West Lothian Housing Partnership was originally established on the initiative of West Lothian Council. Although long since registered as a socal landlord with Communities Scotland, a strong connection with the founder member continues today. Five councillors still work alongside the other Board members and since the membership agreed revisions to the Articles of Association in September 2009, all members enjoy the same voting rights and exercise the same responsibilities.

Our success to date has reflected strong Council support for our plans and our performance in delivering that programme has been recognised by Communities Scotland (outperforming our GPT by 11% in 2006/07). We continue to work with all of our partners to see  current programmes through.

We continue our close working with West Lothian Council, at a strategic and operational level, including co-operation over nominations, housing benefit etc. Over 2006/07, three-quarters of all new and vacant properties were let to applicants nominated or referred by West Lothian Council, with a quarter going to applicants from the waiting list of West Lothian Housing Partnership. This increase in Council nominations is explained by the arrangement to offer nominations for all newly-built properties on first let. This arrangement applied to the letting of our 20 new properties at Gowanlea Court in March 2007.

Over the years and into the present day, Council staff from a variety of functions have served the Partnership. We thank them for their continued support as we move on into the future.