Council and elections

You can raise an issue with us in a formal process called making a petition.

Petitions are heard by the Council Petitions Board, who look at each one and decide what action to take on it.

They are separate from appeals or decisions we’ve already made.

Previous petitions have included issues about dog fouling, safety fences, school renovations, and installation of public pathways.

You can see petitions already heard on each of the Petitions Board meeting notes (Committees and Councillors website).

You can raise a petition as individual or on behalf of an organisation.

Councillors cannot raise petitions.

You can petition about issues which affect you or other Renfrewshire residents or about what we are doing.

Petitions can also be about services provided by other organisations, such as the police and health services. However, we have a limited say in what these organisations do.

What you cannot petition for

We do not accept petitions about:

• planning or licensing
• where there are already procedures in place to consider objections and appeal against decisions
• personal or business interests
• individual councillors or members of council staff
• employees’ terms and conditions of employment
• people or organisations breaking the law or codes of practice
• a decision we or any board, committee, or joint committee has made in the past 6 months.

We do not accept petitions that are:

• made only to cause trouble
• the same or very similar to petitions we have considered in the past 12 months
• designed to influence support for one or more political parties
• could damage a person’s reputation or discriminate against them.

The petition must be signed by one person, who will be the main petitioner.

It needs to include:

• your name, address, phone number and email address
• the text of the petition, which should clearly show the issue and what action you’d like us to take
• any extra information you have that supports your petition - on no more than 4 sides of A4 paper
• any action you’ve already taken to deal with the issue – for example if you’ve already approached the relevant Council department, another organisation, or individual
• the names of other petitioners, if there are any.

You must not put offensive or inappropriate language in your petition.

Your personal details will not be published on the Committees and Councillors (CMIS) website.

Download and complete the petition form and send it to us:

• by email at petitions.cs@renfrewshire.gov.uk 
• by post at
  The Head of Corporate Governance
  Department of Finance and Resources 
  Renfrewshire Council, 
  Renfrewshire House
  Cotton Street
  Paisley
  PA1 1TR
• in person at Renfrewshire House.

If you need the petition form in another format, contact us: 

• by email at petitions.cs@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• in writing to the
  Democratic Services Manager
  Renfrewshire House
  Cotton Street
  Paisley
  PA1 1TR.

What happens next

When we receive your petition, we’ll check if it:

• has all the required information, such as your contact details
• meets the criteria.

If it’s incomplete, we’ll contact you.

If your petition meets our criteria, we’ll submit it to the Petitions Board. We’ll tell you if your petition is going to the Board and give you a reference number. 

You’ll then be invited to join an online Petitions Board meeting where your petition will be heard. We’ll give you5 working days’ notice of the date of the meeting.

If your petition does not meet our criteria, we’ll submit a summary to the Petitions Board, and they’ll decide whether to consider your petition or not.

Petition Board meeting

We’ll give you an agenda for the meeting.  We’ll try to give an approximate time for when you can speak to the Board. You’ll have to wait until the Board is ready to hear your petition. There’ll be members of the Audit, Scrutiny and Petitions board and council staff in the meeting. 

Making your statement

As the principal petitioner, you’ll be invited to speak to the Board in support of your petition and to answer any questions the Board members may have members of the Board may have about it.

We will ask you to make a statement, no longer than 10 minutes, to describe and explain your petition. 

You can also have a supporter with you, and they can speak on your behalf, if you wish. You or your supporter may also be asked questions by the board. 

Most meetings are open to the public, However, if there are items that are private, we’ll ask members of the press and public to leave.

The Petition Board’s decision

 At the meeting we’ll make a decision on your petition and do one of the following:

• take no action and give you the reason for this
• refer the petition to a director of the council or a policy board
• refer the petition to another organisation, if the petition relates to that organisation.

The compulsory purchase order

You can read the full AMIDS South compulsory purchase order 2023 below:

Statement of reasons

The Council has outlined its statement of reasons for the compulsory purchase order below:

Location plan and maps

You can see the location plan and maps for the compulsory purchase order below:

Viewing the compulsory purchase order documents

You can make an appointment to see see all of the Compulsory Purchase Order documents, including Appendices A to H in the Statement of Reasons for Making the Order, at the Customer Service Centre:

Customer Service Centre, 

Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN, on 

Mondays to Thursdays between 8:45am and 4:45pm or on Fridays between 8:45am and 3:55pm. 

