Pavilions

The council owns 50 pavilions at various locations across West Lothian.

39 of those pavilions are currently leased out to a range of local community clubs and organisations, who successfully manage the pavilions and operate them on a day-to-day basis.

However, the council is seeking suitable community clubs or third sector organisations to lease a number of pavilions,  which will otherwise close by 1 March 2024 if leases are not in place. The usage  figures for these pavilions has been analysed and confirmed as being very low in most cases. Given the scale of the financial challenges that West Lothian Council faces, and as part of its budget strategy over the next five years, a wide range of savings measures have been approved, including the consolidation of the sports pavilion portfolio.

The council is now looking for community clubs or third sector organisations to contact the council by Wednesday 10 May if they are interested in leasing any of these properties. The lease would be a "Full Repairing and Insuring Community Benefit Lease" where the market rent can be waived in lieu of the non-financial benefits that the club/group deliver to their community. The other occupational costs and responsibilities (utility charges, repairs and maintenance, statutory compliance matters etc.) sit with the club /group in their capacity as the tenant under the lease.

The 14 properties in question that are available for lease are listed below.

If your club or organisation is interested in leasing any of these properties or wishes to have an initial discussion, then please email Rachel Donald (Community Empowerment and Property Modernisation Officer, West Lothian Council) at Rachel.Donald2@westlothian.gov.uk by no later than Wednesday 10 May 2023.

Once that date has passed, officers will seek to have all 14 properties formally declared surplus to requirements. Where a viable expression of interest has been received, that interest will be actively pursued as a priority.

David Baird, the council's Property Services Manager said: "Officers are already actively engaged with clubs and organisations in relation to a number of these properties and those existing interests will be given priority and followed through with a view to concluding a lease as soon as possible. Officers are however keen to identify all interests and to work with any community or third sector group who might wish to lease any of these properties."

The economic climate over the next few years will continue to be extremely challenging.

The council has significant and sustained budget pressures caused by increasing costs and insufficient levels of Scottish Government grant funding. The Scottish Government provides the council with 80% of its budget and grant from the Government is expected to be less than required for the council to deliver essential local services. This results in a budget gap.  The council is legally required to balance its budget - therefore the council has to reduce spending and change some local services.

Over the next five years the council estimate that they will have to make savings of approximately £39.4 million pounds with £15.5 million of savings required in 2023/24.

A number of budget saving measures have been approved which will allow the council to balance its budget. Savings measures overall will be implemented over the next five years.