Your Council Your Say consultation launches
West Lothian Council has launched its Budget Consultation - and are asking residents, staff and partners to share their views on how the council should respond to the nationwide financial challenges.
The consultation will run from Thursday 16 October to Sunday 16 November, and is asking people to consider a range of budget savings and income-generation options - to help bridge a £23million budget gap over the next two years.
Like all councils across Scotland, West Lothian Council faces significant financial pressures.
Rising costs are combined with significant increases in demand for some services. Costs and demand for services are far outstripping council funding, leaving the council having to find around £23 million through savings and income over the next two years.
Even with proposed additional income from Council Tax, the council would still face a significant budget funding gap.
This means substantial savings are still required to balance the books, on top of the £184 million in savings the council has made since 2007.
The money the council spends on services must be equal to the amount of funding the council receives. Legally, the council must balance its budget, so ways to save money must be found and agreed.
People can take part in the consultation online via Your Council Your Say (opens new window)
If you prefer to complete and return a paper copy, the survey is included within the council's newspaper Bulletin - which is delivered to every home in West Lothian. Paper copies can also be found within Partnership Centres and other council buildings. A Free Post address is included within the paper copy and will allow residents and groups to return their survey at no cost.
Council officers have identified five main ways in which we can balance the council's budget, become more sustainable and which would still allow us to deliver core service in future .
The proposals set out in the consultation are not an agreed list of measures, but rather an illustration of action as suggested by council officers that could be looked at.
1. Increasing Efficiency and Developing New Ways of Working
2. Generating Income
3. Reducing the Number of Council Facilities
4. Responding to Demographic Change
5. Reducing Spending on Non-Statutory Services
The council has emphasised that no decisions have been made at this stage; the measures are only proposals.
Chief Executive of West Lothian Council, Graham Hope said: "We want to work with our community, staff and partners to ensure that the council becomes more sustainable, addresses the funding challenges and meets the needs of our communities.
"The council has a limited number of options in terms of what choices can be made. Legally, the amount a council spends on services must be the same as the funding we receive - that is a statutory requirement and after years of insufficient levels of funding provided to councils, combined with a huge increase in demand for some services, there are no easy choices.
"It is vital that the local community, our staff and partners have the opportunity to consider the proposals set out by officers and are provided an opportunity to have their say. I would encourage residents to take the time to consider the information in the consultation and provide feedback."
