News release

Tough choices for West Lothian

The debate has been opened on contingency plans the council has for delivering services while managing what could be a funding gap of £45 million during the three-year period 2011 to 2014.

West Lothian Council is no different to any council in Scotland in that it is facing unprecedented financial constrictions over the coming years.  Members of West Lothian Council's Executive were briefed on the potential actions, which have been proposed to reduce spending, and agreed the arrangements for consultation and future development of the contingency strategy.

West Lothian Council Leader Peter Johnston said: "There is no doubt that there will be tough choices ahead.  Through sound financial management the council has a balanced budget for the incoming financial year (2010/11) and this has provided us with a solid platform to consider contingency plans for the following three years 2011 to 2014.

"At present we are preparing for what could be a £45 million funding gap.  Clearly this is a significant amount of money.  In addition to this the council has to plan to manage other financial pressures such as: an increased demand for social work services, investment in carbon targets and increased waste treatment, recycling and landfill costs. The council?s budget will also have to manage increased demand for services for older and younger people.

"The future is extremely challenging and unprecedented but we are determined to ensure our council continues to deliver effective, efficient and first class services that meet the needs of our community.  The good news is that West Lothian Council has always had a culture, which has faced issues proactively and delivered innovative solutions.  It is from this sound base that we are now able to investigate the hard choices available to us and to genuinely consult with our community on our future priorities," added Councillor Johnston.

Chief Executive Alex Linkston said: "West Lothian Council has a challenge ahead, the stark reality is that change is needed and that during the period 2011 to 2014 the way that we provide services will need to be reprioritised. 

"Over recent years our change programme has led to many positive outcomes.  However, the financial turmoil surrounding the economy has significantly accelerated the pace of the programme.  We recognise that, internally, fundamental changes to the way we work are now required quickly to ensure we prioritise frontline services for local people.

"Over the summer our contingency plans will be further developed and there will be an opportunity for local people to contribute to the debate by giving us their ideas on how the council should approach the challenges ahead.  Citizens can write, email or participate in an online questionnaire.  More details will be published in the council newspaper Bulletin which is being distributed from 1 March," added Mr Linkston. 

A three-pronged approach to bridge the possible £45 million funding gap has been developed including:

Efficiencies - £25.3 million This is a major change programme which aims to account for 56% of the savings needed.  The programme includes: 

  • Worksmart West Lothian - introducing mobile and flexible working alongside increased use of technology to enable staff to do their job in a more efficient way by reducing the time spent travelling. 
  • The Civic Centre has created new opportunities to create pool resources such as administration, to share documentation and to provide self-service HR options for staff.
  • The rationalisation of council buildings will see the reduction of the number of office buildings from 43 to 17. 
  • The council will undergo a groundbreaking restructure starting at the top with the senior management team, which will enable to council to focus on the 'Life Stages' approach to addressing future challenges.
  • Shared Services - the council is actively examining the scope for shared service provision with public sector partners in areas such as: payroll, procurement, roads and audit services.
  • West Lothian Council has an excellent record of successful partnership working and will continue to develop new opportunities to produce more efficient and effective public services.

West Lothian Council values its staff and will work with Trade Unions through this tough time, Alex Linkston explained: "While these efficiencies will make a significant saving it will not be enough.  To reach the proposed target of saving £45 million it will be necessary to reduce our staffing levels.  By 2014 this could be equivalent to 1,000 full-time staff.  There will be a recruitment freeze which means that many of the people who leave will not be replaced, all temporary and fixed contracts will be reviewed, we will help staff who ask to reduce or change their working arrangements.  We will also revise our redeployment procedure. 

"We will review our discretionary provisions in relation to voluntary severance and early retirement to enable employees to enter into voluntary termination packages. Every effort will be made to minimise the need for redundancies however the potential staffing numbers involved could mean that compulsory redundancy is necessary.  Therefore the council will develop a Compulsory Redundancy Scheme in consultation with the Trade Unions."

Service Changes - £10.9 million representing 24%, although the contingency strategy has sought to minimise the impact on direct services, inevitably, to bridge the significant budget gap some service reductions will need to be considered. 

