For many, the Festive period is a wonderful time of year, and gives us opportunities to take a break and catch up with friends, family and loved ones.
But for others, Christmas can be a difficult time for those that have to work, and I would like to thank all the social care, health, police, fire and other essential workers who forgo their holidays to make sure everyone else is supported.
I would also like to share my thoughts and best wishes for those who struggle at Christmas. For some it can be a stressful time due to issues such as money concerns, relationship stress, mental health and loneliness.
You are not alone, and help and support is available if you need it.
A highlight of 2025 for me has been the incredible achievements of our amazing school pupils once more. Congratulations to all the pupils who helped achieve another fantastic set of exams results this year.
West Lothian has been one of the top performing councils in Scotland for educational attainment for number of years now. This is thanks to our dedicated young people and the fantastic support they receive from hard-working school staff and parents/carers.
Exam results are not the only measure of success, and we continue to support all our young people to have the best opportunities in life with apprenticeships, vocational training and more.
It has been another challenging year at the council, as we try and do our best to make best use of our resources for our residents. Future years look to be even more challenging, so we must focus on essential services and local priorities.
Thanks to everyone who took part in the council's recent Your Budget, Your Say consultation. The comments are still being analysed by officers, but the feedback received will help elected members decide on our priorities when it comes to setting our budget in early 2026.
Best wishes to you and your loved ones for 2026.
