Ealing will see more upgrades to pavements and crossings in 2025, and action taken to keep people in the borough when they go into temporary accommodation.

In an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Ealing Council Leader Peter Mason outlined the authority's plans for 2025.

He discussed his goals and priorities for the year, and the roadmap to achieve that. Councillor Mason highlighted the council's commitment to tackling inequality, addressing the housing crisis and the importance of a 'sustainable borough'.

Greener neighbourhoods and better pavements

Every year Ealing Council conducts a 'resident survey' to gain a better understanding of how local people feel about living in the borough. Cllr Mason told the LDRS that the 2024 surveys received encouraging results.

He said: "We've now got some of the highest satisfaction levels that we've ever had when we ask people how the council are delivering services, but also if they are enjoying the areas they live in. There is a real sense that the work we've been doing is translating into real meaningful action. I'm really proud of the work we have done."

A particular success for the council in 2024, according to the leader, was its investments in active travel and sustainable infrastructure in areas like Northolt and Southall. In Northolt Clocktower and Village Green, for instance, the improvements include resurfaced footpaths and paving, new seating and lighting, cycle parking, a new crossing from the Green to the shopping parade on Ealing Road, and new planting. This work continues into 2025, as works also began on Mandeville Road in June 2024 and will finish in spring.

Cllr Mason told the LDRS the council is investing significant sums in 'walking infrastructure' and creating a 'much more pleasant environment'. He added: "We're not just fixing potholes, but creating greener, more sustainable neighbourhoods."

Housing

Despite these successes, Cllr Mason admits the council must do more on housing. Currently, there are over 7,000 people on the housing waiting list in Ealing including more than 2,950 in temporary accommodation. He said: "Part of the challenge in temporary accommodation is the fundamental lack of supply. Just as quickly as you build new homes, people fill them, and quite rightly. We've got more to do in the council housing stock to make sure we are delivering safe and genuinely affordable homes that are of good quality that people want to live in."

Cllr Mason, who revealed to the LDRS his earliest memories are of living in temporary accommodation – something he says informs his understanding of the impact this can have on families – added: "We are in absolute crisis period."

In October 2024, Ealing Council revealed plans to invest £150 million in homes to relieve pressures on B&Bs and hotels. The council intends to increase its supply of temporary accommodation in the borough in 2025. Cllr Mason told the LDRS: "A few short years ago, we weren't putting anybody in bed-and-breakfast style accommodation. Now, those numbers are astronomical. We've got a moral and statutory duty to help people, it's about doing the right thing."

There have also been long standing concerns from residents about HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) in the borough. In July 2024, protesters gathered outside Percival House demanding action to prevent the flurry of HMOs.

When asked about the increasing number of HMOs, the Council Leader said: "Too many HMOs in the borough are of poor quality and come at extortionate rates for tenants. We've implemented an Article 4 Direction to ensure HMOs meet stricter planning and quality standards."

Despite the challenges, Cllr Mason says he remains committed to delivering 4,000 'genuinely affordable homes' in the borough. He said: "It's challenging, but if there's one thing that guarantees stability for families, it's a secure roof over their heads."

(Right) Cllr Peter Mason, Leader of Ealing Council (credit: Ealing Council).

Council 'not at risk of bankruptcy'

A number of councils across the UK have issued Section 114 notices in the last few years declaring bankruptcy, something Ealing Council says it is not at risk of. However, Cllr Mason admits times are challenging for the council's finances.

He told the LDRS that over the last 14 years, the council has seen effective cuts of 60 per cent to the budget. He said: "That's coupled with rising demand for things like an ageing borough who need NHS support. It's the challenge of the rise in things like family breakdown, the number of children who need to be looked after because social workers assess they are not safe.

"[We] need to step in to keep those children safe, free from harm, and enable them to succeed in life. So whilst our money has been down, the pressure on councils has been rising exponentially. We have to make tough decisions."

He added: "We pride ourselves on prudent financial management which has kept us away from challenges faced by other councils. Other councils have gone bankrupt due to poor decisions, we've ensured Ealing is not in that position.

"It's a challenging environment. The challenge that the council faces is pretty much like the challenges people face in their daily lives – the cost-of-living crisis hits the council's ability to deliver services as much as it does hit people's ability to pay rent and their daily bills, and we continue to have to do all the things we want to do as well as the things we must do."

More skilled jobs in Ealing

Despite challenges, Peter Mason remains 'ambitious' for what the council can achieve this year. He told the LDRS the council is focused on bringing in good jobs, affordable housing, and helping people with the cost-of-living crisis.

Cllr Mason described his intention to move away from being a 'dormitory suburb' where people commute to work in Central London. He said: "We want good jobs, but we also want good jobs in industries that people have got skills in and therefore spend a lot of our energy in terms of things like doing our local plans that set out the rules of the game for how we grow the borough."

The local authority cites the Old Oak and Park Royal regeneration plan as an example of this, set to deliver '56,000 jobs' in the coming years. The construction at Old Oak Common station alongside 10,000 new homes will support efforts to meet this target, including the building of student accommodation.

It was revealed in October 2024 that Imperial College London was investing £150 million purchasing a 9.6 acre industrial estate. This space will be used by the university to 'enable prototyping, pilot manufacturing, good manufacturing practice and advanced manufacturing for innovators in areas such as CleanTech, BioTech and MedTech'.

Fighting systemic racism and inequality

Tackling inequality is another key goal for the Council Leader this year. He says the authority is going in the right direction, but work still needs to be done to tackle structural and embedded racism. He added: "How we tackle inequality – that's partly about how well we deliver education for the young people in our borough and their ability to get ahead in life, but also how we're tackling some of the wider barriers that hold too many of the communities in our borough back."

Ealing Council's Race Equality Commission (REC) was set up to address racial inequalities in the borough. The council says its REC distinguishes itself from other boroughs by its 'independent Citizens' Tribunal', which gives voices to minorities and 'ensures accountability and regular reporting on progress'.

In 2022, the council launched a race equality programme in schools, addressing challenges such as attainment gaps. The initiative focuses on creating a level playing field by looking at whether there are any barriers creating a racial disparity in how well pupils perform.

Tree planting and environmental improvements

Cllr Mason told the LDRS the climate crisis is another top priority for the borough. He outlined work on sustainable urban drainage systems, improvements to cycling and walking networks in Ealing, and the planting of 12,450 trees this year.

This includes 2,500 street and housing estate trees, particularly around Acton and Southall, 5,000 trees in Pear Tree Park and 450 across Elthorne, Blondin, Ealing Common, St Margaret's Centre and Lammas and King Parks.

He added: "We're also moving forward on the delivery of electronic vehicle charging points, for example, all of these what might seem small things we're doing we're going to continue to push it forward."

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