Renfrewshire’s budget creates jobs and supports community during tough times

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A freeze on all charges for council services, a major programme to tackle youth unemployment in Renfrewshire, and the introduction of a minimum living wage of £7.20 for over 700 council employees are among the highlights of Renfrewshire Council's budget for the coming year.

Renfrewshire's council tax will be frozen for the fifth successive year leaving the Band D charge unchanged at £1,164.69.

Renfrewshire's £410.5m revenue budget for 2012-2013 and £120m three-year non-housing capital investment programme features:

• A £2.5m programme to tackle youth unemployment will aim to deliver over 250 new jobs through employment subsidies, with another 1300 young people securing training and 800 being given the chance to develop their skills and so increase their chance of securing employment.
• a freeze in charges for council services and use of council facilities.
• £600,000 to introduce a minimum living wage of £7.20 per hour for over 700 lower paid council employees.
• £5.6m investment on roads and pavement resurfacing – the council's biggest ever single year investment on roads.
• Confirmed funding for a new Johnstone Town hall and civic hub - details of which will be finalised in the next few months.
• £1.5m to boost community safety and improve access to town centres including new CCTV for Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew town centres and improved street lighting in Paisley town centre.
• £164,000 to continue enhanced debt advice services.
• £1m extra for computer equipment in education and leisure services.
• £400,000 additional spending on parks and play areas, with £150,000 of that money going to Barshaw Park in Paisley.
• £250,000 to take forward a detailed study and business plan for a major project involving a potential redevelopment of Paisley Town Hall and Museum.

Around £10million has been identified for investment in primary schools.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Brian Lawson said: "Our budget will bring £7.8m new spending in our revenue budget and £41m new capital investment in facilities and infrastructure.

"We are squarely addressing the impact of the recession and putting in place practical measures to support families and communities. There is an innovative £2.5m programme to support jobs and training opportunities for 16-24 year olds.

"More details on the Invest in Renfrewshire programme, as it will be known, will be given soon in a report to Renfrewshire Council’s Planning and Economic Development Policy Board.

"Not only will we be helping over 2,000 young people obtain jobs, training or skills, there will also be support from the council and other partner organisations to engage with local businesses to help them find, keep and develop the workers they need.

"The council is also aiming to help hundreds of lower paid council employees by introducing a minimum living wage of £7.20 an hour.

"While we have taken action to minimise the impact of the economic situation, our budget shows that our ambitions for Renfrewshire to live, work and invest in are undiminished.

"We are bringing forward a wide range of practical proposals to boost jobs, work closely with business, promote town centre regeneration and improve schools, the environment and roads.

"The coming year will see continued delivery of Renfrewshire Council's £103 million Building Better Communities programme which is providing new and modernised schools and community and leisure facilities, along with the latest stages of our £138m programme to modernise council housing.

"Renfrewshire's strategic approach over several years to delivering major investment while still making savings and efficiencies has really paid off. This budget is evidence of that."

Councillor Allan Noon, Renfrewshire Council's Finance Spokesperson, said: "In the present economic climate, the proposals Renfrewshire Council will be delivering represent a major achievement.

"A fair grant settlement from the Scottish Government has helped us achieve that. However, our ability to deliver improvements for Renfrewshire is also a direct result of the council facing up to very difficult and hard choices over the past two years.

"We are also making £1.7m efficiency savings – not through cuts to frontline services but through the likes of improved council tax collection levels, reductions in management costs and efficiencies in planned maintenance programmes.

"It is a sign of Renfrewshire Council's responsible approach that we had a £3m surplus this year. That money, along with the rest of our budget proposals, will be spent responsibly."

Town centre regeneration is one of Renfrewshire Council's key priorities and 2012/2013 will see further development.

A £1.7m programme of essential maintenance work at Paisley Town Hall will be completed. A detailed study will be commissioned to help take forward ambitious plans for the redevelopment of the town hall and Paisley Museum. Having already committed £4m to a replacement for Johnstone Town Hall, the council is confirming additional funding for a replacement town hall and a civic hub potentially featuring several public services.

A package of environmental improvements includes extending the Green Networks Project for a further year. An investment of £250,000 by Renfrewshire Council will deliver a total of £1 million by securing matching funds from the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage.

A new £100,000 fund is being set up by the council to support activities connected to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

"Overall, this is a budget which delivers for the people of Renfrewshire," said Councillor Lawson.

Press release issued: Monday 16 January 2012