EALING Council's ruling Labour group has come under fire from opposition benches over delays in renewing the lease for a charity venture.

Speaking at a recent full council meeting Liberal Democrat Cllr Jon Ball challenged Labour on continuing delays to renew the lease at the Log Cabin on Northfields Avenue, saying the delays risk the charity losing more than £100,000 in funding from a corporate donor for a new playground if thed matter is not concluded quickly.

The Log Cabin provides care and activities for children with additional needs and disabilities.

Labour said that despite the delays, which have been dragging on since 2011, it would be definitively resolved in a few months, although no precise date was given.

A Lib-Dem statement says: "Labour-run Ealing Council has also failed to sign leases for other local organisations including ESDEG (the Education and Skills Development Group, a charity which helps address the needs of the local Somali community), which runs the Viking Community Centre in Northolt and the 1st Ealing North Scout Group which uses the Scout hut in Montpelier Park."

And Cllr Ball., opposition spokesperson on Planning, Licensing and Housing, said: "We are continuing to press Labour on this issue as their long delays in processing leases have a knock-on effect in that potential donors require a lease to show that a charity has a secure future.

"This comes at an unprecedented cost of living crisis where charitable giving has reduced and this slowness in processing essential legal documents could make all the difference to the continuing viability of local charities and other voluntary groups."