West Lothian Labour has promised to continue with improvements to council housing, invest in a local workforce and rejuvenate town centres in their local council election manifesto.
Launched on Friday, less than a week before voters go to the polls, the manifesto looks to highlight what the party has achieved as a minority administration since 2017.
Pointing to schemes such as its affordable homes plan, approaching its ten year target of 3,000 homes, it pledged to continue a rolling programme of improvements to the council housing stock.
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The manifesto also contains pledges to invest in a local workforce, with a promises of 100 more council trade apprenticeships for youngsters to develop artisan skills such as joinery, brick laying, plumbing and electrical work.
The party, which has led a minority administration with the Conservatives since 2017 points to recent history as evidence of its commitment to local communities and staff.
The document says: “Labour has installed a very strong and widely recognised reputation for the council moving forward in a collaborative and collegiate manner both with community partners, industry, trade unions and local residents.
It adds: “As we have been reminded over these past two years, Council staff are on the frontline of delivering vital services within our local communities, supporting the most vulnerable people in society on a daily basis. They deserve to be treated with value and respect. We will continue to retain a policy of no compulsory redundancies.”
The manifesto pledges to work with local communities, businesses and community partners to rejuvenate town centres. To promote local supply chains and strive to make West Lothian a Living Wage County. Community Choices will also expand to give local people a say on how spending takes place in their area.
Two crucial challenges facing all communities are GP services and pressure from house builders. Labour plans to work with Holyrood MSP to push for fairer planning processes which protect local decisions.
On NHS provision greater cooperation is proposed to promote the development and retention of GP services in communities, and the retention of services offered at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.
On transport Labour says it will press for full integration of public transport across the county as well as the development in public transport offered on the fringes of the county.
There’s a commitment to maintain rail passes for pensioners and to continue to press for the development of a railway station in Winchburgh. The development of cycle and footpaths across the county as well as sustainable road improvement, is also on the agenda.
The party is fielding 16 candidates. It lost three of its councillors through retirement and standing down - David Dodds from Fauldhouse and John McGinty from Bathgate retired after more than 30 years of public service. Councillor McGinty of Livingston North has stood down after five years as he moved to the west of Scotland.
Replacing them in respective seats are Craig Meek, joining fellow Labour member Cathy Muldoon in Fauldhouse. In Bathgate, Tony Pearson joins fellow Labour candidate Harry Cartmill and in Livingston North, former councillor Anne McMillan joins candidate Michael Rae on the Labour ticket.
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