Two communities which set up a joint council just over a year ago are to get "a divorce" in a bid to give residents "better representation".
Livingston’s Carmondean neighbourhood will have its own community council once more after a break with neighbouring Deans was agreed.
West Lothian Council agreed to the reformation of an individual council for Carmondean along the same boundaries as existed before the councils joined as one a little over a year ago.
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A former chair of the old Carmondean CC, Jill Parton spoke to a meeting of the full West Lothian Council which agreed the "divorce" this week.
Mrs Parton told the meeting: “This is in the best interests of the residents of Carmondean. Their views are paramount.”
Mrs Parton said that by returning boundaries to where they had been Livingston North could have better representation from all areas at the Local Area Committees.
She said: ”This is a matter for Carmondean and those who live in Carmondean. There is overwhelming support in Carmondean for a separate Carmondean council.”
Members of the Carmondean and Deans Community council had opposed the division and when a public consultation was launched in October launched an online petition to retain the recently formed council.
Office bearers argued that approval of the proposal, which they had not been consulted about, would result in the loss of community council representation for Deans.
However the consultation also heard that "Community Councils are intended to represent small areas and this conjoined Council was as a direct result of years of no representation from Deans to form a Community Council. Now that Deans have achieved strong representation there is a strong case for each area to be represented by their own Community Council as intended under the scheme."
In the report put before the council on Tuesday Council solicitor Carol Johnston said: “Following determination of boundary areas by Council Members, arrangements will be made to issue election notices calling for nominations to both Carmondean and Deans Community Councils. A minimum of four valid nominations would require to be received for each area in order to set up their community councils.
"Contested elections will only be necessary if more than four nominations are received for an area. If less than four nominations are received, no community council will be established.”
The consultation also saw claims that the linked community council had been beset with "behavioural issues", and claims that the former Carmondean Community Council had been "dysfunctional".
Chairing the meeting, Provost Cathy Muldoon asked for questions and urged: “Could members please stay away from the accusations and personal comments made in the consultation responses.”
Andrew McGuire asked: “Are you confident you would have enough members.” Mrs Parton said: “Yes I have.”
Councillor Damian Doran-Timson asked if funds committed to projects in the area would still go ahead. Mrs Johnston said funding committed to projects in both areas would still be be spent.
West Lothian Council’s three stage public consultation, starting in October and ending in December, garnered only 18 comments.
Councillor Pauline Clark for the SNP said: "I think it's quite exciting for another community council in West Lothian - there are still some areas which don’t have community councils. I can understand that there might be difficulties working across areas."
Labour councillor for the ward Councillor Anne McMillan moved recommendation for the return to the former boundaries and two separate community councils.
“There is widespread support for this option” she added.
Seconding the motion, Councillor McGuire said he would echo Councillor Clark’s comments and added: “I recognise Carmondean and Deans are two very distinct areas. I think it is to be viewed as a positive thing. I wish Carmondean, and indeed Deans success as they develop and grow.”
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