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Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Bid to save West Lothian pensioners' café fails as councillors reject call to step in
A meeting of the full council voted down a motion from the SNP's Willie Boyle to intervene in plans to close the cafe in Rosemount Gardens in Bathgate. A plea by a Bathgate councillor for West Lothian Council to intervene in plans to shut a pensioner's cafe has failed. A meeting of the full council voted down a motion from the SNP's Willie Boyle to intervene in plans to close the cafe in Rosemount Gardens in Bathgate. Councillor Boyle said the proposed savings 'don't add up' given that four council staff would be moved to other posts. 'Where's the savings?', he said. Councillor Boyle first tabled his motion to the last meeting of the full council where it was ruled as inadmissible. He took it back to Tuesday's meeting unchanged. In it he referred to the opening of the Rosemount Gardens complex in 2017 saying: 'The delivery of this accommodation offered so much to people who gave up homes to take up residence.' The cafe is 'at the heart' of this development, he maintained, asking that the council write to the Integration Joint Board raising concerns about closure plans. He added that the complex provided : 'A new home that would provide them with facilities to meet their perceived needs and hope for their future. A building that is a focal point for the community and has become a valued hub serving a wider need.' Councillor Boyle said that a campaign group had pointed out that the cafe had only every operated as a break even operation and that staff were keen to work with the IJB to look at ways in which the cafe could stay open. An amendment from Councillor Tom Conn, who also chairs the IJB said: 'A report will be provided to the IJB on 26 June 2025 to specify whether or not a viable option has been identified for delivery of cafe facilities within Rosemount Gardens complex.' He pointed to the £8.6m budget gap in social care to 2027/28 and suggested that the council should instead write to the Scottish Government asking for social care to be better funded. Councillor Boyle told the meeting 'Look at the human element behind this decision. The cost that's crippling this cafe is because four full time equivalent employees work for West Lothian Council. Given that this council has a no redundancy policy where is the actual cost saving. 'It doesn't add up, and that's how the public are looking at it. 'Where is the savings? It's a paper exercise and people could lose vital services because of it. Let's put the politics aside.' Councillor Boyle's motion was voted down by 17 to 14, with one abstention.
Edinburgh Reporter
20-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Councillor's plea to save Bathgate cafe fails
A plea by a Bathgate councillor for West Lothian Council to intervene in plans to shut a pensioners' cafe has failed. A meeting of the full council voted down a motion from the SNP's Willie Boyle to intervene in plans to close the cafe in Rosemount Gardens in Bathgate. Councillor Boyle said the proposed savings 'don't add up' given that four council staff would be moved to other posts. 'Where's the savings?', he said Councillor Boyle first tabled his motion to the last meeting of the full council where it was ruled as inadmissible. He took it back to Tuesday's meeting unchanged. In it he referred to the opening of the Rosemount Gardens complex in 2017 saying: 'The delivery of this accommodation offered so much to people who gave up homes to take up residence.' The cafe is 'at the heart' of this development, he maintained, asking that the council write to the Integration Joint Board raising concerns about closure plans. He added that the complex provided: 'A new home that would provide them with facilities to meet their perceived needs and hope for their future. A building that is a focal point for the community and has become a valued hub serving a wider need.' Councillor Boyle said that a campaign group had pointed out that the cafe had only every operated as a break-even operation and that staff were keen to work with the IJB to look at ways in which the cafe could stay open. An amendment from Councillor Tom Conn, who also chairs the IJB said: 'A report will be provided to the IJB on 26 June 2025 to specify whether or not a viable option has been identified for delivery of cafe facilities within Rosemount Gardens complex.' He pointed to the £8.6m budget gap in social care to 2027/28 and suggested that the council should instead write to the Scottish Government asking for social care to be better funded. Councill Boyle told the meeting 'Look at the human element behind this decision. The cost that's crippling this cafe is because four full time equivalent employees work for West Lothian Council. Given that this council has a no redundancy policy where is the actual cost saving. 'It doesn't add up, and that's how the public are looking at it. 'Where is the savings? It's a paper exercise and people could lose vital services because of it. Let's put the politics aside.' Councillor Boyle's motion was voted down by 17 to 14, with one abstention. By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
20-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Bid to save West Lothian pensioners' café fails as councillors reject call to step in
