Ealing Council Stands Firm on Children's Centres
Opposition call-in fails to shift policy on closures
Cllr Gary Malcolm with a demonstration against the closures outside Ealing Council offices
July 4, 2025
Ealing Council has reaffirmed its decision to close or repurpose over 40% of its children’s centres, rejecting a formal call-in by opposition parties and widespread public objections. The controversial move will see the closure of at least ten centres across the borough, affecting thousands of families and young children. Despite pleas from parents, professionals and councillors, Ealing Labour pressed ahead, citing financial pressures and a revised service model as justification.
Ealing’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee convened this Thursday evening (3 July). The committee, which is made up of back bench councillors has the power to refer back decisions to cabinet.
The call-in was triggered by Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Gary Malcolm, who led a detailed challenge against the decision, describing it as "deeply flawed" and “a disgraceful decision.” At the scrutiny committee meeting proceeded, tensions flared early on when a parent representative, who had been told they could speak in the debate, was informed they would not be allowed to address the committee. This move drew criticism and added to claims that the consultation and review processes were being mishandled.
The committee Chair, Cllr Lauren Wall, told the mother, Emily, that she had received an email notifying her that her speaking time had been withdrawn as the council had received “lots of communications about Hathaway Children’s Centre”. Clara, another campaigner, decided to use her speaking time to read Emily’s statement as she was denied the opportunity.
Cllr Malcolm formally presented the opposition’s argument against the closures, highlighting multiple concerns. He argued that the closures undermined value for money, citing independent research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies which found that for every £1 spent on Sure Start children’s centres, approximately £11 in long-term benefits were generated for children and families. He also warned that the move would harm vulnerable families, pointing to the council’s plans to reduce Special Educational Needs (SEND) provision at key sites in Ealing and Greenford and to withdraw child-care support. He noted that closing centres would increase travel times for new mothers and carers, deterring them from accessing vital services and undermining uptake. Furthermore, Cllr Malcolm stressed that outreach services being touted as replacements were not yet in place and would leave substantial gaps in provision once closures began.
Despite these arguments, Ealing Labour councillors on the scrutiny committee rejected the call-in, allowing the original Cabinet decision to proceed without amendment. The council confirmed it would close or repurpose centres in Acton (Maples), Ealing (Hathaway and Log Cabin), Greenford (Windmill), Northolt (Northolt Park), and Southall (Grove, Windmill and Greenfields). Additionally, centres at Copley Close in Hanwell and Academy Gardens in Northolt are to be de-designated.
In total, the decision will reduce the borough’s children’s centre network from 25 to 15 core centres. While Cabinet members have argued that the new model will maintain support by extending opening hours at the remaining centres and launching new outreach hubs in libraries, GP surgeries and other community venues, opponents remain unconvinced.
Cllr Malcolm said afterwards, “Liberal Democrats believe that this decision is deeply flawed. This is another example of Ealing Labour holding a consultation, ignoring the results and then axing vital services. The closures will result in worse outcomes for the vulnerable children and families across the borough and reduced accessibility. They are closing the Children’s Centres before they have thought about what they will have in place! This is a disgraceful decision.”
Claire Welsby, a campaigner for Save Ealing’s Children Centre’s told the Local Democracy Reporting Service [LDRS] that the fight will continue.
Speaking after the meeting she said, “We are going to continue, we’re going to look at judicial review. Obviously there is a big financial implication about that, and we need to seek advice.
“There are lots of things we would look at and we would focus on the process. But also, we will continue to hold them to account, through freedom of information requests, continuing to go to public meetings, and continuing to hold protests.”
Previously, an Ealing Council spokesperson has said, “Children’s centres provide vital services for families and are cornerstones of the community, but the current set up is not working. We have 25 centres, but despite increased demand for statutory children’s services, not all families who could benefit are using them.
“Supporting our most vulnerable residents is a top priority for us and our aim with the children’s centres is to design a service more tailored to our families’ needs and move services into the community to better reach those who may need our help while retaining the largest number of children’s centres in London.
“The goal is to reach more families, earlier, with better support, and while some centres will no longer operate in their current form, the services themselves are being enhanced, with all seven towns seeing an increase in children’s centre activity following the changes.
“We’ve worked closely with the community throughout this process and have engaged with over 2,000 residents and have adapted plans based on what we’ve heard. We remain open to ongoing dialogue with all community stakeholders.”
The council argues that the closures are necessary in light of a projected £57 million budget shortfall by 2029 and a requirement to find £11.8 million in children’s services savings in the coming year alone. It points to revisions made in response to consultation feedback, including retaining three centres originally slated for closure: Jubilee, Petts Hill and Dormers Wells
Nonetheless, critics argue that these concessions are insufficient and do not address the fundamental risks to early years provision borough-wide.
Written with contributions from Philip James Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter
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