Charges and reducing subsidies - £8.8 million representing 20% of the savings needed.  Direct charges, at the point of service use, are made for a variety of council services.  They are currently a major source of funding to the council, contributing £14.5 million per annum to council finances.  In closing the potential budget gap there are options of increasing existing charges (or reducing subsidies), which will result in prices more closely reflecting the cost of services.  There is also potential to introduce new charging. The council will also need to consider its future policy in relation to council tax increases.

Social work: we remain committed to providing high quality care and support to vulnerable people.  However we may need to consider:

  • Increasing the role of the private sector in providing care at home· Reducing provision of council run older people care homes and day care facilities.
  • Providing light lunches rather than full meals at day centres.
  • Targeting Advice Shop provision to focus on core benefit and debt issues Removing the subsidy on frozen meals.
  • Rationalising adult training facilities.
  • Reinstating charges for the Home Safety Service.
  • Introducing personal care charges for people under 65-years
  • Reviewing the current charges made for community support services
  • Reducing grants to the voluntary sector and outside bodies

Education: The priority is to continue to provide excellent education in schools.  However we may need to consider:  

  • Reducing childcare funding to projects.
  • Replacing some teachers with nursery nurses in nursery classes.
  • Increasing pupil teacher ratios in primary and secondary schools.
  • Reducing the pupil support worker resources within schools.
  • Phasing the removal of cluster resource funding from schools.
  • Reducing the subsidy for wraparound care.
  • Removing subsidies for school milk, fruit and bread.
  • Reducing free school transport to the statutory minimum and withdrawing the non-statutory service.
  • Charging for instrumental music tuition.

Arts, sports and communites: We will concentrate on providing accessible facilities at affordable prices.  However we may need been to consider:

  • Reducing youth engagement and diversionary activities.
  • Reducing the number of community education buildings.
  • Rationalising service provision at Community High Schools. 
  • Reducing support and subsidy to a number of voluntary organistions. 
  • Rationalisation of swimming pools.
  • Providing swimming vouchers to allow pupils to use West Lothian Leisure pools. 
  • Removing free swimming arrangements which are currently in place for under 16s.
  • Removing infant and senior peoples? swimming subsidies.
  • Increasing charges for arts, sports and community facilities.

Customer service: Our aim is to make customer access more efficient.  However we may need to consider: 

  • Reducing the opening hours of the Customer Service Centre.
  • Removing the Mobile Registration Services so that all registration will take place in Bathgate and Livingston.
  • Closing smaller Customer Information Services (CIS) centres and using libraries for customer enquiries instead.

Transport: Our aim is to concentrate on providing essential services and encouraging people to use public transport.  However we may need to consider:

  • Reducing the subsidy on some bus routes.
  • Substituting responsive transport for some low use local bus services.
  • Restricting Carlink hours.
  • Withdrawing support for PassPlus and Operation Opal.
  • Removing support for Westdrive.
  • Introducing charges for council-owned car parks.

The environment and public protection: We remain committed to providing well maintained public spaces and a safe and clean environment.  However we may need to consider: 

  • Reducing the frequency of grass cutting, pruning and weed control in open spaces. 
  • Reducing the frequency of garden maintenance and reducing the Environmental Wardens and increasing the Neighbourhood Environment Teams (NETS) response time for complaints. 
  • Stopping the provision of hanging baskets and annual bedding plants.
  • Reducing the frequency of street sweeping and gully cleaning.
  • Reducing the winter maintenance service. 
  • Charging for bulky uplifts.
  • Reducing opening hours at Civic Amenity Sites.
  • Increasing commercial waste collection charges.
  • Stopping the addition works council officers do to help prepare for Gala days.
  • Charging communities for festive lighting.
  • Charging developers for new street signs and for provision of bins.
  • Introducing charges for the pest control service.
  • Discontinuing the out of hours noise service.
  • Removing the trading standards customer advice service and routing enquiries to Consumer Direct.

West Lothian citizens are invited to contribute to the debate online click here .  Alternatively we are encouraging people to contribute their own ideas to the debate by writing to: Change Comments, West Lothian Council, West Lothian Civic Centre, Howden Road South, Livingston EH54 6FF Or by email: change@westlothian.gov.uk

Ends

Date: 23-02-2010

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