Community councils

The existing Scheme for Establishment of Community Councils, adopted in August 2021, has been revoked to allow a new Scheme to be in place in time for the community council elections due to take place in October 2025.  

The first round of statutory consultation on the existing Scheme and boundaries closed on 28^th June 2024.  Comments received  were considered by a short life working group and, where considered appropriate, they were incorporated into a 1st Draft  Scheme and updated boundaries.

The second round of statutory consultation on the 1st Draft Scheme and updated boundaries commenced on 5 September 2024 and closed at 5pm on 31st October 2024.  Comments received were again considered by the short life working group and, where considered appropriate, were incorporated into an Amended Draft Scheme and suite of  updated boundary proposals.

The final round of statutory consultation on the terms of the Amended Draft Scheme and amended updated boundaries closed on 20th February 2025.

All of the comments received have been reviewed by a short life working group set up to develop a new Scheme.  Where appropriate, suggestions have been taken into account in the Final Scheme and Final Boundaries which will be presented to a special meeting of West Lothian Council for approval in May 2025. These can be viewed under a separate tab on this page.

All community council secretaries and existing community council members will be notified of the final outcome and provided with a link to the Final Scheme and Final Boundaries.

West Lothian Council is required by law to have a Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in its area.   However, community councils are not part of the council's structure - they are independent bodies who run their own affairs.

The council arranges the community council elections which take place every 4 years in September or October. The next elections will take place in October 2025.  There are currently 33 community councils in operation.  A list of their office bearers can be found in the download section at the foot of this page. 

There are 7 areas with no community councils in operation.  These are Bridgend, , Deans, Longridge, Philpstoun, Stoneyburn, Uphall Station and Westfield & Bridgehouse.  Further information about the process to set a community council up in these areas can be found here Procedure to set up a community council (PDF, 15 KB)(opens new window)  

The council provides basic annual grant funding and advice to community councils but what a community council does once it has been established, is a matter for each community council to determine.

The Community Council Liaison Officer is able to provide advice and assistance. The council's Liaison Officer is Lorraine McGrorty who is based at West Lothian Civic Centre in Livingston. Telephone 01506 281609 or e-maillorraine.mcgrorty@westlothian.gov.uk.

A Scheme for Establishment of Community Councils in West Lothian and amended boundaries was adopted by the council on 31st August 2021.  The Scheme sets out the basic rules which all community councils in West Lothian are expected to comply with. The Scheme is currently under review with a new Scheme to be adopted in summer 2025.

It is supplemented by a Code of Conduct which all community councillors must abide by and a model constitution/ & standing orders which all community councils automatically adopt. 

All of the documents can be found below.

The council has provided an updated privacy notice which gives more information on the data we hold about community council members and what we do with that data.  The notice can be viewed here Community Council Privacy Notice (Word doc, 68 KB)(opens new window)