Approved by councillors at a budget meeting earlier this week, the investment includes the council’s largest ever investment of £77m on the council’s housing capital programme, which is currently building 1,000 new council homes spread across all nine council wards including 117 new homes at Deans South.

Council housing tenants will see a freeze in both their rent and garage rents in 2017/18 remaining at 2016/17 levels for all tenants.

The average weekly rent in West Lothian will stay at £68.19 and the average weekly garage rent will be unchanged at £5.87.

Service and support charges for Sheltered Housing properties and rent and support charges for Homeless properties have also been frozen.

Planned improvements in existing council housing will total over £6.7m whilst investment in major refurbishment and repairs will total over £5.3m, including a £1.2m investment at Mayfield in Armadale. There will also be major works at Bathville Flats, Armadale and at Harrison House, which forms part of the Loch Scheme in Whitburn.

Planned programmes also include investment in energy efficiency measures and replacement of central heating systems to help reduce fuel poverty. These works are in addition to planned maintenance programmes, as well as kitchen and bathroom replacements and window refurbishments.

A total of £100,000 will be spent to enable a pilot District Heating project in Westfield for a Heat Exchange Pump system.

Executive councillor for services for the community, George Paul, said: “The freeze on council rents will help many of our tenants who are experiencing tough times in terms of their finances, with prices rising and below inflation increases in their pay packets.

“We are also investing an unprecedented amount to build 1,000 new council homes in West Lothian. The £77m of spending on new homes for rent planned for 2017/18 is the largest ever investment in our housing stock in a single year.

“This continuing investment allows us to provide excellent value for money and meet the needs of existing and future tenants. The council is committed to providing new, affordable, high quality council homes in West Lothian and we are already starting to see the positive impact of our new build programme on communities across West Lothian.

“West Lothian Council is one of Scotland’s top councils in terms of building new council homes which aims to help tackle the high demand for affordable housing in West Lothian. There are a number of strands to the new build project including community benefits such as training and employment opportunities for apprentices, local people and businesses.”