Email citydeal@renfrewshire.gov.uk to make an appointment. 

More information

More information about Compulsory Purchase Orders and guidance for landowners is available on the Scottish Government website.

The Council plans to use its powers under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 and the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947 to make a compulsory purchase order.

The order is required to acquire the land and rights in land necessary for the purposes of the construction, improvement and upgrading of road and bridge infrastructure, associated landscaping and drainage works, together with the mitigation of the effects of the construction, improvement and upgrading of such infrastructure.

Purpose of the order

The order is for the purpose of:

• the construction of a new North to South route linking Paisley town centre, including Paisley Gilmour Street Station, via a new road bridge across the White Cart river at Harbour Road, to Glasgow Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS)
• the construction of a new East-West route linking Renfrew Road, Paisley, to the new North-South route and improving connectivity for the Shortroods and Gallowhill areas
• upgrades to existing roads Abercorn Street and Inchinnan Road that form part of the new North-South route
• improved facilities for public transport, cyclists and pedestrians throughout the works from Paisley Gilmour Street Station to Abbotsinch Road.

The order has been submitted to Scottish Ministers and will only come into operation if approved.

2024 to 2025

2023 to 2024

2022 to 2023

2021 to 2022

2020 to 2021

Annual accounts and audit reports

The annual accounts are overview of our performance during each financial year.

The audit reports are an annual external audit of the financial statements and the wider-scope and Best Value audit responsibilities set out in the Code of Audit Practice (Audit Scotland website).

You can download and read the annual accounts and audit reports below for 

• Renfrewshire Council 
• Coats Observatory Trust
• the Common Good Fund.

Coats Observatory Trust Fund

Renfrewshire Council acts as sole trustee for the Coats Observatory Trust Fund which has charitable status and is registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

The Council administers the trust fund and separately accounts for it.

The Trust Accounts do not form part of Renfrewshire Council’s single entity balance sheet. However, the Trust Fund accounts are included within the group accounts of the Council.

Common Good Funds

The Council acts as sole trustee for the Common Good Funds, which currently have charitable status and are registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR):

• SC019478 Paisley Common Good Fund
• SC019479 Renfrew Common Good Fund
• SC019480 Johnstone Common Good Fund

We administer the Common Good Funds and separately accounts for them.

The Common Good Fund accounts do not form part of the Council’s single entity balance sheet. However they are included within the group accounts of the Council.

Common Good property

2025 to 2026

Who won the awards in 2026

Winners and their nominators were invited to the Provost's Community Awards Ceremony at the Glynhill Hotel on Friday 20 March 2026.

Arts and Culture Award (sponsored by Renfrewshire Council) 

Winner: Paisley & District Royal British Legion Pipe Band 

The Paisley & District RBL Pipe Band are based in Paisley Comrades Club. 

After a long period of absence, the band was re-founded in 2018 and has continued to go from strength to strength, winning titles at local and national competitions. 

The band offer free tuition and instruments to local young people, helping nurture an early interest in traditional piping music. 

They regularly perform at local festivals, community gatherings, charity events and civic celebrations without charging a fee, ensuring that high quality live music is available to all corners of the community. 

Community Group Award (sponsored by City Gate Construction)

Winner: Roar Connections for Life

Roar support over 1,150 older adults across Renfrewshire, providing a range of opportunities to help older people stay socially connected and physically active. 

Activities include strength and balance sessions, walking football, and clubs that help older adults gain skills in using technology and digital devices. 

Roar was nominated for the award by one of their volunteer befrienders, who says the service brings friendship, dignity and purpose to their week, as well as to the people they befriend.

Employee of the Year Award (sponsored by UNISON Renfrewshire)

Winner - Robert McEwan

Robert is Operations Manager at Pro-Life Fitness in Paisley. 

As well as running the day-to-day business of the gym, Robert has made a huge impact in the wider community through supporting up and coming athletes and making regular donations to local charities, including Accord Hospice, St Vincent's Hospice and Renfrewshire Foodbank - a big achievement considering the gym is a charity itself. 

Charities say that the support provided by Robert and Pro-Life helps them to carry out the critical work they do to help those in need.

Community Volunteer Award (sponsored by Glasgow Airport Ltd)

Winner - Ian Glover

In 1981 Ian and his friends started a talking newspaper in Johnstone. 45 years later the Renfrewshire Sound Talking Newspaper is still going, with visually impaired residents across Renfrewshire receiving a USB copy of the talking newspaper every week. 

