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The Latest Breaking News from Donald Forrest

West Council could be £94m in the red within 10 years

The local authority said there are many risks involved when predicting the budget shortfall

Daily Record

West Lothian facing 'worst case' budget gap of £94m in a decade

After 15 years and £150m of cuts the next ten years could see the budget gap for the council climb to £94m with the attendant knock to services

Edinburgh Live

Calls for fund to tackle costly repairs of crumbling buildings

Substandard material has been found in school roofs and in the condemned Deans South Housing estate

Daily Record

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West Lothian council call for national fund to tackle crumbling concrete

Lib Dem councillor Sally Pattle says a national fund will be needed as more and more public buildings are found to have roofs made of a notorious sponge-like concrete known as RAAC

Edinburgh Live

£30m rebuild of school 'cheapest' option to deal with crumbling concrete

Council officers say partial demolition and rebuild of St Kentigern's the cheapest and fastest way to solve dangerous roof problems

Daily Record

West Lothian school faces £30m rebuild to tackle crumbling concrete

Council officers say partial demolition and rebuild of St Kentigern's the cheapest and fastest way to solve dangerous roof problems. It's the biggest bill the council will have faced since the faulty building material was found in council buildings in 2021

Edinburgh Live

Every swimming pool in West Lothian to be reviewed under budget cuts

Energy costs are soaring and the county's 19 pools are the biggest consumers

Daily Record

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Use of all West Lothian swimming pools to be reviewed in cost cutting probe

Swimming pools incur huge energy costs but officials insist the energy saving review is 'holistic' and focuses on maximising use of all council buildings

Edinburgh Live

West Lothian libraries, swimming pools and community centres could close to balance budget

A review of all facilities is underway as the council seeks to plug budget black hole

Daily Record

West Lothian libraries, swimming pools and community centres facing closure

Four libraries have been identified as part of a council review which includes swimming pools and community centres, as councillors have to make tough decisions in their budget next month.

Edinburgh Live

Council tax could rise by 4.5 per cent to tackle 'unprecedented' financial crisis

The council would still face a funding gap of more than £47m even with the steep increase

Daily Record

West Lothian council tax rise of 4.5% needed to face 'unprecedented' budget gap

Budget decisions will be taken at the end of February and council committees are considering the costs. If agreed a 4.5% rise will take place for the next five years.

Edinburgh Live

West Lothian welfare fund demand soaring as councillors call for more support

Running costs for the Holyrood fund cost are double what the Scottish Government gives the council to administer

Edinburgh Live

'Staff cuts, council tax hikes and services slashed' as budget black hole widens by £10m in just four months

Councillors will have to consider cutbacks in staffing, hikes in the council tax and diminished services across

Daily Record

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Edinburgh Live

West Lothian budget deficit grows by £10m in just four months

Councillors face difficult decisions as the director of finance says urgent action is essential. The finance chief has joined fellow directors across councils of all political colours in warning the Scottish Government of the impending crisis

Daily Record

Council bosses could clamp down on use of kettles and toasters to tackle soaring energy bills

The local authority says its fuel bill is expected to rise by an eye-watering £12million

Edinburgh Live

West Lothian could cut kettle and microwave use over £2.6m energy bill hike

Even kettle and microwave use could be cut in council buildings as part of drive to trim surging energy bill

Daily Record

West Lothian warned to brace for 3.5 per cent increase in council tax next year

Council bosses have warned anything less would severely impact services

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Edinburgh Live

West Lothian council tax rise to meet 'challenging' finances

West Lothian will need to set a 3.5 per cent rise each year for the rest of administration says finance director.

Daily Record

West Lothian Xcite centres win financial lifeline

Financial backing is guaranteed as leisure centres battle back from covid closures

Edinburgh Live

West Lothian leisure centres win financial security after council backing

Council agrees to provide 'letter of comfort' guaranteeing finances for West Lothian Leisure as it fights back from the pandemic lockdowns.

Daily Record

Council to write to First Minister over funding

The Scottish Government said it would freeze funding for all councils until the 2026 to 2027 financial year

Edinburgh Live

West Lothian demands more cash from Holyrood to maintain services

Facing a funding crisis just weeks into its latest five-year term West Lothian Council has called for a meeting with Nicola Sturgeon and Finance Secretary Kate Forbes to say more money is vital for all local authorities.

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