Linlithgow Lib Dem Sally Pattle refused to back either the Labour budget or SNP’s alternative proposals.
West Lothian’s minority Labour-led coalition lost one supporter for its budget this week.
Linlithgow Lib Dem Sally Pattle abstained, refusing to back either the Labour budget or SNP’s alternative proposals.
Councillor Pattle told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the budget didn’t represent “ the best we can do for residents or businesses.”
She called the proposals: “short-term sticking plaster politics.”
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The administration scraped home its budget with support from Independent Andrew McGuire and newly elected Reform councillor David McLennan.
Speaking to the LDRS after the budget meeting Councillor Pattle highlighted two key areas- the removal of cross border funding for private nursery places and the effects of potential enforcement fines on businesses.
She said: “I think it’s clear we all understand the perilous state our finances are in. We heard today first-hand from parents who will be affected by the loss of cross-border funding for private nursery places who gave us incredibly powerful testimony about the real-world impact that decisions we are being forced into making are having on families and our young people.
“That’s why I believe the budget passed today does not represent the best that we can do for our residents, or for business.”
Councillor Pattle added: “There is a lot I agree with: the Liberal Democrats welcome the much-needed investment in repairing the dreadful state of our roads; the priority given to protecting and enhancing adult social care provision by investing in the Integrated Joint Board; and the commitment to looking at further increasing council tax on second homes to 200%.”
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But the sole Lib Dem on the council said there was much more that could have been done.
She echoed criticism made during the meeting by the Opposition SNP group which slated Labour for stalling the introduction of decriminalised parking enforcement (DPE) first called for by the SNP in 2019.
Councillor Pattle added: “There is a lack of urgency in getting decriminalised parking enforcement DPE over the line so we can tackle the illegal parking plaguing our town centres.
“There is no vision for developing a long-term tourism strategy so we can capitalise on West Lothian’s world-class heritage and assets.
“And I – like others – will be keenly monitoring the impact of the community centre review once it comes into effect in April 2026.”
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Core to her objections were the potential threat of enforcement.
“I remain deeply concerned about the implications of the planned enforcement action on the business community.
“As I said last week during the Council Executive meeting, I welcome the introduction of the Litter Prevention Action Plan, but I feel the policy regarding trade waste has not been sufficiently developed.
“The West Lothian Liberal Democrats are calling for a working group formed of officers, elected members, and representatives from trade waste operators and the business community with a remit to develop locality based policies for town centres, retail parks and industrial estates, as well as understanding the challenges faced by both operators and businesses with regards to collections, and any potential procurement improvements.”
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The Liberal Democrats suggested that in addition to marketing country parks as event venues, the council should look at introducing car parking charges at a rate of 50p per vehicle per day.
“In 2025, approximately 399,000 vehicles visited our 3 country parks, that’s potential income generation of £194,000,” she told the LDRS.
Fellow Linlithgow councillor, Pauline Orr, of the SNP, asked how much of a projected £80,000 income “will be enforcement collection and how much will be country parks?”
David Maule, the head of Operational Services, told councillors: “The saving of £80,000 is an estimate of the additional income we feel is achievable in NETs [Neighbourhood Environment Teams] over and above the inflationary uplift in fees and charges.
“ It takes into account the following income performance in particular from our caravanning and camping facilities, potential new income streams across our three country parks, and as members are aware we are undertaking a marketing exercise; and the potential for income from enforcement activity with the emphasis on income from fly-tipping and Fixed Penalty Notices as we expand our CCTV. There is not an individual breakdown of those three components but we feel that £80,000 collectively is an achievable figure.”
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