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A plea by a Bathgate councillor for West Lothian Council to intervene in plans to shut a pensioner's café has failed. A meeting of the full council voted down a motion from the SNP's Willie Boyle to intervene in plans to close the café in Rosemount Gardens in Bathgate. Councillor Boyle said the proposed savings 'don't add up' given that four council staff would be moved to other posts. 'Where's the savings?", he said Councillor Boyle first tabled his motion to the last meeting of the full council where it was ruled as inadmissible. He took it back to Tuesday's meeting unchanged. In it he referred to the opening of the Rosemount Gardens complex in 2017 saying: 'The delivery of this accommodation offered so much to people who gave up homes to take up residence." The café is "at the heart" of this development, he maintained, asking that the council write to the Integration Joint Board raising concerns about closure plans. He added that the complex provided : 'A new home that would provide them with facilities to meet their perceived needs and hope for their future. A building that is a focal point for the community and has become a valued hub serving a wider need.' Councillor Boyle said that a campaign group had pointed out that the café had only every operated as a break even operation and that staff were keen to work with the IJB to look at ways in which the café could stay open. An amendment from Councillor Tom Conn, who also chairs the IJB said: 'A report will be provided to the IJB on 26 June 2025 to specify whether or not a viable option has been identified for delivery of café facilities within Rosemount Gardens complex.' He pointed to the £8.6m budget gap in social care to 2027/28 and suggested that the council should instead write to the Scottish Government asking for social care to be better funded. Councillor Boyle told the meeting 'Look at the human element behind this decision. The cost that's crippling this café is because four full time equivalent employees work for West Lothian Council. Given that this council has a no redundancy policy where is the actual cost saving. 'It doesn't add up, and that's how the public are looking at it. 'Where is the savings? It's a paper exercise and people could lose vital services because of it. Let's put the politics aside.' Councillor Boyle's motion was voted down by 17 to 14, with one abstention.
Scotsman
04-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
West Lothian care home cafe set to close within weeks unless rescue plan produced
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Campaigners fighting to save the café in a West Lothian care home complex have just weeks to come up with plans. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The deadline for proposals to come forward for the Bathgate venue is 27 May, councillors and members of West Lothian's Integration Joint Board have been told. The IJB heard this week that there have been two requests for additional information and viewings of the café requested. There are only weeks left to save the cafe at the Rosemount Gardens care complex in Bathgate | Google Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The campaign group Save Rosemount Café has asked the Health and Social Care Partnership to take the closure off the table and work with West Lothian Council on a long term solution. The café, in the Rosemount Gardens care complex, is open six days per week but currently operates at a loss of £100,000 per year because of a lack of custom. Local councillors who have fought the closure plan believe the café has been chosen as 'low hanging fruit' and question what effective savings would be. The proposal would see staff relocated to other council venues. After a March meeting which first tabled the closure as part of the IJB budget cuts, local SNP councillors Pauline Stafford and Willie Boyle had asked: 'With a no redundancy policy where do the staff go and who picks up the cost of transferring them somewhere else? Where is the real saving?' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Robin Allen, senior manger older people services, told this month's meeting of the IJB: 'The IJB agreed to review Rosemount café two months after 25 March 2025, with a review and update provided at the end of the first month, and to agree that the facility will be closed if no viable expressions of interest have been received at the end of this period.' He added: 'The opportunity for a local community group or local business to take over the running of the café was publicised on the West Lothian Council Facebook page and at the café site, prior to the meeting of IJB on 25 March 2025. 'An updated advertisement was published on 14 April 2025 noting that IJB is inviting organisations/groups interested in leasing the café at Rosemount Gardens in Bathgate to come forward. 'Independent providers, social enterprises or voluntary organisations who would be interested in operating the café were urged to get in touch. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There have been two requests for additional information and viewings of the café requested. The advertisement, which has been viewed over 31,000 occasions, will remain live until 27 May 2025.' In a report to the Board Mr Allen added that the campaign group contacted Alison White, the director of the Health and Social Care Partnership on 22 April and requested that the IJB remove the saving for the year 2025/26, to allow time for stakeholder consultation and development of partnership working between West Lothian Council and community organisations 'to find a sustainable solution to maintain this vital service'. The group also asked that the IJB use the next month to fully scrutinise the financial figures of the café, consider the wider community benefits it brings. Board member John Innes asked what would happen if no viable proposal came forward before the Board meets again in June. He was told that the venue would close as part of the 25/26 budget proposals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Union representative Stevie Dunn asked if more information could be made available on the proposals to find work places for staff. 'What are the plans for the staff in the event that the cafe closes. I suppose they'll have to be managed under organisational change. Is that the proposal? Mr Allen said: 'There are four FTE and five individuals involved. We considered what options were available and worked with colleagues in Property Services to identify alternative positions for those individuals to move to before the March meeting . With the two month deferment we will need to pick that up again.'
