West London council used council card for wine and a hotel stay for a councillor
Ealing Council used a work payment card for a £175 bill at Majestic Wine, however the local authority insists it has been paid back. In data obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) via a Freedom of Information request, a number of payments of note were made over a 13-month period using council payment cards, including hotel stays for a conference, a debt collection agency and flights for looked-after…
EalingPulse — detailed briefing
The report concerns “West London council used council card for wine and a hotel stay for a councillor”. This EalingPulse briefing brings together the main facts, figures and practical consequences so readers can understand the issue beyond the headline.
The main information
Ealing Council used a work payment card for a £175 bill at Majestic Wine, however the local authority insists it has been paid back. In data obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) via a Freedom of Information request, a number of payments of note were made over a 13-month period using council payment cards, including hotel stays for a conference, a debt collection agency and flights for looked-after…
In total, the payments show almost £1,000 was spent by Ealing Council on flights and hotels though all were legitimate uses of public funds connected to council business, the authority says. On November 25, 2025, the £175 Majestic Wine spend was logged, temporarily charging the public purse.
Ealing Council says that wine payment related to an event that was fully funded through external sponsorship. The council explained that the supplier required payment by card, and the council card was used and the cost was then reimbursed from the sponsorship funding – there was therefore no cost to the council taxpayer.
Between April 2025 and April 2026, Ealing Council paid £202 to a debt recovery company and £75 to itself. Whilst examining Ealing Council spending, the LDRS discovered that the council had not published its spending over £250 since November 2025 – meaning there is no publicly accessible record of council payments.
What this may mean for residents
The practical points are the date, place, conditions and effect on residents. Check those details in the linked source before acting.
What to check next
This briefing is based on reporting by Ealing Nub News. Use the source link beneath the article to check full statements, documents, additional figures and later updates.
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© 2026 EalingPulse.uk. Original editorial text, graphics and photographs owned by EalingPulse.uk may not be copied, reproduced or republished without prior written permission. Short quotations are permitted only where allowed by law, with clear credit to EalingPulse.uk and a direct link to this article. Third-party material remains the property of its respective rights holders.
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