A West London council has become embroiled in a legal battle over its decision to close 10 children centres in a move lawyers described as “a failure to analyse” potential impacts on children.
In June, Ealing Council announced an intention to close the children centres following a three month consultation. Since then, there has been a campaign by Save Ealing’s Children’s Centres pressuring Ealing Council to change course.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service [LDRS] exclusively revealed in July that campaigners were considering taking legal action against the council. Legal action has now commenced, with lawyers challenging the decision on three grounds – although the lawyers are not representing the campaign. The LDRS understands that lawyers are representing a 17-month-old child
‘Unlawful consultation’
According to legal documents, lawyers believe the council made a “budgetary decision” to close the children’s centres without consultation. In February, the council published a budget which earmarked savings until 2029.
Part of this recorded £751,000 of savings from the children’s centres review, including £363,000 in savings during the 2025/26 financial year. This means that closures would need to be implemented “almost immediately” – including during the consultation period.
The law states that a consultation must occur prior to anything move which would result in a children’s centre ceasing to be a children’s centre. The lawyers argue that the council had “already determined that there would be substantial cuts” prior to any consultation being held.
Due to the savings being baked into the council’s budget, making no cuts would have been “impossible.” As such, the council only presented residents with one option, closing 10 children’s centres – which is a breach of the law.
Claire Welsby, a spokesperson for Save Ealing Children’s Centres has long echoed this sentiment. She told the LDRS that she remains concerned about the planning and execution of the consultation.
She said: “[There was] no data to explain why this option, no evidence other than – ‘we know outreach works’ and would achieve its aim of improving the early help offer – reaching more children, particular those at who might be at risk of needing statutory children’s services in the future. No acknowledgement of the impact on the 7,516 children, parents and carers who and attended the 13 centres on 34,520 occasions in 2024 and that were proposed to close.
“No real plan of how this number of children, parents and carers could continue to access the services they will lose, or where… Parents felt they didn’t matter, but other parents did and could not understand how could they reach more children and families when they could lose so many through this proposal.”
Ealing Council maintained that the consultation was sufficient and lawful. The council says it engaged with over 2,500 comments, and 530 residents at in person meetings.
‘Breach of duty’
Lawyers have also alleged that Ealing Council failed to sufficiently engage with the Childcare Act 2006, which forces local authorities to provide children’s services in an integrated manner, including arrangements for sufficient provision of children’s centres.
The legal representatives have argued that the closure of 10 children’s centres would necessitate “careful analysis of the impact” and whether parents would have sufficient provision thereafter. They allege that there is “no evidence that any such analysis has been undertaken.”
In May, speaking to the LDRS, parents voiced their concerns about the potential impact the closures could have on their children. Sarah, a mother from Hanwell pleaded with the council to keep the centres open
Speaking at the time, she said: “”We were able to take part in so many classes… sign language, baby massages, stay and play. She [my daughter] really enjoys seeing other kids and learning from them, it’s a safe environment.
“Kids already don’t have a voice and are having their services taken away… it makes me really upset. Please, don’t close our children’s centres.”
‘Failure to comply with statutory guidance’
When considering changes to the provision of children’s services, the Sure Start statutory guidance encourages councils to start from a point of “presumption against the closure of children’s centres.” Lawyers believe that given the £751,000 of savings was baked into this year’s budget, the closure was “earmarked” before the consultation ended.
Ealing Council has until Tuesday, August 19, to respond to the legal action. Lawyers expect the council to either withdraw its decision, or agree to reconsult, with alternatives to closure considered.
An Ealing Council spokesperson has said: “Ealing Council worked hard to ensure residents were consulted at the earliest opportunity and that the process was accessible and inclusive. Over a 12-week period, the council held consultation events across the borough, meeting people in their communities – with around 530 residents attending in person.
“More than 2,300 surveys were completed and over 2,500 written comments submitted. Nearly 80% of responses came from parents and carers of children in the borough and feedback was received from every town in Ealing.
“Ealing Council remains committed to improving access to our Early Help and Children’s Centre services for all families in our community. We are aware of the legal challenge that has been brought forward and will be consulting with our legal team.”
Philip is a Local Democracy Reporter covering Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow, with a focus on council decisions, housing, planning, licensing and community stories across west London.
