Ealing Liberal Democrats await Peer Challenge results in a few weeks

Liberal Democrats were active when the LGA’s Peer Challenge Panel visited Ealing Council as every Liberal Democrat Councillor fed back on areas where they felt the Council needs improvement.

Ealing Liberal Democrats have been taking part in a Peer Challenge Programme Review which took place 13-16 May 2025. It is a process by which Councillors, Council staff and Partners share their experiences with a small external team to drive improvements and assurance.

The process is run by the Local Government Association (LGA) and has been requested by Ealing Labour to identify areas for improvement.

Historically these reviews were more Ofsted like with a pass-fail approach.

More recently they have shifted to a broader review which covers five standard areas and one nominated by Ealing itself. The five standard areas of discussion are local priorities, organisation/place leadership, governance, financial overview and capacity for improvement. Ealing Labour itself requested a specific focus on Connected Communities as well as Regeneration & Growth.

The formal report should be published on the council website in the next few weeks.

Councillor Gary Malcolm, Leader of the Opposition, said: “Liberal Democrats have been engaging with the administration across the board to provide challenge and scrutiny resulting a climb down in building on green belt and designating Warren Farm as a nature reserve protecting our green spaces. We oppose the closure of the Michael Flanders centre in Acton and the closure of the majority of children’s centres across the borough.

We have also been challenging Ealing Labour to improve their appalling housing repair rate and to address their temporary housing issues.”