Lib Dems Say They Have Found £1.6 Million for Frontline Services

Claim they could save children’s centres and ditch Stop and Shop Plus

Cllr Gary Busuttil says the Lib Dem budget amendment is 'fully costed'

February 28, 2026

Ealing Council will set its budget for the coming financial year next week, and the Liberal Democrats have published an alternative plan that they say would redirect £1.6 million towards frontline services.

At the same time they claim it would while reverse what they describe as damaging cuts proposed by the Labour administration. Their proposals come as Labour prepares to put forward its own budget on Wednesday 4 March, which it argues is shaped by rising demand for services, inflationary pressures and a national funding settlement that has left councils across the country facing difficult choices.

Labour’s draft budget includes the closure of ten children’s centres, reductions in adult day-centre provision and a continued programme of savings across departments. The administration has said these decisions are necessary to protect statutory services and maintain financial stability, pointing to the wider context of local authorities struggling with social-care costs and reduced central government support.

It has also highlighted investment in areas such as temporary accommodation, homelessness prevention and safeguarding, which it says must take priority. Labour has already stepped back from some proposed increases to service charges, including garden-waste subscriptions and bulky-waste fees, after public opposition and pressure from opposition groups.

The Liberal Democrats say their amendment is designed to protect community services and address what they describe as a deterioration in neighbourhood conditions. Their plans include keeping all ten children’s centres open, increasing street sweeping and fly-tip removal, expanding recycling provision with new WEEE bins, funding community skip events and introducing lockable bins for flats above shops to tackle persistent waste problems.

They also propose reversing the Stop and Shop Plus parking scheme, which they argue has penalised residents and harmed high-street businesses, and commissioning an independent review of the Lammas Park SuDS project after recent flooding left parts of the park inaccessible.

To fund these measures, the group proposes reducing agency and contractor spending and cutting non-statutory printing budgets, while maintaining statutory mailings such as council tax and parking notices. Councillor Gary Busuttil, the Lib Dems’ shadow finance spokesperson, said the amendment offered “fully costed and practical measures to improve the lives of many in Ealing” and accused Labour of “actively cutting front line services for the most vulnerable residents through children centre and adult day centre closures.” He said the Lib Dems had “forced Ealing Labour to make U-turns on their price rises in green waste service and bulky waste collection charges” and argued that after 15 years in power “they seem to have run out of ideas.”

Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of the opposition, said that under Labour “Ealing has presided over a decaying borough in which residents and the local high street has been taken for granted.” He said the Lib Dems believed high streets and parks should be “cherished as the heart of our local communities” and described the Lammas Park drainage scheme as “botched”, arguing that an independent review was needed to understand why flooding had occurred outside the newly dug drainage area.

The Labour group on Ealing Council says that thanks to investment from the government this is the first council budget with no frontline service cuts for 16 years.

The budget includes 50 new remote deployable CCTV cameras in order to crack down on anti-social behaviour. It is proposed that the fees for garden waste will be reduced by 25% and the fee for bulky waste collections is being reduced by 40%. Money for young people and families the budget for early help services will be doubled to over £8m.

Council tax has to go up to support the additional demand for adult social care, support for children with additional needs, and the demand for temporary accommodation. Council tax will remain lower in real terms than it was 16 years ago when Labour took power.

Cllr Peter Mason, Leader of the Council, said,“Ealing Labour delivers for residents. Because of our prudent management of taxpayer’s money, we’ve kept the council afloat during the worst years of austerity.

"Now, with the additional help of a Labour Government, we are finally able to invest in the things residents tell us they need. Cracking down on crime and antisocial behaviour, cleaner streets and more activities for young people. Ealing Labour is on your side.”

Cllr Steve Donnelly, Cabinet Member for an Inclusive Economy said,“This is the first time in 16 years we have been able to balance the books without cuts to frontline services, whilst meeting the ever-increasing demand for social care and affordable homes.”

“Through ruthless efficiency, stretching every penny, and delivering true value for money, we’re finally able to start making significant investments in key public services.”

The full council meeting on 4 March will determine which proposals are adopted. Councillors will debate the administration’s budget and any amendments before voting on a final package for the year ahead.