Renfrewshire Council

Key facts

The key facts from our budget are:

• £549.287 million budget
• £422.373 million Scottish Government grant currently confirmed
• Council tax frozen at 2023/2024 rates
• Further £4 million to confirm the construction of a new Thorn Primary School
• A further £700,000 to support our £5 million Fairer Renfrewshire programme 
• A £5 million investment in our roads network
• Funding of £800,000 for artificial playing surfaces
• Additional £200,000 to create a £1 million package of support for local artists and cultural organisations over the next three years
• £130,000 for refurbishment and repairs to community halls
• Five-year investment totalling £281 million in Renfrewshire housing
• £10.9 million for the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership
• £8.864 million of savings and using up to £6.4 million of reserves
• Inflationary rise of 5% for service charges

Budget investments

These are the budget investments agreed for 2024 to 2025:

New Thorn Primary School

As part of this year's budget, a further £4 million in funding was committed to give the green light for the construction of a new Thorn Primary in Johnstone, adding to the £10 million already allocated to this project.  

Activity in support of the Fairer Renfrewshire programme

This includes:

• financial support for the Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau's welfare rights service
• additional funding to enhance the Scottish Welfare Fund
• funding for ROAR - Connections for Life to help tackle the inequalities faced by older people in Renfrewshire.
• additional funding to support a targeted programme of summer activities, including the provision of a healthy meal, for children and young people from low-income families
• additional funding for the award-winning Street Stuff programme
• the winter school clothing payment maintained for every child who needs it.

Roads investment

Building on our continued investment in Renfrewshire roads, a total of £5 million will be invested in maintenance and improvements to roads and footpaths in the year ahead - adding to the £6.7 million invested in 2023/24. 

Housing investment

A five-year investment totalling £281 million in Renfrewshire housing.

More than 1,200 homes will see the benefit this year of £41million of improvements, which include: 

• new kitchens and bathrooms
• more energy efficient heating systems
• replacement windows and roof repairs
• the building of new council houses.

Artificial playing surfaces

In recognition of the importance of outdoor play and sports, we have allocated £800,000 for artificial playing surfaces in sports facilities across Renfrewshire.

Improving reading and literacy

Every child in Renfrewshire between the ages of 2 and 5 will continue to receive a book every month through further investment in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Cultural investment

To support the growth and ambition of the cultural sector in Renfrewshire, which will now see a decade of additional investment, we will add £200,000 to existing resources to create a £1 million package of support for local artists and cultural organisations over the next three years.

In addition, we will provide funding to the Renfrewshire schools' music service to celebrate the success of our young musicians, and make a contribution to the development of a heritage trail at Oakshaw in Paisley.

Environmental campaigns 

Our award-winning Team Up to Clean Up programme has been boosted to continue the fantastic joint working between the council and local volunteers.

The successful environmental taskforce has received investment to continue its work to tackle fly tipping in Renfrewshire, and a public litter bin replacement programme is underway.

Investing in buildings and shopfronts

Building on previous substantial investment in our community halls, £130,000 will support refurbishment and repair work, and the existing Retail Improvement Scheme will be topped up to continue to deliver the significant improvements to shopfronts and premises across Renfrewshire.

Reaffirming our commitment to The Promise

A further £70,000 will support the Who Cares? Scotland Communities that Care programme in Renfrewshire's nurseries and schools, supporting care experienced children and young people, and reaffirming our commitment to deliver The Promise

Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership

We will provide £10.9 million to support the delivery of adult social care, including 

• social work
• Care at Home services
• care homes
• occupational therapy 
• other vital services.

There will also be an additional £1.4 million to support pay awards for health and social care staff.