Factfile 2008

West Lothian Council's annual report

Factfile 2008 - introduction

The annual report reflects the council's progress during 2007/08 and it is based on the work set out in the Corporate Plan 2007/11.

Each of the sections in Factfile outlines one of our six main priorities and has been written to give you an overview of our activities and an outline of our goals for next year.

Over the last year we have seen tremendous progress in West Lothian. Since the introduction of multi-member wards last year we have introduced Local Area Committees and continued to develop Locality Planning highlighting our commitment to focusing on local priorities. We are now in the process of developing Locality Plans.

We have continued to invest in arts and culture. The Regal is now well established as an important community venue offering a full programme of music, dance, drama, arts and local events. The £6 million transformation of Howden Park Centre is on schedule for completion early in 2009. Plans to transform the Burgh Halls into an excellent arts centre and venue for the community are now well advanced.

The £80 million capital investment programme into our roads, structures and street lighting was completed during the year. Work has progressed well on our two new secondary schools, Armadale Academy and Deans Community High School, and on the improvements and extensions at St Kentigern's Academy, the James Young High School and Inveralmond Community High School. Work was also completed on new sports facilities at Linlithgow Academy which will benefit the pupils and the local community.

During the year we took positive action to support our traditional town centres - Armadale, Bathgate, Broxburn and Uphall, Linlithgow and Whitburn - which are at the heart of local communities. We have been fully supportive of the Bathgate BID and tremendously encouraged by the local support for this initiative which we hope to see replicated in other towns. We have also established a new local organisation to encourage business and tourism to West Lothian.

Last year we were the first unitary local authority in the UK to be awarded a Corporate Charter Mark, the standard for excellent customer service. We are committed to connecting our services through co-location and partnership working. For example this year we opened Carmondean Connected, which includes a modernised library, expanded community learning area, a video link to trained council advisers and a Macmillan cancer support drop-in centre staffed part-time by a trained Macmillan nurse.

Underpinning these successes has been our determination to invest in our staff and new technology to facilitate the most efficient and modern working practices and so release resources for priority frontline services. Our website provides 24 hour access which allows you to pay and order council services, make a planning application, check your councillor's surgery details, access council news and catch up with community news and much more.

While it is not possible to mention every service, area or activity in this publication we hope that it gives you an overview of the work that we carry out on your behalf throughout the year.