West Lothian Council Votes to Keep Meetings in Chambers

0:00It's March 30, from your city to your ears. This is Edinburgh News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. In West Lothian, an opposition pushed to bring local area committee meetings back to community spots got shot down by a conservative tiebreaker vote. SNP counselors won its alternate venues again, including the Civic Center Chambers after the council plans to kill live broadcasts later this year. That move stems from a February budget vote slashing meeting recordings to say 51,000 pounds annually. Last year, they shifted some sessions to the Chambers precisely because those spots had broadcast setups, unlike places like the Strathbrock, partnership in Brock's Burn. Local leaders air their gripes at the Brock's Burn, Up Hall, and Winchburg committee. SNP's Mike Carlin called out the old logic, saying without streams, folks can't tune in or show up. Chief Chair Angela Dorrin Timson owned the past pitch, but held firm on keeping things put. Public feedback showed weak support for broadcasts anyway, with most meetings drawing

1:04just a handful of online viewers. Though that four-hour budget, session held steady at around 40, labor's Tony Boyle backed the no-change side in the end. These committees pop up every six-day weeks, feeding ward updates from police, fire, and council crews straight to residents. Sticking with Chambers means prioritizing access tweaks over full public drop-ins for now.