Transforming Your Council - Budget measures, Priorities and Council Tax consultation
It is expected that West Lothian Council will have to make estimated savings of £39.4 million over the next five years with £15.5 million of savings required in 2023/24.
Like all local authorities West Lothian Council is preparing for the significant financial challenges which lie ahead.
Why are the council changing services and transforming?
The council have significant and sustained budget pressures caused by increasing costs and a growing population, which is combined with 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 has to reduce spending and change some local services as they are legally required to close the budget gap and balance their budget.
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 with some measures being implemented from April 2023.
For details on some of the budget measures in place, please see below:
Here are some other examples of approved budget saving measures:
- Considering where numbers of community centres could be reduced with minimum impact on local communities
- Revised community recycling centre opening hours (all sites will remain open)
- Changes and reductions to management structures and internal workforce changes
- Continue breakfast club provision but realign and match the level of service with the funding received from the Scottish Government
- Continue Instrumental Music provision but realign and match the level of tuition with the funding received from the Scottish Government
- Support West Lothian Leisure to become fully self-funded with no requirement for a management fee from the council
- Reduction in energy savings (heating, renewables and swimming pools)
- Closure of seven automated public toilets and other property budget savings (the toilets at Livingston South Station, Bathgate Acredale, Broxburn and Linlithgow Water Yett will remain open and the other five will close).
The council have significant and sustained budget pressures caused by increasing costs and a growing population, which is combined with 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 has to reduce spending and change some local services as they are legally required to close the budget gap and balance their budget.
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 with some measures being implemented from April 2023.
