The things that are important to residents are important to Ealing Council, and it has made significant progress over the last year in areas that matter most to people.
The council’s annual performance report highlights its achievements over the last financial year (April 2024 – March 2025), including work to reduce crime, promote health and wellbeing and address the climate crisis.
Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour
The council pledged £10million investment, over 4years, to address anti-social behaviour, burglary, violent crime and violence against women and girls. In the last year, it has invested £40,000 in providing an educational programme, in partnership with schools, to encourage healthy relationships and give young people support to identify and challenge unacceptable behaviour.
This year, it will invest £1million in making public spaces safer by ensuring the borough’s parks and streets are well lit to help people feel safer. The council has already increased street lighting on all residential roads and upgraded 31,000 streetlights in response to residents’ concerns about this, particularly, in Hanwell and Perivale.
Climate action
The challenges of climate change are not going away, but the council is continuing to make progress towards significantly reducing the amount of harmful carbon dioxide emissions (‘greenhouse gases’) we produce as a borough.
It has already made 983 homes more energy-efficient since 2022 (exceeding its target of 750), and invested £7.4 million to increase walking, cycling, running and scooting. It has also planted more than 13,000 trees in the past year, with 40,500 planted in last 3 years.
And, the £1million Visions for Northolt programme has brought segregated cycle paths to Kensington Road, making it easier and safer for people to cycle, as well improvements to Northolt Green with new lighting and benches, and tree planting to increase biodiversity.
Healthy, equal lives
Across the borough community workers are benefiting from the Real Living Wage, ensuring fair pay for those working to support others. Plans are in place to extend this to care home workers by 2026, strengthening the borough’s care sector.
Ealing Council’s approach is to empower residents to lead independent lives. It has done this by supporting 3,282 vulnerable people to live independently, surpassing the target of 3,000. It has also given 11% of adult social care users direct payments, allowing them greater choice and control over their lives. This person-centred approach is being enhanced through increased training, awareness and engagement, ensuring even more residents benefit from this transformative service.
A fairer start
The refurbishment of the Young Adults Centre in Southall, which re-opened in January, co-designed with young people, has created a vibrant space where they can connect, learn, and thrive. The voices of young people in Southall were instrumental in ensuring the centre would meet their needs, providing opportunities for personal and educational growth.
Last year, 98% of the borough’s schools were rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ and they consistently attain exceptional academic achievements, surpassing London and national averages across all key stages and at GCSE and A-levels. The expansion of Special Educational Needs (SEN) provisions, with 167 new SEN places since 2022, has provided life-changing support for families who need it most.
Decent living incomes
The council’s efforts to champion fair pay and reduce inequalities was achieved after it gained formal recognition as a Living Wage Place, the first in west London and one of only 17 in the UK, which has benefited nearly 1,000 workers with a pay rise to help residents achieve financial independence.
Safe and affordable homes
With almost 7,000 families in the borough on the waiting list for a socially rented home, the council is running one of the largest council home building programmes in the country.
In November, a housing estate in Southall moved another step closer to providing 100 new genuinely affordable homes and a similar achievement was reached in the development of 84 new council homes to let in Northolt. In addition, the council has invested £267 million in housing since 2022 to ensure residents live in safe, secure, and healthy homes . A further £140million investment is planned for 2025/26 to combat damp, mould and disrepair.
Good growth
The Acton and Park Royal Creative Enterprise Zone has given creative entrepreneurs new opportunities, support and tools to push forward their businesses as well as offering affordable and creative spaces. The Good for Ealing brand has promoted the borough as a premier place to invest with presence at high-profile developments including the UK’s largest real estate event.
Thriving communities
Residents in Greenford and Southall will be able to celebrate the redevelopment of ground-breaking community projects, including Gurnell Leisure Centre and Warren Farm, which will deliver cultural and recreational spaces designed with the input of local people. With new cultural initiatives, including the borough’s first LGBTQ+ festival and a dedicated arts and culture website, the borough’s towns are buzzing with creative energy that brings communities together and celebrates diversity.
Inclusive economy
Year-on-year improvements in pay gap indicators and diversity in leadership, supported by the publication of the council’s Ethnicity Pay Gap Report 2024.
Council leader Peter Mason said: “We have been making incredible progress toward the commitments we made to bring well paid jobs back to the borough, tackling the climate crisis and fighting inequality. We’re continuing to put the priorities of residents front and centre of everything that we do.
“The year ahead will have a big focus on tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, pushing forward on huge improvements to our parks and open spaces, and a total focus on delivering clean streets, safe roads, tracks and pavements.”
