Parents take Ealing Council to court over decision to close children’s centres

Supporters of the Save Ealing’s Children’s Centres campaign outside the High Court

High Court judge reviews Ealing’s decision to close ten children’s centres

The parents of a two-year-old child in Ealing have taken the council to court over their decision to close a number of children’s centres in the borough. The judicial review took place on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 February.

They argued the decision to close ten children’s centres was unlawful because the proposals were not consulted on at a formative stage; the decision had effectively already been made, and residents were not given sufficient information to consider the policy properly.

The Council denied that, offering as proof that their original proposal had been to close 12 centres.

Jenni Richards KC, representing the claimant, also argued the council closed the children’s centres without ensuring that enough services would be available.

The centres provide support to children under five, including Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) information and parenting programmes. Local authorities have a legal obligation to make sure there are enough children’s centres and services in their area and she argued there was a presumption against closing them in statutory guidance.

The defence argued that not all the Council’s 25 children’s centres met the legal definition of a children’s centre. According to the legal definition only seven are classed as children’s centres.

The Council maintains the restructuring will make children’s services ‘more accessible and inclusive’, with longer opening hours at remaining centres, updated websites, and an expansion of digital resources.

The campaigners’ KC also argued the Council’s decision was “irrational” because it ignored key evidence and responses to the consultation.

Representing Ealing Council, Rory Dunlop KC also denied this point.

Councillor Jon Ball outside the High Court

Opposition to the closures has been coordinated by the Save Ealing’s Children’s Centres Group, who announced last August they would be taking the Council to court.

READ ALSO: Campaigners take Ealing Council to court over closure of children’s centres

‘The local authority will be aware that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of families impacted by this decision across the borough’, they said.

Liberal Democrats, who are in opposition on Ealing Council, opposed the closures, have supported them.

READ ALSO: Ealing Liberal Democrats call on council to review Children’s Centre closures

Councillor Jon Ball, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, was at the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand to support the Judicial Review. The Lib Dems say the main reason for closure was to generate a financial saving, which had already been budgeted, and that was not laid out in the consultation.

Defending the consultation process, Rory Dunlop KC described the savings as a benefit to the council, but told the court the primary goal was to improve the early years support help offered in the borough.

Speaking after the hearing Cllr Ball said:

“What I heard this week in court showed yet again that Labour-controlled Ealing Council are not merely poor at consultation – they fail to do the legal bare minimum to make consultations legal. I sincerely hope that the judge will throw out Labour’s children’s centre closure plan.

“Liberal Democrats have found savings to keep these children’s centres open and yet Ealing Labour refuse to listen to reason on this matter which is why a legal challenge was needed.

“Labour is actively cutting front line services for the most vulnerable residents including children’s centre and adult day centre closures. We believe that that the closure of children’s centres is an appalling policy decision that will adversely impact many deprived and vulnerable children, leaving them isolated and struggling to access critical physical, mental and healthcare services.

“Ealing Labour are ignoring academic research which shows that children’s centres are critical to providing children with the best start in life. It is a sad indictment on Ealing Labour that it requires legal action by the community to force them to listen to residents.

Mr Justice Kimblin told the court that he would reserve the decision and will not put a timeframe on the outcome.

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