ANOTHER Scots council has performed a U-turn on its previous decision to quit the umbrella body for Scotland's 32 local authorities.
West Lothian was part of the group of Labour-led rebel councils which served notice to quit Cosla but becomes the third of the group, after Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire, to reverse that.
It confirmed it no longer intends to leave the organisation, claiming it is satisfied its concerns from last year have now been addressed.
The council's leader has also the notice had only been "precautionary" and was served at a time of uncertainty for the organisation.
But it is another blow to plans for a rival to Cosla, with so far just four councils signing up to the breakaway group.
Last month it was revealed that the new body is due to be in place by March 2015 and is provisionally called the Scottish Local Government Partnership with membership "open to all Scottish local authorities".
So far, only Glasgow, Aberdeen City, Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire have signed up to the new group.
West Lothian leader John McGinty said: "The decision to give one year's notice to leave Cosla was a precautionary measure to safeguard the interests of West Lothian Council and local people.
"Last April there as a huge amount of uncertainty and instability surrounding Cosla and, at that stage, it was not at all clear how that would develop over the year.
"The two issues that provided the greatest concern last April related to Cosla's constitution and also the need for clarity on its position surrounding local government funding.
"We are satisfied that progress has been made on both issues and we believe that remaining within Cosla is in the best interests of West Lothian's residents."
Mr McGinty added that is authority faced cuts of nearly £30 million over the next few years, claiming Scottish Government grant funding was insufficient to meet council expenditure and urging Cosla "to stand up for Scottish local government and be a strong voice for Scottish councils".
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