West Lothian Council

25/02/2025

The West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) Community Equipment Store will not be available by phone on Wednesday 26 February from 8am to 5pm, due to an essential system maintenance.
The store provides a range of equipment, issued on loan by professional health and social work staff, to support people to remain independent in the community.
Repeat continence supplies can be requested using our online form at a time that is convenient for you, a family member or carer.
Please visit https://westlothianhscp.org.uk/continence or email [email protected]
To arrange a collection or repair of equipment please use the online form at https://westlothianhscp.org.uk/equipment or email [email protected].
Normal service will resume from 8.30am on Thursday 27 February. Users of the Community Equipment store are thanked for their understanding while this essential work is completed.

25/02/2025

Budgets & Council Tax – join us live from 10am⏰👇

The Full Council will meet to agree it’s investment plan for West Lothian’s services later today, and set Council Tax levels for the year ahead. It is proposed that over £600 million will be invested via our revenue budget this year, which is a record level of investment in local services (revenue). A further £61 million is planned for investment in new and existing roads, play parks, public buildings, footways, sports facilities, play areas, parks, cemeteries and more (capital)

The council will look to agree:
• A Revenue Budget
• A Capital Investment Budget/Programme
• Council Tax levels

Join us from 10am and watch the Full Council live - see the link in the comments section to view/listen to the meeting 👇

24/02/2025

Vandalism at Pinewood School, Blackburn

We have been made aware of a reckless act of vandalism occurring on Friday evening at Pinewood School in Blackburn.

Thankfully no one was hurt in the incident, however an office window was smashed, with more significant damage occurring to the school's mini bus (see pictures for damage)

Initial assessments indicate it will costs around £2,000 to repair the vehicle. Our Fleet Team are working to repair the bus as a priority and work is underway to ensure the mini bus can be returned to the school as soon as possible.

We'd urge anyone with any information to please pass this on to Police. 👇

A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “This is incredibly mindless and reckless behaviour that could have endangered individuals at Pinewood. Thankfully no one was hurt in the incident however, the school minibus will be out of action for a number of days and unavailable for the children at Pinewood while repairs are completed. We’d urge anyone with any information to please contact Police Scotland by calling 101.”

24/02/2025

BEAR Scotland, acting on behalf of Transport Scotland, is planning to carry out overnight resurfacing works at M8 Junction 3A Westbound.

The works have been provisionally programmed to commence on Monday 31st March 2025 for a duration of 10 nights between the hours of 20:30 and 06:00 each night, excluding Saturday & Sunday. End date will be Saturday 12th April 2025 (06:00).

To ensure the safety of the workforce and members of the travelling public it is necessary to close M8 westbound between Junction 3 and Junction 4 during the works.

During this period of closure, a signed diversion route will be in place for the westbound diversion which will consist of M8 Jct3, A899, A89, A7066, A801 and rejoin the M8 at Junction 4 westbound. A location plan showing this diversion route is attached. This diversion route will add approximately 7 minutes and 1.3 miles to affected journeys.

Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times and all traffic management will be removed out with working hours.

24/02/2025

Xcite West Lothian Leisure are looking for business sponsors for their upcoming family event – Xcite Mini-Rocks 2025. The event will be their first ever Hyrox-style fitness challenge designed for kids and their parents to encourage fitness, teamwork, and fun for families.
Taking place on Sunday 18th May at Xcite Bathgate, the challenge will feature 8 interactive obstacle stations where children aged 8-11 years will team up with their parents to complete a series of fitness-based challenges.
The aim is to make this event as accessible as possible by keeping costs low for participants, ensuring that more families can benefit from this unique fitness experience.
To help Xcite achieve this, they are offering sponsorship opportunities per obstacle station, which will directly help in funding equipment, venue setup, and logistics
As a sponsor, your company will receive:
• Your logo and name prominently displayed at your sponsored obstacle station.
• Recognition in event promotions, including social media, event materials, and the plasma advertising screens in Xcite venues.
• The opportunity to showcase your commitment to community health and fitness while engaging with families in a fun, energetic environment.
Xcite would love to have you on board as a sponsor and believe this is a fantastic opportunity to support youth fitness while gaining visibility for your business.
If you’d like to participate please contact Struan Gard [email protected], who would be happy to discuss further details.

