Ealing Council Blasted Over Delayed Adoption of Infrastructure Levy

Lib Dems claim policy has lost £90million of potential funding

Construction activity generates payments from developers to the council. Picture: Around Ealing

July 31, 2025

Ealing Council has come under scrutiny for its delayed implementation of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). This is a planning tool introduced nationally in 2010 to help local authorities fund infrastructure through developer contributions. The borough only began collecting CIL in 2025, making it the last council in London to do so.

The Liberal Democrat opposition has sharply criticised the Labour-led administration, arguing that the delay has resulted in a significant loss of potential funding. Councillor Gary Busuttil, Opposition Spokesperson on Finance, said: “Through their negligence Ealing Labour have lost £90m of funding which could have been used on freezing council tax, funding universal services or Adult Social Care or Children’s Services.”

The party estimates that the borough missed out on up to £90 million in infrastructure contributions over the past 15 years, a period marked by substantial development across Ealing. They argue that this funding could have supported statutory services, offset council tax increases, or contributed to social housing provision.

It says, “Instead of Ealing Labour whingeing about how little money they have perhaps they should spend more time focusing on how they spend the money they have.”

Ealing Council has historically relied on Section 106 agreements to secure developer contributions. These agreements are negotiated individually and allow for site-specific commitments, such as affordable housing or transport improvements. Supporters of this approach argue it offers greater flexibility and direct delivery of infrastructure tied to specific developments.

In dense urban areas like Ealing, where development varies widely in scale and impact, Section 106 has allowed the council to tailor contributions to local needs. It also avoids the administrative burden of implementing a borough-wide CIL charging schedule, which requires formal examination and ongoing monitoring.

For the 2025/26 financial year, Ealing plans to invest £6.006 million from Section 106 funds, including £5.310 million for capital projects and £696,000 for service revenue budgets. These funds support a range of initiatives, from public realm improvements and transport upgrades to education and environmental programmes.

While the council has now adopted CIL, the debate highlights broader questions about how local authorities balance financial strategy, planning policy, and community needs. The Liberal Democrats argue that the delay reflects poor financial management, while others point to the practical advantages of the Section 106 system.

Ealing Council has not yet issued a response to the opposition’s claims.