The leader of a West London council has firmly rejected claims that his authority is acting against the national government's agenda by proceeding with the closure of ten children's centres in the borough.
Council Leader's Justification for Closures
In an exclusive interview, Councillor Peter Mason, the Labour Leader of Ealing Council, outlined his reasoning for the controversial decision, which is now facing a legal challenge. Legal action has been launched against the council, with a judicial review granted permission to proceed to a full hearing, potentially before March 2026.
Cllr Mason described a "terrible situation" where, according to council analysis, many children in care had never used the existing early help services. He argued that some of the centres slated for closure did not offer a broad enough range of support, such as midwifery or play services. The council's position is that this model is unsustainable and not cost-effective.
He directly linked the decision to budget pressures, stating: "If we hadn’t have had £140 million in real terms taken out of our budget over the last 16 years, then perhaps councils... would have the ability to deliver even more services." He positioned the move as a necessary response to years of austerity.
A Shift from Buildings to Outreach Services
A central pillar of Cllr Mason's argument is a shift in focus from maintaining buildings to delivering services. He criticised previous administrations for focusing "on buildings and not services," claiming too much money was spent "keeping the lights on."
However, he clarified that the buildings themselves would not be shuttered. Instead, they would host different services, with the council enhancing its offer through more community-based outreach. Support will be provided in locations like libraries and places of worship to reach families who might find council buildings "intimidating" or who are "fearful of authorities."
"We’re not closing anything, we’re changing the services that are offered in buildings," Cllr Mason asserted, emphasising the goal of creating a "non-judgemental" service that goes to people rather than expecting them to come to it.
Clash with National Policy and Campaigner Backlash
The policy has sparked significant controversy, with campaigners arguing it directly contradicts the national Labour government's plans. In July, the government announced a rollout of 'family hubs' from April 2026, intended as a one-stop shop for family support, often by reconfiguring existing children's centres.
When questioned on this apparent contradiction, Cllr Mason did not address it directly, instead reiterating his justification for the closures.
Campaign group Save Ealing Children's Centres expressed disappointment at the leader's comments. Spokesperson Claire Welsby told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that thousands of parents valued the centres as "safe and welcoming local centres in their communities."
She argued: "If there are more children and families to be reached the council should be building on these foundations... They should not be cutting it back so drastically." The group confirmed the High Court has deemed their case for a judicial review arguable, recognising its urgency.
The outcome of this legal battle will determine the future of early years support for many families in Ealing, setting a potentially significant precedent for how local authorities reconcile strained budgets with national policy directives.
