Ealing Liberal Democrats promote the re-establishment of Ward and Town Forums to enable a better engagement and improvements in their area on local issues.

Councillor Gary Malcolm Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition challenged Ealing Labour on the "democratic deficit" they have introduced through the ending of Ward Forums at the Council Meeting on Tuesday 16 April 2024.

The Forums were paused during the COVID pandemic and have not been revived since then despite the Council having a budget to fund and action them!

Ealing Labour have trumpeted much about Town Forums, but these have not appeared meaning that residents are becoming disenfranchised.

Ealing Liberal Democrats endorse the essential need for both Town and Ward Forums to enable residents to engage and establish ideas or projects that will address local issues. In Hounslow for example each individual councillor has a small budget for such schemes which strengthen community ties, either through working as local project delivery, discussion chambers or to engage other agencies such as police or health services in a locally focussed approach.

It should be noted that the funds for use in local projects have been absorbed by Ealing Labour and are redistributed to other unknown services in an opaque fashion.

In a Liberal Democrat Official Budget amendment recently, we showed how it was possible to have both Town Forums and Ward Forums.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Gary Malcolm, Leader of the Opposition said: "Liberal Democrats find it arrogant that the Labour Leader thinks £500 schemes like luncheon clubs are not needed. Labour seem to be actively promoting a 'democratic deficit' by delaying the cancellation of Ward Forums and the establishment of Town Forums. Liberal Democrats are listening to residents and encouraging their involvement through calling for the devolution of funds and recreation of forums to address local issues enabling grass roots engagement. It appears that Labour wish to control the spending of monies as centrally as possible rather than trust residents about their local areas. Residents deserve better."

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