24/02/2025

Bathgate Baths Community Garden are holding a consultation event on the future of the former baths site on Friday 7 March from 3pm. Please see below for more details.

23/02/2025

**Update - our recycling centres are being re-opened now** Our Recycling Centres are temporarily closed today due to the high winds. All customers with bookings are being contacted direct.

Conditions will be monitored and a decision made over reopening the centres this afternoon, if safe to do so.

21/02/2025

🚦🚸👇Investment in roads and road safety
West Lothian Council is nearing completion of its programme for twelve new pedestrian crossing facilities as part of the Active Travel Plan that helps to encourage cycling, walking and improving safety for road users.

The installation of the pedestrian crossings within West Lothian is funded by the Scottish Government through their Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes (CWSR) initiative: -

These programmes have been completed:
• A89 at Newhouses Road, Broxburn (Pedestrian refuge island)
• Murieston West Road, Livingston (Toucan crossing)
• Kirkton South Road, Livingston (Toucan crossing)
• Lower Bathville, Armadale (Zebra crossing upgrade)
• Hardhill Road, Bathgate (puffin crossing)
• Springfield Road, Linlithgow (puffin crossing)
• Church Street, Addiewell (Upgrade of zebra to puffin crossing)
• Calder Park Road, Mid Calder (dropped kerb crossing)
• Main Street, Mid Calder (puffin crossing)
• Preston Road, Linlithgow (puffin crossing)
• These projects are expected to be complete towards the end of March:
• North Street, Armadale (Puffin crossing)
• Main Street, East Whitburn (Pedestrian refuge island)

One of the new measures has recently been completed on Preston Road, between Linlithgow Primary School and St Joseph’s RC Primary School.

Our roads team met pupils from both Primary Schools to see how the Preston Road crossing is positively impacting on their school day.

In 2024 alone, nearly £2milllion of capital funding was invested in West Lothian’s road network, with a further £620,000 spent on upgrading and maintaining public paths and over £2.7million invested in roads projects such as cycle paths and casualty reduction schemes.
Over £6million is proposed to be invested in roads, footways, street lighting, bridges and structures and flood prevention and drainage during 2025/26.

This includes £1.3 million on roads projects including Road Casualty Reduction schemes, Traffic signal improvements and active travel schemes.

21/02/2025

A 48-year-old man has been given an Order for Lifelong Restriction and jailed for seven years for s*xually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in the West Lothian area in September 2021.

Wayne Phillipson was found guilty of a number of s*xual offences at the High Court in Livingston on 21 August, 2024, and was sentenced today, Friday, 21 February, 2025, at the High Court in Glasgow.

He has also been placed on the s*x offenders register for an indefinite period of time.

Detective Inspector Craig Higgins at the Child and Adult Protection Unit in Livingston said: “Phillipson is a dangerous s*xual predator who subjected this young girl to a horrendous ordeal and now faces the consequences of his actions.

“I commend the girl for her strength in reporting his offending and throughout the legal proceedings and hope that this can bring her and her family closure as they continue to move forward with their life.

“I’d urge anyone who has been a victim of a s*xual crime or has suffered s*xual abuse, regardless of when it happened, to come forward and report it to us. All reports are thoroughly investigated, and we have specially trained officers who, alongside our partner agencies, will support you throughout.”

21/02/2025

The amazing volunteers behind West Lothian Pride are looking for sponsors to help support this year's 10th anniversary. Please see their post for more details.

🌈🎉 West Lothian Pride 2025 – 10 Years Strong & Bigger Than Ever! 🎉🌈

🚨 CALLING ALL SPONSORS! 🚨

In 2025, West Lothian Pride is turning 10—a whole decade of love, inclusivity, and celebration! 🏳️‍🌈✨ This will be our biggest Pride yet, and we want YOU to be part of it!

