West Lothian people who rely on public transport are likely to lose out in tomorrow’s budget in West Lothian Council if a proposed £1.9 million cut in subsidised services over the next three years is agreed.
Councillors have been presented with savage cutbacks as officials pare back services provided to the minimum statutory requirements.
There are budget cuts proposed across the board in all areas of council provision from the loss of library facilities to community centres transferred out of council ownership. In the longer term the number of swimming pools is likely to be cut.
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Education cuts- thrown into confusion last week by the Scottish Government’s intervention on proposals to take teachers from classrooms - will likely come in over the next five years. School crossing patrols are also likely to go.
Other changes likely to be obvious to households include charges introduced for rubbish uplift.
Elected members will also be asked to agree to changes to school transport saving almost £1.3 million in the next three years and ending a concessionary rail scheme to save £213,000.
Hundreds rely on bus services as diverse as those which link remote communities to towns such as Bathgate and the town services, which provide a vital link between housing estates and main shopping areas.
West Lothian Council has a far better distance qualification for free school transport of 1.5 miles or over for children under eight and two miles or over for secondary children attending their catchment school. The statutory distances councils must provide for are three miles for those over eight and two miles for those under that age.
The council transports around 6,000 children to schools across the county every day.
Acknowledging the impact the cut of subsidy will have, officials said: “If demand increases previously uncommercial routes could become commercial. As subsidised routes are not statutory, this would have no impact on statutory requirements.”
A report going in front of the full council tomorrow said: “Closing the estimated budget gap of £43.4 million over the next five years and £31.7 million over the next three years means that it is inevitable that there will be some changes to the services the council delivers.
“Through using a priority based approach, the objective is to minimise the impact on essential services that deliver council priorities however that may mean changes to services which communities are accustomed to or highly value.
“Within the parameters of increasing costs associated with service delivery and constrained funding settlements, the council will continue to spend a substantial amount of money in delivering essential services to local communities.
“By the end of the three year period, in 2025 to 2026, it is estimated that the council will be spending nearly £539 million a year, including one-off investment. In 2027 to 2028, at the end of the five year financial planning period the council will be investing over £559 million in delivering services to communities in West Lothian.
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