Ian still takes a lead role in managing the service, coordinating a team of volunteers to weekly record headlines and stories from local newspapers and producing the final edit. 

The service is free and run on donations and grants which Ian has applied for from many sources to ensure no costs are passed on to service users. 

Ian was nominated for this award by his team of volunteers who commend him for his enthusiasm and dedication to Renfrewshire Sound.

Sport Award (sponsored by Acre Industrial Services)

Winner - Milldale Day Opportunities Boccia Team

In 2025, recognising a significant gap in accessible competitive sporting opportunities for adults Milldale Day Opportunities launched Renfrewshire's first inclusive Boccia League in partnership with OneRen and Scottish Disability Sport. 

Boccia is a paralympic sport similar to indoor bowls. Using specialised equipment, it allows all with recognised physical and learning disabilities to compete. 

The league is open to adults with learning disabilities from across Renfrewshire, with five teams coming together for the first session in November 2025. 

Players said they were excited to be taking part in a competition with no ability, age or gender discrimination.

Provost's Award for Outstanding Achievement

Winner - St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation

St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation is the official charity of St Mirren Football Club, aiming to deliver positive change in communities using football, fitness and sport as engagement tools to drive participation in physical and social activity. 

The foundation's activities support a huge number of local people, delivering everything from mental health interventions through to breakfast clubs and holiday camps, ensuring disadvantaged children are active and don't go hungry during the holidays.

Through it's connection with the football club, the charity is breaking the stigma around accessing support, as people feel more comfortable in the safe space the club provides.

Who sponsors the awards

The Community Group award is sponsored by City Gate Construction and celebrates the organisations in Renfrewshire that have a positive effect on their communities.

Sponsored by Glasgow Airport, the Community Volunteer award recognises those who give their time and effort for nothing more than the knowledge that they are making a difference to their community.

Perennial award sponsor Acre Industrial will present the Sports Award which recognises individuals or groups who have achieved success in competition as a competitor or a coach, or have used sport as a tool for health and wellbeing.

Employee of the Year is sponsored by UNISON and encourages nominations for employees who have gone above and beyond the call of duty for their employer.

The Arts and Culture award has been created, sponsored by Renfrewshire Council, which seeks out the hidden, or not so hidden, gems who light up Renfrewshire's cultural scene.

The Provost's Award for Outstanding Achievement was created by Provost Lorraine Cameron, to recognise one nomination out of all categories who have gone above and beyond for their community.

Every year the Provost of Renfrewshire recognises the unsung heroes within our communities at the Provost's Community Awards. 

The winners are chosen for their outstanding commitment to making Renfrewshire a better place to work and live.

Who has received the Honorary Freedom of Renfrewshire

Craig Ferguson

Craig first came to international attention in 2024 after walking more than 1,000 miles from Glasgow to Munich in a kilt for Scotland's opening game at the UEFA European Championships. Inspired to raise money and awareness for men's mental health, he raised more than £77,000 for Brothers in Arms and helped shine a spotlight on the importance of mental wellbeing.

Following Scotland's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Craig embarked on an even greater challenge, walking 3,240 miles across the United States from Los Angeles to Boston ahead of Scotland's opening match against Haiti. Covering more than 120 marathons in just over 100 days, he raised more than £1.3 million for Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH).

John Byrne

John Byrne was born in Ferguslie Park in Paisley in 1940 and was best known for writing The Slab Boys Trilogy - a set of plays telling the story of young-working class Scots in Paisley and inspired by his own experiences working in Stoddard's Carpet Factory in Elderslie.

Alongside being an accomplished writer of stage and screen, John Byrne was also known for his distinctive painting style; and painted and exhibited new work regularly.

Rooms in the recently refurbished Paisley Town Hall carry names inspired by John's play Cuttin' a Rug, set in the building.

102 Field Squadron

The Squadron are a support arm to the Armed Forces both at home and abroad and have been a valuable resource for the Renfrewshire community.

During the extreme flooding in Paisley in 1994, they helped rescue residents from their homes, provided sandbags to safeguard buildings and assisted the emergency services where possible.

They have also provided reserves to operations abroad in Iraq, Afghanistan and Cyprus to assist the regular Armed Forces.

