Community councils in West Lothian say proposed Scottish local government reforms have sidelined the volunteers who represent local neighbourhoods. The claim comes ahead of a local debate and a national conference, where the proposals are expected to face strong criticism from community council representatives.

West Lothian's community councils are due to discuss their response at a Joint Forum meeting before the Scottish conference on 9 November. Donald Stavert, from the Joint Forum, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the councils had expected legislative change, but not the scrapping of all existing councils, including West Lothian.

What the proposals would change

Reporting on 27 October describes proposals for nine regional authorities in a two-tier system. Community council campaigners say that, after years of consultation under Democracy Matters, decision-making was expected to move closer to communities. They argue that expectation has now been lost, and that volunteers who took part in good faith feel their work has been disregarded.

The Scottish Forum of Community Councils has pointed to the pre-election report, Democracy Matters – A Route to Reform, as the outcome of that consultation process. West Lothian's forum is due to meet on Friday 6 November in the West Lothian Council Chambers to agree its position before the national conference.

Sources: Edinburgh Live, Edinburgh Live