recipients of services provided by the council. Investing activities represent the extent to which cash outflows have been made for resources which are intended to contribute to the council's future service delivery. Cash flows arising from financing activities are useful in predicting claims on future cash flows by providers of capital (borrowing).

All the notes to the core statements above are collected in one place and provide more information to understand the core statements. Later in this document there is an explanation of the policies used in the preparation of the figures in these accounts, especially changes made during the year.

Housing Revenue Account and notes – show the in-year economic cost of providing housing services in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices.

The Collection Fund and notes – reflect the council's statutory obligation to maintain a separate Collection Fund for its transactions as a billing authority in relation to council tax and non-domestic (business) rates.

Pension Fund Accounts – show the contributions to, and benefits paid from the Pension Fund and identifies the investments which make up the assets of the Fund.

Group accounts are prepared where an authority (the parent) holds majority interest in a subsidiary, associates and/or joint ventures. The main council statements are consolidated with the identified ventures and presented based on materiality. Intra-group transactions and balances are removed on a line-by-line basis. For 2025/26, the council has identified 3 subsidiary companies with material balances, Broadway Living Limited, Broadway Living RP Limited and Greener Ealing Limited, which were included in the group accounts following an assessment of materiality.

The specific principles, bases, conventions, rules and practices applied by an authority in preparing and presenting financial statements.

At the end of the document there is a glossary which explains some of the technical terms used in these accounts.

Although the accounts are relatively complex to read, a result of the requirement to comply with the reporting obligations, I hope that you find them useful and informative in helping you to understand how the council manages its finances in delivering services for residents. If you have any questions or comments on the council's accounts or their presentation, please e-mail finalaccounts@ealing.gov.uk or write to the Strategic Director, Resources, Ealing Council, Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing W5 2HL.