Call for community councils to gain more power

West Lothian needs to“grasp the nettle” to develop new roles for community councils as the grassroots representatives ready for elections later this year.

The four yearly poll will take place in October and Donald Stavert of the Joint Forum of Community Councils said this year could be the chance for West Lothian Council to do more to empower the community councils.

He told a meeting of the Partnership and Resources PDSP: “The Joint Forum wants the council to do whatever it can to increase involvement in community councils. Hopefully we are looking forward to quite a few contested elections.”

Mr Stavert, who is treasurer of Bathgate Community Council, said it was important for the election to get as much promotion as possible to encourage more people to be involved.

He said that community councils had existed for 45 years and the terms of reference had barely changed in that time. Despite that, the councils remain popular and very active.

“Now might be a good opportunity to experiment with charges in voting procedures. We think it is about time community councils are given more power to make them more attractive. The councils would be more attractive if they had more resources and more powers,”Mr Stavert said.

“It’s time to grasp the nettle and come forward with ideas on how to develop responsibilities and involvement. The forum stands happy to help,”he added.

All community councillors in West Lothian will be given notice of the vote in a process which begins this month. West Lothian Council will start a publicity programme though its social media pages and website as well as the local press.

In the 45 years since community councils were launched there have been varying degrees of success . Some have become effective campaigners and voices for the towns and villages they represent while others have struggled to retain members and keep going.

The idea remains attractive though – only this year the community of Seafield, neighbouring Whitburn, began the process of setting up a new community council.

Community councillors now also sit as local representatives on some of West Lothian Council’s committees such as the Policy Development and Scrutiny Panels. The role of hyper local groups is also up for debate in the current Holyrood elections and has also been debated by COSLA, the local authorities’ umbrella group.