By sponsoring West Lothian Pride 2025, you’ll:

💥 Boost your brand.
💥 Show your commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion
💥 Be part of history as we celebrate a decade of Pride in West Lothian

We have exclusive sponsorship packages to suit all budgets—whether you're a local business, national brand, or passionate supporter, there’s a way for you to get involved!

📩 Let’s chat! Drop us a message to find out how you can be a key sponsor for this landmark event or email [email protected].

Let’s make West Lothian Pride 2025 bigger, bolder, and prouder than ever! 🌈💖

21/02/2025

Are you a resident of West Lothian and considering an apprenticeship?

In celebration of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, West Lothian Council’s Access2Employment team are hosting an Online Apprentice Insight Event, where you can learn about the latest apprenticeship vacancies and gain access to their Google Classroom. Here, you’ll find live apprenticeship opportunities along with valuable tips and advice to help you succeed in your application.

You’ll also receive support and guidance from Access2Employment’s Young People’s Employment Advisers, with the option of 1:1 assistance to help you apply for an apprenticeship. Don’t miss this opportunity to kick-start your career!

This is taking place on Wednesday, 5 March, from 5:00pm – 6:30pm.

You can learn more and book your free space here: www.investinwestlothian.com/support-for-individuals/events-and-workshops/posts/2025/march/apprentice-insight-online-event/

21/02/2025

Work to progress to ensure centres remain open -

Work to deliver a sustainable future for West Lothian’s community centres is continuing to progress & changes to the way in which community centres are operated in future will ensure they remain open.

The council has been working with Community Centre Management Committees over the past 18 months to discuss ways in which the committees can take on ownership and management of centres, but to also ensure that the income generated by the centres contributes towards the cost of running the centres, and that centres remain on a sound financial footing.

Individual Management Committees currently receive all the income generated via community centres, but the council pays for all of the running costs for staffing, heating and electricity, maintenance and upkeep of the facilities. This is no longer financial sustainable for the council.

A report was discussed at today’s Policy and Resources PDSP sets out an update on progress.

Julie Whitelaw, Head of Housing, Customer and Building Services said: “From the beginning, the main focus of this work has always been to include the local community in the future running of community centres and this will continue, no matter what outcome is agreed for each centre. “We all want to ensure that all areas of West Lothian continue to have community centres and that the centres operate successfully and efficiently.”

Of the 29 returns received 20 Management Committees have acknowledged a requirement to change the current operating model and have offered ways to support the delivery of a revised operating model. Following the end of the first phase of work, 29 out of 31 Management Committees submitted returned forms to the council, with two Management Committees choosing not to submit any return.

The report sets out that if at the end of project all other options fail to identify a sustainable model of community operation of a community centre, officers will consider any other options or measures which would ensure the continued operation of community centres, and ensure that each area has a community centre.

Leader of West Lothian Council Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: "Community Centres across West Lothian will not close and the council will not leave communities without a facility for local use.

“It is widely accepted that the status quo cannot remain as it is not sustainable. We must look at how income generated via centres pays towards the running costs. Both management committees and council officers have put in a huge amount of work into this process to date and I think it was very positive to hear that feedback given at the committee.

“Officers have identified three alternative delivery models for community centres going forward with the objective of giving community centres a range of options that would allow them to continue working without communities under a different model to the existing arrangement. Officers have considered the feedback and have set out recommendations to implement the three alternative delivery models along with a fourth approach should none of the three operating models can be achieved. The principal objective of the review is to achieve sustainable local services with a revised operating model. The outcome of all of the options would be to ensure that the activities currently undertaken within community centres remain within the community.”

20/02/2025

Improving West Lothian
Over £201 million is set to be invested in West Lothian’s infrastructure and council owned properties between next year and 2033.
The investment plan is set to be agreed next week as part of the council’s long term capital investment plan which is being presented to a meeting of Full Council next week.
Investment overall 👇
This year alone (2025/26) approximately £61 million would be spent on local infrastructure. This is in addition to the £68 million that was spent last year (2024/25).

