West Lothian Community Centres Turn Down Future Management Options
Over two-thirds of community centres in West Lothian have rejected new management proposals aimed at saving costs and improving operations
West Lothian, Community Centres, Council, Lawrence Fitzpatrick, Scotland
West Lothian: Recently, a proposal was put forward for community centres to be run as businesses. The idea was that management committees would take ownership or pay higher fees. But guess what? More than 20 out of 31 centres said no thanks after a long consultation.
The council is trying to save a million pounds and even suggested looking at community spaces in schools. This raised concerns about the future of groups that use those spaces. Some councillors are worried about misinformation spreading online, urging officials to clarify that no centres would close.
Lawrence Fitzpatrick, the council leader, emphasized that these plans are crucial after years of council tax freezes. He reassured everyone that they’re not looking to shut down any centres. Instead, they want to work with management committees to find better ways to operate.
While most centres rejected the plans, some offered alternative solutions. Interestingly, only two management committees agreed to take ownership of their buildings. Others chose different options, like paying full charges or taking on repair leases.
Some centres, like the Lanthorn Centre in Livingston, asked for more time to consider the proposals due to recent changes. There’s been a lot of chatter on social media, with some claiming the council is trying to close centres, which isn’t the case.
Mr. Bell, a council official, made it clear that no decisions have been made about closing any centres. The goal is to find a new operating model that keeps facilities open. They expect to implement the plans by next April, continuing to work with management committees for the best outcomes.
Some councillors, like Willie Boyle from the SNP, wanted to delay decisions, calling the proposals short-sighted. Others pointed out that the SNP had previously criticized the council for not encouraging community asset transfers.
Despite the pushback, the council leader stood firm, stating that it’s unacceptable for management committees to keep all the money while the council covers the bills. There’s a lot of frustration among councillors about making decisions based on verbal updates.
More detailed reports are expected in the coming months, so it looks like this conversation isn’t over yet.