West Lothian Council delivers

Politics and politicians - council and councillors

 

West Lothian Council has 33 councillors: 16 Labour; 15 SNP; 1 Conservative and 1 Independent.

Apart from matters reserved to the full council or remitted to committees for consideration, the 12-member Executive has universal decision-making powers. 

Councillor John McGinty is Leader of the Council and Councillor Cathy Muldoon is Depute Leader. 

Nine councillors have been appointed with responsibility for Executive posts.
*Policy and resources - Councillor John McGinty
*Culture and leisure - Councillor Dave King
*Development and transport - Councillor Cathy Muldoon
*Education - Councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick
*Environment - Councillor  Tom Conn
*Health and care - Councillor Anne McMillan 
*Services for the community - Councillor George Paul
*Social policy - Councillor Danny Logue
*Voluntary organisations - Councillor Jim Dixon

In addition to the Council Executive, policy development and scrutiny panels, special committees and nine local area committees have been formed.  The policy development and scrutiny panels have the role of developing policy and making recommendations on policy to the Executive.  They have no decision-making powers.

The role of special committees is to scrutinise strategic policy and performance.  There is a Local Area Committee (LAC) for each of the nine mult-member wards. Their remit is to: 

• Act as a forum to discuss ward issues
• Act as a focus for front line staff
• Facilitate community engagement at a ward level
• Scrutinise council policies at a local level