New children’s panel to start

A NEW merged children’s panel taking in both West Lothian and central Scotland will start this summer.

Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire are joining West Lothian to create a single panel.

The body is an independent lay tribunal that rules on situations where a child or young person is in need of care or has committed an offence.

There are 84 panel members in West Lothian, who have attended 1205 hearings this financial year.

Provost Tom Kerr said the changes would create a strengthened, streamlined system.