Renfrewshire Council

Key facts

The key facts from our budget are:

• £483.2million budget
• £389.7million Scottish Government grant
• Brings together £5million in Fairer Renfrewshire funding
• Committing £6.7million investment in roads and footpaths
• Launching an easy-to-access £1million Sustainable Communities Fund
• Protecting our five-year £424.2million capital investment programme
• £8.3million of service savings and up to £11million of reserves supporting this budget
• 6% Council Tax increase from 1 April 2023
• Below inflation 5% increase in service charges

Budget investments

These are the different budget investments agreed for 2023 to 2024.

Fairer Renfrewshire programme

The budget brings together £5million for our Fairer Renfrewshire programme.

New investments include a £50 winter school clothing payment for children eligible for school clothing grants and a programme of summer activities for children and young people from low-income families, providing them with access to play, sport, and a healthy meal.

There's also two-year support for advice services through Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau to support people during the cost-of-living crisis.

A £200,000 increase in the Scottish Welfare Fund is also being committed.

Roads and footpaths

The new budget continues our significant investment in roads and footpaths, committing a total of £6.7million for the year ahead.

Sustainable Communities Fund 

We're launching a new Sustainable Communities Fund, combining our community empowerment and climate change fund into one single easy-to-access £1,000,000 fund. It's part of a series of initiatives which promote community collaboration and better wellbeing, providing for a greener future.

This also includes £200,000 to boost the successful Villages Investment Fund which has helped strengthen the character, identity and heritage of village communities.

Funding is also being delivered through award-winning Team up to Clean Up for the first year of funding for replacing public litter bins.

Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership 

We're providing around £3.3million to Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership so they can pay health and social care staff the Living Wage.

Village road safety 

A combined £1.5million over the next three years from the Council and a cycling, walking and safer routes grant from the Scottish Government will help us to make village access routes safer and enhance the natural environment in Bridge of Weir, Houston, Howwood and Kilbarchan.

A further £150,000 will inform future investment in Bishopton, Elderslie and Lochwinnoch.

Fostering and kinship care

Fostering and kinship care is a vital role which has a hugely positive impact on a child's future and we're providing a 10% increase to the foster and kinship care allowance.

Sporting activity and play areas

Some £450,000 is being invested in play areas which will be added to Scottish Government funding and continue investment in play areas, with every council ward having benefited from our programme.

There is also an initial £50,000 to start the expansion of the concessionary swim programme to pre-school children.

We're also making a first contribution of £200,000 to the resurfacing of the running track at ON-X in Linwood, benefiting local athletes and schools.

Cultural funding

Cultural groups and organisations will benefit from £200,000 to replenish the hugely popular Culture, Heritage and Events Fund (CHEF) which has supported 135 different creative projects since 2016 including festivals, workshops, murals and productions in music, dance, theatre, literature, visual arts and design, film, and animation.