Capital funding is generated through Scottish Government grant funding, income generated through the sale of council owned assets such as land and properties, borrowing and other sources of funding – which are given to us for specific projects.

Here’s where the £61million would be spent in 2025/26: 👇

• Over £48.8million of property improvements, new projects and maintenance
• Over £6million on roads, footways, street lighting, bridges and structures and flood prevention and drainage
• Over £3.5million on open spaces, parks, sports facilities, children’s play area & cemeteries
• £2.6 on Information Communication Technology

For more details on each bullet point, please click on the link in comments. 👇
Capital funding is one off amounts of funding used to upgrade/repair existing infrastructure or build new assets, such as new buildings, school extensions or new roads and paths.
Capital funding cannot be used on day-to-day running costs & is a different budget to council tax which is part of a revenue budget (day to day services)

20/02/2025

Budget & Council Tax proposed
West Lothian Council is set to agree its budget for this year (2025/26) which would see almost £605 million spent on delivering day-to-day local services.
Key points: 👇
• More than three quarters of this budget would be spent on Education, Social Care services and Operational Services (roads, waste, open spaces, litter collection etc
• Planned 8.95% increase in Council Tax
• Further investment comes from the council's capital and housing budgets which are agreed separately
• Proposals are being presented to a meeting of Full Council next week
In brief: 👇
• The Council had originally planned to increase Council Tax by 5.8% this year. However, it has now been confirmed by Government that only 60% of NI contributions will be funded and passed down to councils, therefore an increase of 8.95% is proposed to meet the unavoidable cost associated with changes to employee’s national insurance contributions, particularly for health and social care services. For a Band D property – a 8.95% increase in Council Tax amounts to an extra:
£124.49 per year
£10.37 per month
£2.39 per week
• An 8.95% Council Tax increase would cover the 40% shortfall in NI contributions and prevent a further £3 million of budget savings coming out of local services
• Council Tax would have to increase by 21% this year (2025/26) to offset the total budget gap that the council is facing - not the 8.95% increase which is being proposed
• Due to insufficient funding from the Scottish Government the council has a budget gap of £34.9 million over the next three years. Even if a 8.95% increase in Council Tax is agreed, nearly £12 million of savings are required this year alone - as the council must legally agree balanced budget.
• Legally, the amount of funding the council spends needs to be equal to the funding we receive. What we spend needs to match our income. This is what is meant by balancing our budget
• By 2028 the council will have had to make budget savings of over £207 million (between April 2007 - March 2028)

Changes to services 👇
The majority of savings measures were agreed two years ago and are to be implemented over a five-year period. However, more measures have had to be agreed in order to allow the Council to balance its budget - something we are legally required to do. All councils have a legal requirement to agree a balanced budget each year so if the funding provided is less than the cost of providing services overall, the council must reduce spending to balance its budget. A wide range of budget savings have already been agreed at last year's budget setting meeting and will be implemented further from April 2025.
Examples include: 👇
• Internal savings through reviewing admin support and streamlining processes to reduce costs
• Internal management restructures
• Reduction in staff numbers in some areas, no-filling of vacancies and management restructures
• Review of existing contracts for commissioned services to achieve cost savings
• Intensive fostering campaign and development of a WL adoption services
• Significant savings across Education which includes revised scheme of devolved school management
Over £2.1 million of additional savings are being proposed to help meet the increased funding gap have been approved for next year (2025/2026)
These include: 👇
👉Internal efficiency savings in staffing, property, supplies and services and transport budgets.
👉Reduction in council tax empty property discounts in line with parameters set out in regulations
👉Review of empty property relief and exemptions for Non-Domestic Rates
👉Increased income from rent of council properties

20/02/2025

Boghall Drop-In are holding an information session on 25 February from 10am - 2pm).

All welcome to attend. Further details are on poster attached.

