West Lothian is set to receive one of biggest increases in Council budget from the Scottish Government and is expected to receive an 8.2% increase if the Scottish budget is passed. Provisional allocations give West Lothian an above average increase of 8.2% compared to the total increase to all Councils being 6.5%. This is one of the highest increases in Scotland.
Fiona Hyslop local Linlithgow Constituency MSP commented:
“I welcome the proposal to provide an 8.2% increase in the budget allocation from the Scottish Government to West Lothian Council. This makes West Lothian’s increase budget allocation one of the highest in the country and is a strong investment in local public services by the Scottish Government, but it will need MSPs of other political parties to secure it by voting for the budget otherwise West Lothian Council will not receive this welcome uplift.
“This Budget will see local councils receive a record funding settlement of more than £15 billion subject to the passing of the 2025-26 Budget, provisional allocations show.
“The Scottish Government have been clear that this is a Budget which will lay the foundations for Scotland’s future success with investment to improve the services that people rely on.
“Local authorities provide some of our most essential services, including education and social care and it is vital that we see these services supported.
“The Scottish Government recognises this and is supporting local authorities, by increasing their funding by more than £1 billion, when compared to last year’s budget.
“In West Lothian, where we have a growing population, ensuring our vital council-run services are supported is more important than ever and I am pleased to see this budget, if passed, will deliver an 8.2% funding increase for the local Council.
“West Lothian Council are set to receive a £34.9 million funding increase which will mean increased funding for our schools, social care and other vital services.
“I would encourage all parties to come together to support this budget to ensure our local councils receive this funding to help support the services all of our Constituents rely on.”
ENDS
Notes to editor:
Background
Local government finance circular 10/2024: settlement for 2025 to 2026 – gov.scot
Scottish Budget 2025 to 2026 – gov.scot
This publication starts the formal consultation period on the 2025-26 Local Government Settlement. Final allocations will be published following approval by the Scottish Parliament, expected in February.
Funding of £441.5 million has yet to be considered by the joint Settlement and Distribution Group so remains undistributed at this stage. The majority of this funding will be allocated in full to local authorities ahead of the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order.
Of the 2025-26 Local Government Settlement, at least £1,463.3 million is initially contained within other portfolios. As is standard practice, this funding will be moved to the Finance and Local Government portfolio at the Autumn or Spring Budget Revision.
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Increase | Increase | |
| Local Authority | £m | £m | £m | % |
| Aberdeen City | 454.2 | 494.9 | 40.7 | 9.0 |
| Aberdeenshire | 572.9 | 615.3 | 42.5 | 7.4 |
| Angus | 267.1 | 287.8 | 20.7 | 7.8 |
| Argyll & Bute | 242.0 | 259.5 | 17.5 | 7.2 |
| Clackmannanshire | 124.6 | 134.5 | 10.0 | 8.0 |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 370.4 | 397.2 | 26.8 | 7.2 |
| Dundee City | 377.2 | 398.9 | 21.7 | 5.8 |
| East Ayrshire | 303.1 | 322.3 | 19.2 | 6.3 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 252.0 | 274.9 | 22.9 | 9.1 |
| East Lothian | 237.3 | 258.2 | 21.0 | 8.8 |
| East Renfrewshire | 239.7 | 261.4 | 21.7 | 9.0 |
| Edinburgh, City of | 988.6 | 1,059.0 | 70.4 | 7.1 |
| Eilean Siar | 111.4 | 118.0 | 6.6 | 5.9 |
| Falkirk | 366.5 | 381.0 | 14.5 | 3.9 |
| Fife | 862.0 | 927.5 | 65.6 | 7.6 |
| Glasgow City | 1,591.0 | 1,679.1 | 88.1 | 5.5 |
| Highland | 582.1 | 621.0 | 38.8 | 6.7 |
| Inverclyde | 208.6 | 222.5 | 13.9 | 6.7 |
| Midlothian | 218.9 | 238.6 | 19.7 | 9.0 |
| Moray | 214.2 | 229.6 | 15.4 | 7.2 |
| North Ayrshire | 353.1 | 375.3 | 22.2 | 6.3 |
| North Lanarkshire | 813.4 | 869.7 | 56.3 | 6.9 |
| Orkney | 95.6 | 106.0 | 10.4 | 10.9 |
| Perth & Kinross | 337.7 | 364.2 | 26.5 | 7.8 |
| Renfrewshire | 416.5 | 452.2 | 35.8 | 8.6 |
| Scottish Borders | 272.5 | 292.2 | 19.7 | 7.2 |
| Shetland | 111.9 | 118.9 | 7.0 | 6.3 |
| South Ayrshire | 269.7 | 291.5 | 21.8 | 8.1 |
| South Lanarkshire | 742.7 | 805.8 | 63.2 | 8.5 |
| Stirling | 218.8 | 234.4 | 15.6 | 7.1 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 238.6 | 252.8 | 14.3 | 6.0 |
| West Lothian | 424.1 | 459.1 | 34.9 | 8.2 |
| Undistributed | 365.3 | 441.5 | 76.2 | |
| Council Tax | 144.0 | 0.0 | -144.0 | |
| Valuation Committee Top Slice | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | |
| SSSC Fees | 0.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | |
| National Dog Database Top Slice | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |
| Redress | 0.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | |
| Climate Intelligence Service Top Slice | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | |
| Scotland | 13,389.1 | 14,258.1 | 869.0 | 6.5 |