Thursday October 29th 2026
West Lothian Council headquarters
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
Trees will be planted across the county to mark the 30th anniversary of West Lothian Council’s foundation.
The anniversary comes as the council’s future existence is thrown into doubt by plans for local government reform.
The Scottish Government has started a consultation that could end with a partial return to the two tier system dumped in 1996 with the adoption of 32 unitary authorities in Scotland.
A meeting of the council Executive agreed to a package of measures to mark the anniversary year.
Alongside the planting of 30 trees in communities from Linlithgow to Armadale, long serving council employees will be rewarded with an extra day’s holiday.
In a report to the Executive which met on Tuesday officers said: “There are currently 357 employees who have, or will achieve in 2026, 30 years of service with West Lothian Council. It is proposed that the council award these individuals with a one-off additional day of annual leave to be taken within 12 months of this committee decision.”
The report added: “Recognising long service in this way acknowledges an employee’s dedication and commitment to the council, celebrates their individual contribution and experience, and can help to make them feel valued and appreciated.”
A special exhibition to mark the council’s 30-year anniversary has been developed for display at West Lothian Civic Centre in Livingston.
This incorporates an image-based display celebrating highlights over each of the council’s 30 years complemented by interpretative panels exploring the development of local government in West Lothian. The exhibition will be available to view until the end of 2026.
Final locations for the trees have yet to be determined and will be through consultation with councillors and the communities.
The report added: “The planting would comprise three standard trees within each of the nine council wards and an additional three trees at West Lothian Civic Centre in Livingston.
“Planting standard trees will provide greater visibility, recognition and commemorative value, creating prominent landscape features that can be appreciated by a wide range of residents across West Lothian.”
Planting is expected to start within the next few weeks. Councillor Maria MacAulay, the SNP group deputy, asked why planting had not already taken place at the time of the actual anniversary which was in May.
Countryside manager Victoria Mungall explained that Autumn and Winter are the optimal seasons for tree planting.
Local government reform was pressed through in the early 1990s. It was judged at the time as a political decision by the then Conservative government in Westminster determined to break up large Labour-run regional councils in Scotland such as Strathclyde and Lothian and Borders.
West Lothian was part of Lothian and Borders. It did also have a district council, though Livingston was managed by the Livingston Development Corporation.
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