Swimming pools, leisure centres and sports facilities could be at risk under plans to cut financial support for West Lothian Leisure
West Lothian Leisure could see funding squeezed by almost £1m in the next three years if councillors agree to year on year cuts in support when they set the budget in February.
But councillors and community representatives attending West Lothian Council’s Economy Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP heard no details of the impact reductions in funding - proposed to start in 2024 - would have on the services provided by WLL, including gyms and swimming pools as well as cultural facilities such as Howden House.
READ MORE: West Lothian libraries, swimming pools and community centres facing closure
And one councillor said making the cut without the details on what it's impact could be would be 'putting the cart before the horse'.
Th proposal is to support West Lothian Leisure to become fully self-funded with no requirement for a management fee by 2025/26. cutting at total of £796,000 from management fees.
The trust, which is an arms length operator of sports and culture facilities for West Lothian Council, has been struggling with finances in the last four years.
Answering questions from SNP councillor Andrew Miller Alan Colquhoun Sports and Culture Manager told the meeting: “Officers have been in dialogue with the management team at West Lothian Leisure and they are in the process of preparing their future financial and operational plans and yes they think the plans are achievable.”
Councillor Miller suggested councillors were being asked to make decisions blind.
He asked: “ Have there been any indications of what the consequences will be. It would seem that they are going to have to trim the less profitable areas which tend to be the more isolated or more vulnerable client groups. Do we have an indication of the impact a decision like that would have on West Lothian residents?”
Mr Colquhoun replied: “Just to reiterate the point made earlier it is indeed the West Lothian Leisure Board which is responsible . The council has not yet received proposals from West Lothian Leisures they have not yet been considered by West Lothian Leisure. ”
Mr Colquhoun added: “ I expect there will be a number of measures to deliver efficiencies to deliver transformational change and would expect that would mean a facilities review and asset review.”
Donald Stavert from the Joint Forum of Community Councils said: “We think it's the classic case of putting the cart before the horse. This is going to the council on 21 February. We are being asked to cut the money before we know what the impact is going to be.
“We don't know which swimming pools are going to shut, we don’t know which leisure centres will be cut, we don’t know which football facilities are going to be cut. We don’t know the impact on members of the public on the bottom end of the income scale. We think it's a major mistake there should be a full proposals back from West Lothian Leisure before the cuts go ahead.”
Councillor Miller said: “To be asked to make a significant reduction without any information is bad practice. I very much hope that this time next year we sit here with much more information from West Lothian Leisure."
Councillor Sally Pattle for the Lib Dems, said: “I very much hope that when the board considers revenue maximisation they consider the core users who use facilities on a regular basis.”
Chairing the meeting Labour’s councillor Kirsteen Sullivan: “We are not elected as councillors because we want to make decisions around budget cuts. We came expecting to improve our local communities but we can only work within the funding envelope that we have been given and, as we all know, that funding envelope has been slashed year on year due to under- funding from the Scottish Government.”
Other budget savings cover planning and development management. Two senior planning officers have already retired and the vacancies are only being filled on a temporary basis because new planning regulations being implemented in February move from five yearly local development plans to 10 years, effectively reducing the workload. Other changes will increase changes and reintroduce charges for planning services.
Ben Lamb, Chief Executive of West Lothian Leisure said: “We are in ongoing discussions with West Lothian Council regarding the reduction in West Lothian Leisure’s funding in the near future and are working together to find solutions.
"We provide a comprehensive range of services for the community, on behalf of the Council, and have been undertaking a collaborative review covering all facilities, buildings, and services. We are also considering ideas for further revenue generation.
"At the centre of that review is our staff, our customers, and our communities. Our overarching vision, a West Lothian where everyone can live a healthier, happier, longer life, is at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to ensuring we can continue to do this to the best of our abilities, even with reduced funding.”
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