20/02/2025

A new exhibition of amazing artworks by a West Lothian school pupil is set to go on display in Livingston.
Over 100 works by Hannah Evans (18) will be on show at the My Colour 2025 art exhibition, which runs from Friday 21 to Monday 24 February 2024 in the Livingston Designer Outlet, Unit 73, opposite Trespass, from 10am to 5pm (4pm on Monday).
An S6 pupil at Cedarbank in Livingston, Hannah is a neurodiverse and visually impaired artist, who uses art and colour to communicate and express herself.
The exhibition features over 100 artworks and jewellery from Hannah’s dynamic works, and is dedicated to her late gran and art mentor, Ann McClintock.
Hannah’s incredible art has been part of eight large solo and six professional group exhibitions, and was the featured artist on the front cover of RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) 2025 Calendar.
She was also was the Scottish Artist Union’s youngest ever professional artist between 2022 and 2024, and was the named the Visual Arts Scotland (VAS) Artist of the month for Feb 2025.
Hannah will be at the exhibition from 12.30pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for anyone who wishes to meet her.

20/02/2025

The media understandably always focus on Council Tax when council budgets are set. But does Council Tax pay for all council services? No, Council Tax doesn’t pay for all the services that you receive from the council.

Glasgow (Scotland's largest council) has announced a 7.5% rise in council tax for the coming year.

Local authorities across the country are set to confirm.

With a nationwide freeze coming to an end, Edinburgh, Fife, Scottish Borders and North Lanarkshire councils are also setting their new rates.

It is expected there will be a 10% hike in the Borders, with about 8% expected in Edinburgh.

A 10% increase has also been mooted in North Lanarkshire, with an 8% hike proposed in Fife.

It comes after East Lothian became the first council to announce a 10% increase last year.

Funding from the Scottish government makes up the bulk of council finances. Local authorities are responsible for providing education, social care, some road, paths and culture and leisure. West Lothian Council will consider local plans next week

20/02/2025

Budget facts - There will be lots information and figures published regarding council budgets over the next few weeks, as councils agree their budgets for the year ahead. As you know, the vast majority of a council’s budget comes from Scottish Government Grant Funding – not Council Tax. West Lothian Council expect to receive an extra £29.5 million from the Scottish Government to spend this year. However, it’s important to fully understand what that means when all the facts are taken into consideration. If you are interested, read on👇👇👇

Let’s look at the facts in more detail: 👇👇👇
Of the £29.5 million:
👉 £14.5 million is ringfenced by the Scottish Government which means the funding must be spent on national policy commitments and nothing else. Such commitments include) funding to pay the increase in national insurance contributions, additional support for learning, additional teachers funding and delivering living wage for commissioned services) and is therefore already accounted for. As such it is not uncommitted new funding which is available to the council, and is therefore not over and above what we knew we had to spend on services or, in other terms, ‘more money to spend on local services’.

👉 So core Scottish Government grant funding isn’t increasing by £29.5 million. (£29.5m minus £14.5m = £15m) There is effectively £15 million extra compared to our core grant funding from last year. 👉However, here’s the critical part: 👇👇👇

The council’s costs (expenditure) are expected to increase by over £52.4 million next year, compared to last year, so the cost of providing services is increasing by more than the increase in our funding. The increase in costs is due to inflation on the cost of goods and materials purchased to deliver services, unprecedented demand for services and pay related costs set out above.

👉So what does that mean? - The £29.5 million is nearly £22 million short of what is required to pay for council services next year alone – this is what is meant by a budget gap and is the true position when we say that funding in insufficient to pay for all local services. It is therefore not accurate to say that the increase in our funding grant from the Scottish Government is enough to meet the cost of providing existing services. This is why the council needs to increase council tax and deliver budget savings to balance the budget.

👉Where will the extra funding be used for? 👇👇👇
All of the Scottish Government’s increase in core funding of £15.041 million will be totally be consumed by the significant increase in costs across all services but particularly within social care. West Lothian's older population is growing and continues to grow at a faster rate than the Scottish average. The numbers of people in West Lothian aged 65 to 74 is expected to increase by 19% by 2028 with those aged over 75 increasing by 39%. This is compared to the Scottish average growth of 14.4% in the 65 to 74 population and 25.4% increase in those aged over 75 during the same time period. These changes and the associated complexity of need across other key service areas have and will continue to result in more demand for health and social care services.