West Lothian Council has revealed details of its Revenue Budget for 2016/17.

The final total is expected to be over £386 million, which will fund local services such as roads, education and social care for the next year.

However, over £11m of savings will need to be made by the local authority, which is one of the largest ever cuts to the council's budget.

Council Leader John McGinty said: "With an increasing demand for services and limited funds available to us, preparing the council budget for 2016/17 has involved some of the toughest decisions that we have ever had to consider since the council was founded nearly 20 years ago.

"Despite huge challenges, we are confident that we are making the correct choices for local residents and for West Lothian."

"Schools, care for the elderly, improving the local economy and maintaining good, quality roads and footpaths are all key areas for the council and each of these areas will see significant investment this year.


"We are planning to spend approximately £142 million on schools, £95 million on social care services and around £55 million on maintaining West Lothian's roads, paths, waste services, facilities management and infrastructure."

Some key areas for investment include:

• School investment includes £2.8m for new school halls at Peel Primary, Broxburn Primary and Carmondean Primary.

• Over £1.7m worth of improvements in the provision of support for children with special needs, as well as major projects at Blackridge Primary and Torphichen Primary School

• Nearly £1m will be spent on improving sports facilities at St Mary's Primary School in Bathgate

• Approximately £600,000 will be spent on building a new nursery in Mid Calder

• Over £6.3m is being spent on delivering a new Southdale Primary school in Armadale and a further £2.3m will be used to extend St Anthony's Primary school also in Armadale

• Investment of £7.6m has been budgeted over the next two years to upgrade and maintain roads and footways

• Infrastructure will also benefit with over £6m being invested in improving structures and transportation, with £2.6m to improve road lighting across West Lothian.

• £3.5m will be invested in open spaces and sports facilities.

• Over £10m will be spent over the next two years to improve Information and Communications Technology.

(LM)