Council cuts savings plan is put under spotlight
THE council has held the first meeting where its proposals to save £45 million in public service cuts were put under the spotlight, raising two areas of concern.
Representatives from the voluntary sector, trade unions, councillors and community councils gathered for the council's partnership and resources department's policy, development and scrutiny panel (PDSP) last Friday where public opinion was heard on proposed budget reductions from the Tough Choices document.
Partnership and resources covers property management, construction services and area services including the delivery of CIS (council information services) offices and the registration of births, deaths and marriages where cuts have been proposed.
Total cuts of 3.577m have been proposed for these services areas, with the loss of around 15 staff including some from CIS offices, which may be closed down, and in registration services, where a "mobile" member of staff's position would be taken away.
The mobile registration service is delivered from offices in West Calder, Whitburn, Linlithgow and Broxburn where customers phone for appointments at whatever office they want.
It was pointed out at the meeting that there would be a "serious" impact to the public if this service was cut as people would have to travel further to the centralised offices in Bathgate and Livingston if they needed to use it.
The council's "detailed" budget reduction proposals says that "some local offices will be closed and services provided from three main hub offices in the north, east and west" with "potential to sustain service delivery through integration with libraries/community education centres to be further explored".
Questions raised regarding the future delivery of the service are to be discussed at future meetings.
Council leader Peter Johnston said he was pleased with the response from staff to the consultation and says it is important to "meticulously" examine all proposals on the table.
Jim Gallacher, Chief Executive, Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian, said: "Any cuts apportioned to the sector must be proportionate and mindful of any lasting negative impact to the community.
John Richardson, Chair of the Association of Community Councils, added: "It was an excellent meeting and very constructive."
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Friday 18 May 2012
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Light rain
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