Liberal Democrats challenged Labour at a Full Council meeting after charities approached them after not being consulted on the controversial Local Plan.

At a Full Council meeting on Tuesday 25 April 2023 Councillor Athena Zissimos, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the Environment challenged the Labour administration on their claims that they are "transparent and open".

She asked for information on which disability charities have been consulted on the draft Local Plan which sets out the framework for the next 15 years across Ealing once approved. However, the portfolio holder responded that they could not reach everyone and said: "We can always do more."

Councillor Athena Zissimos is concerned that Age UK, Dementia Concern, Middlesex Association for the Blind and Deaf Plus have not been consulted and has been in contact with some of their Trustees. She pressed further to ask why the council was unable to supply her with a list of disability organisations consulted for the local Development Plan. 

Councillor Athena Zissimos said: "Liberal Democrats say that this was a demonstration of a 'smoke and mirrors' approach employed by Labour whilst trumpeting of values of openness and transparency. Labour often do the bare minimum rather than seeking to consult far and wide on these important issues. It is the Liberal Democrats who are listening to the communities across Ealing."

Councillor Athena Zissimos added: "There has been significant local resistance to the draft Local Plan with many groups (including disability groups) feeling that they have not been consulted. The current draft plan is a charter for concreting over green belt and metropolitan open land across the borough. In addition, it throws up questions of this administration's commitment to being carbon neutral by 2030 – another phrase often repeated but not translated into demonstrable actions especially when they wish to dewild Warren Farm and the countless number of endangered species which rely on this habitat."