Corinne Hutton

Corinne has been honoured for her charity work which has continued despite a life-changing illness in 2013. Having suffered acute pneumonia and septicaemia, surgeons were forced to amputate her hands and legs below the knee. 

Corinne responded by establishing a charity, Finding Your Feet, which offers practical, emotional and financial support to individuals and families who have suffered limb loss or life-changing physical trauma.

Her courage and determination has helped her raise over £200,000 achieved through the likes of completing a gruelling 5km assault course, becoming the first quadruple amputee in history to climb Ben Nevis, and a record-breaking 140ft abseil.

Tony Lawler

Tony Lawler, who is best known for his contribution to Sma' Shot Day as the Charleston Drummer, was granted the Freedom of Renfrewshire on 29 November 2012. Tony has led the people of Paisley in the Sma' Shot procession for over 20 years.

Throughout his professional and personal life, Tony has worked closely with the community. Tony volunteers at the South End Action Centre supporting community groups and at the Paisley Development Trust as the treasurer and supporting events such as the commemorate the Glen Cinema disaster, marking the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII, replacing the horseshoe at Maxwellton Cross and promoting the Renfrewshire Witch Hunt society.

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, were granted the Freedom of Renfrewshire on 20 June 2011.

To mark the occasion, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders held a parade which began at County Square and proceeded through; Gilmour Street, High Street, New Street, Orchard Street, Bridge Street and then Abbey Close where the signing and formal presentation took place.

Historically, many of Renfrewshire's residents joined the regiment, both in times of national crisis and in times of peace.

Sandy Stoddart

Alexander "Sandy" Stoddart, born in 1959, is a prominent Scottish sculptor who, since 2008, has been Her Majesty's Sculptor in Ordinary in Scotland. Stoddart was born in Edinburgh, but grew up in Elderslie, where he continues to live and work.

In 2009, Stoddart was made an Honorary Freeman of Renfrewshire in recognition of his contribution to the arts, in particular sculpture.

Stoddart is best known for his civic monuments, including 10 feet (3.0m) bronze statues of David Hume and Adam Smith, philosophers during the Scottish enlightenment, which are displayed on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, and of James Clerk Maxwell and John Witherspoon.

The Freedom of Renfrewshire is the individuals and organisations who have been awarded the Honorary Freedom of Renfrewshire title.

The aim of the Open Data platform

The Council and its partners gather many types of data to help inform planning and decision-making processes and deliver high quality, efficient services. 

Making data available will add value to work in communities, organisations and businesses.

We also believe that this data will encourage innovation, develop new approaches to delivering services, and develop new systems to support the quality of life in Renfrewshire. 

What you can use it for

It's for 

• exploring and downloading open data
• discovering and building apps
• engaging to solve important local issues. 

You can analyse and combine Open Datasets using maps, as well as develop new web and mobile applications.

Renfrewshire Open Data platform

Your feedback

Send your feedback to danny.mcallion@renfrewshire.gov.uk about:

• any problems or suggestions on the platform itself
• datasets that would be useful to you
• opportunities for work on producing data or insights that don't exist at the moment.

Open data strategy and publication plan

We have an open data platform, designed to give the whole community access to the information it needs.

Our commitment to Best Value

We're committed to continuous improvement and delivering Best Value for people in our communities.

To support audit and scrutiny activity, we have long-established processes of self-assessment. This helps us understand areas where we're doing well and where we could improve.

Self-assessment

To support the Best Value review on Leadership and Strategic Priorities, we recently carried out a corporate self-assessment based on the Public Service Improvement Framework (PSIF) model. We're currently developing the next phase of our self-assessment approach, which is a commitment in our Council Plan.

You can read more about our current performance, which we report on regularly.

Best Value reports

As part of Best Value auditing, we're subject to a range of external audits.

On 5 June 2025, the Accounts Commission published their findings from their discussion on the Best Value report on Renfrewshire Council, written by the Controller of Audit. 

You can read the main report and key facts  Best Value Renfrewshire Council reports on the Audit Scotland website. 

See our recent Best Value reports:

All Scottish councils are subject to the Best Value framework, which was introduced in the Local Government Scotland Act 2003.

This identifies areas of good practice, how a council compares with other authorities, and any areas for improvement.

Best Value also requires organisations to make sure there is good governance and effective management of resources. This is while also making sure activities focus on improvement and deliver the best possible outcomes for the public.