would see an increase of £154.75. The council says the rise is needed to meet growing demand for adult social care, children’s services and temporary accommodation.

Councillor Steve Donnelly, cabinet member for an Inclusive Economy, said the increase still leaves council tax “around £175 lower than it would have been if it had simply risen in line with inflation since 2010”.

Alongside the tax rise, the budget sets out a series of measures aimed at tackling fly-tipping, antisocial behaviour and environmental crime. These include £510,000 for new “Tidy Teams” to respond to fly-tipping across the borough, £540,000 for a pilot recycling service using touring “mega skips”, £860,000 for 50 redeployable CCTV cameras targeting crime and fly-tipping hotspots and a new uniformed Street Enforcement Team to act as a visible deterrent

The council also plans to spend £200,000 on improved street lighting and to increase enforcement against unregistered HMOs, abandoned vehicles and blue badge fraud.

The budget includes £1.6 million to refurbish playgrounds and install floodlighting to extend opening hours in autumn. Three new PlayZones are planned for Greenford, Northolt and Perivale, alongside refurbishment of public toilets in several parks and restoration of the South Ealing Cemetery chapels.

Ealing Labour says it will double funding for Early Help services — including speech and language therapy, parenting support and child health clinics — despite the planned closure of 10 children’s centres as part of a wider reorganisation.

Council leader Peter Mason said the budget reflected residents’ priorities. “People tell us they want a borough that is safe, clean and fair,” he said. “We are investing in keeping streets clean, tackling antisocial behaviour and giving young people things to do.”

Liberal Democrat opposition leader Councillor Gary Malcolm questioned the administration’s claim that the budget contains “no cuts”, pointing to the planned closure of children’s centres and Acton’s Michael Flanders Day Centre.

He also warned that the council tax rise would add pressure to household budgets. “With council taxes rising as well, it means many families will struggle again this year,” he said.

Cllr Malcolm welcomed the reduction in bulky waste charges — a policy long advocated by the Lib Dems — but said the previous higher fees had contributed to fly-tipping.

The budget will go before full council in March, where the 4.99 per cent council tax rise is expected to be approved. If passed, the new rates will take effect from April.