Thursday July 9th 2026
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
West Lothian’s Xcite gyms have been guaranteed another year of funding by the council, and promise of financial back-up.
The council agreed an annual funding package of almost £1m for the arms- length sports trust for this year.
After several rocky years facing competition from the commercial sector and a COVID shutdown the trust, West Lothian Leisure (WLL) is recovering and the Xcite gyms are now achieving success.
In a report to a recent meeting of the Executive, the council’s decision making committee Alasdair Black, the Director of Finance asked councillors to confirm a guarantee to auditors that the council would back the trust financially. This is known as a ‘letter of comfort.’
In a report to councillors Mr Black said: “The ‘letter of comfort’ will state that the council has determined that it will continue to undertake cash flow management with WLL, to allow WLL to meet its everyday cash liabilities in respect of the financial year 2026/27, to allow WLL to remain in credit at all times, thus allowing WLL to proceed as a going concern and meet everyday cash liabilities over the financial year.
“The letter will also note the context surrounding the provision of the letter of comfort, including the requirement of WLL to develop a balanced budget each year, and to provide enhanced reporting focused on progress towards financial sustainability in line with the council’s financial sustainability expectations set out through the budget process.”
The Executive approved the 2026/27 annual funding agreement for WLL at its meeting on 14 April which included core revenue and capital funding for WLL in 2026/27 of £979,000.
In March Azets, WLL’s external auditors, had asked that the council provide a ‘letter of comfort’ in relation to WLL’s 2025/26 audit, for the financial year 2026/27 to enable the External Auditor to assess the business as a going concern.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed recently that Xcite gyms have reported a 46% increase in memberships over the last two years.
The surge in memberships reflects the charity’s growing success in making physical activity more affordable and accessible for West Lothian residents who need it most.
It includes a 21% increase in the last year alone, with over 118,000 concessionary visits recorded in 2024/25. The Access Xcite scheme provides reduced-price opportunities for groups such as older adults, people with disabilities and those on low incomes.
Alongside this growth, the charity’s latest Impact Report 2024/25 shows West Lothian Leisure received over 2.6 million visits to its venues and generated £20.2 million in attributable social value, a 40% increase on the previous year.
West Lothian Leisure is a registered Scottish charity and a Community Leisure Trust. Established in 1998, as an arms length charity to manage the council’s sports and leisure facilities, the organisation is dedicated to providing health, fitness, sport, and cultural facilities and services to the West Lothian area.
The trust was the target of public anger in 2023 when it asked the council for permission to close and sell off three swimming pools and Livingston’s Howden Park theatre, in a financial reconstruction programme.
Livingston’s Bubbles pool and Broxburn pool closed down and the buildings were quickly damaged by fire. The Livingston site has been cleared and is being redeveloped for housing. The Broxburn site remain on the market.
Armadale’s pool was shuttered as negotiations began with the town’s football team to take control of the building. Those talks foundered but the building remains intact as a new local group works on a plan to reopen the pool.
Howden Park Theatre was taken over by the Reconnect charitable trust which also maintains Bathgate’s Regal theatre.
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