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West Lothian’s SNP group has failed in a second attempt to stall a decision on changes in community centres. The opposition claimed that a deadline set to achieve £1m savings by April would now not be met . In fractious exchanges at a meeting of the council’s Executive the Labour minority-led administration faced criticism of the yet to conclude plans, branded a “desk-based exercise” which excluded volunteers. The Executive agreed to pursue a timetable for changes to be in place for the start of the new financial year. The move came after councillors heard officers talk of “continued engagement with [centre] management committees”. It met a day after Bathgate’s community centre management committee blasted the lack of consultation with the communities affected. The Labour administration said changes were necessary because of cuts by the Scottish Government, and pointed to the SNP administration in neighbouring Falkirk, and its decision to close its community centres. The majority of the 34 West Lothian centres will next year be run directly by the council, with cuts to opening hours and increased hire charges. Only two centre management committees have said they want to take control of their buildings under a Community Asset Transfer. Two more have opted for support as they move to a new leasing arrangement with the council. Some committees have suggested they become solely fund-raising groups. Pauline Stafford, the SNP depute leader, tabled an amendment which said councillors were told on 23 September that: “To achieve the required savings and final decision will be required in October 2025. Yet the paper represented today makes clear the process remains open-ended and further work and uncertainty will continue.” The amendment also called for the decision to go to full council- similar to an amendment she made last month. Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick, chairing the meeting ruled that the latest amendment was also in breach of Standing Orders, the rules which govern the running of council business. Councillor Stafford told the meeting: “This administration continues to plough ahead regardless, ignoring the voices in our communities. Elected representatives are trying in good faith to protect their communities. This is about how we work as a council and how we engage with the people that we serve and whether we can build a mutual trust.” “Right back at the start of this a Labour councillor who is no longer in the chamber said something that has stayed with me; that the solutions to this won’t be found in this room but out there in our communities.” Linlithgow Lib Dem, Sally Pattle acknowledged that the savings process was necessary: “but it was clear from the beginning that it was going to require 34 different solutions for 34 different centres.” She said it had been confirmed that savings had been identified from a “desk-based exercise.” Councillor Pattle added: “That’s at the heart of the problem. You guys are not out there, the management committees I have talked to don’t feel they have been properly consulted they feel they have been left out in the cold. “Twenty months on there is little clarity on what this will mean for centres and I’m sad for the stress that we have put on volunteers and front-line staff.” She said council management had failed to get its message across to the public or to tackle the misinformation spread on-line. Fellow Linlithgow councillor, Tom Conn, told the meeting that management committees had recognised from the outset that the existing financial model was no longer fit for purpose. He criticised the SNP group, saying much of the angst caused by the process had been stirred up by the opposition. He added that after 18 years of SNP government cutbacks the reason council was having to look at the future of community centres was: “because of the decisions taken in Edinburgh.” The opposition group “abdicated any responsibility”. The Labour veteran added: “Officers have gone out, they have engaged with the public and have gone out again and explained the situation. The world has changed and management committee members recognise that. “To suggest that management committees have been cast aside is actually quite appalling.” Councillor Susan Manion, Labour’s deputy leader, said: “To be clear, we wish to ensure the continuation of community centres. We need to ensure the maximum usage and we need to involve the communities in that.We need to encourage people to use the facilities. We need to ensure there are efficiencies across all the services.” The SNP’s second bid to stall the progress of plans came only weeks after a failed amendment to full council triggered a no confidence motion and a special meeting of the full council. That was branded by many- across all parties - as a “waste of time” and political stunt put up by the opposition. The Bathgate committee, which manages lets of public space in the town’s partnership centre, has decided to dissolve. In a letter to councillors on Monday it said the council’s: “motivation is purely financial; their original intent was to wash their hands of the centres entirely. “When the community universally declared this a disaster, the council pivoted to the takeover plan as a face-saving measure, while still demanding the original savings target be met.” Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here .
