Services
Council and government
This category contains information about councillors and council committees, reports on how the council is performing, services such as our emergency or registration services, and information on our partnership working with other organisations. Information in this category is available online and in electronic and paper format. If you cannot find the information you want online then please contact the Customer Service Centre on 01506 775000, email customer.service@westlothian.gov.uk
Class: Benefits
Advice and information on all aspects of benefits available from the council, including how to apply and eligibility criteria. Also including benefits when hospitalised, Council Tax benefits, education and school benefits, housing benefit and student awards and loans. Also advice on benefits assessment and benefit fraud.
Class: Birth, marriage and death
Information on services from the council relating to births, marriages, deaths and civil partnerships, including advice and support, burial services, how to obtain certificates (including copies), cremation services, funeral services, graveyard plots (provision and maintenance), historical searches, memorials, mortuaries, naming ceremonies, registration, repatriation of bodies, and sudden death investigation.
Class: Consultations, complaints and compliments
Information on council consultations including the process for engaging in consultations, and details of current/recent consultations including copies of consultation responses. Also guidance on how to complain to the council about services or staff, and on how to register praise and to make general comment. Also on procedures for civic recognition.
Class: Council and government grants
Information on the complete range of grants available from the council, including childcare, school and educational grants, grants for housing and homes, grants for disabled people and grants available to sporting and voluntary organisations. Also how to apply for grants (including eligibility and criteria for applications). Also lists of grants awarded.
Class: Council departments
Information about council departments, including topics such as municipal banking and how to notify council departments about a change of personal circumstances.
Class: Council information, performance and statistics
Overview of information about West Lothian Council including newsletters, press releases, census information and registers of council property. Also performance information, including performance indicators and website service standards.
Key content - Bulletin, Factfile
Class: Council tax
Information about council tax procedures and payments, including how to make account enquiries, details of discounts and reductions, council tax benefit and support when in hospital. Also Council Tax bands and how to determine your band.
Class: Information governance
Information describing citizen rights as regards freedom of Information, data protection and environmental information. Also the council’s publication scheme and local guidance on re-use of public sector information. Also information on the council’s records management policy and procedures for handling information requests.
Class: Emergencies and emergency services
Information on the procedures in place for dealing with local emergencies, including medical emergencies, gas pipeline emergencies, major accidents and weather-related emergencies. Also emergency planning, including business continuity.
For information on local fire and rescue service please contact Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service
Class: Equality, diversity and citizenship
Information on the arrangements in place to ensure that the council provides services and support to the full diversity of residents, including employment and training initiatives, advice and support for asylum seekers, equal opportunities information, assessment and consultation on equality and diversity, help and support for people suffering harassment, advice and support for teenage pregnancy and support for the children of gypsy travellers.
Class: Events and festivals
Information on council support (financial and otherwise) for the wide range of events and festivals held in the local area, including agricultural shows, food festivals, funfairs, highland games, music festivals and seasonal festivals.
Class: Jobs, tenders and contracts
Information on council employment and procurement policies and current external vacancies. Details of council approved suppliers, contracts lists (including values of contracts) and details of contracts management procedures. Also arrangements for contracting services to outside agencies/businesses.
Class: Politicians, elections and democracy
Descriptions and maps of local parliamentary constituencies and council wards, with contact details of local MSPs, MPs, MEPs and local authority councillors. Information on civic offices, such as Provost, Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant. Also information/advice about elections and voting, and about community councils. Also minutes, agendas and reports of council and council committee meetings. Also information about decision making and about council plans and policies, including Best Value and statutory development plans.
Key Content - Elected members register of interests
Class: Regeneration
Information relating to local regeneration, including council regeneration projects, also community development services and information and statistics relating to the local economy Employment advice. Advice on how to apply for shop front improvement grants (including eligibility and criteria for applications).
