London borough faces threat of legal challenge over alleged ‘unlawful’ consultation on children's centre closures

The pre-action protocol letter sent on behalf of Campaign group Save Ealing's Children Centres (SECC) also claimed that the decision amounts to a breach of the sufficiency duty as the council is allegedly failing to ensure there are enough children's centres to meet local needs.

In addition, the letter claims that the London borough failed to follow 'Sure Start' statutory guidance or to explain why it departed from it.

The London borough approved the closures on 11 June 2025 as part of an improved early help offer and strategy for the years 2025 to 2028.

Explaining the reasoning, the local authority said it chose to close the centres in order to make financial savings and ensure the financial resilience of the council.

As part of the three-year strategy, the council will maintain 15 children's centres and "strengthen outreach", according to the report discussed by Cabinet.

Opposition councillors later called this decision in for review at a Scrutiny Panel meeting on 3 July 2025.

However, the scrutiny panel ultimately found the decision should be upheld.

The minutes for the scrutiny committee meeting said the panel "felt that there was misunderstanding and misinformation circulating around the reasons for these proposals and what the proposals were".

It added: "It was clear that the proposals were not a cut in services, but there was a reduction in the number of children's centres that would be open."

The legal challenge is being brought on behalf of the claimant, a child affected by the decision, by law firm Rook Irwin Sweeney.

The letter before claim is calling on the council to rescind its decision and reconsult on new proposals.

SECC has raised more than £6,000 through a crowdfunding page to support the challenge.

Writing on its crowdfunding page, the group said: "We and our many supporters have responded to Ealing Council's public consultation, written to our Councillors to object, held protests, gathered more than 2,000 signatures on each of two different petitions, spoken at Council meetings and co-operated with Opposition councillors to try to reverse the decision – but the council has so far not listened!

"The vast majority of public responses to the consultation stated clearly that the reduction of centres from 25 to 12 would have a negative impact on their lives. Yet Ealing Council approved the decision to close or repurpose 10 children's centres (reprieving just three)! We need all our children's centres saved."

An Ealing Council spokesperson said: “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 potential legal challenge that has been brought forward and will be consulting with our legal team.”

Adam Carey