Council budget 2026 to 2027
Key facts from our 2026 to 2027 budget
- Budget of £622.794million for 2026/27
- £1.3million is allocated for the Fairer Renfrewshire programme
- £1.4million for school pitches to improve outdoor sport and exercise opportunities
- £2.1million for play parks over the next 3 years
- £2million to support upgrades to OneRen sports and leisure venues
- £200,000 for sports pavilions to encourage increased usage and potentially community ownership
- £100,000 for condition surveys and improvements to Renfrewshire memorials
- £200,000 for an additional Community Environment Team to keep Renfrewshire clean
- £350,000 to extend the current programme of events to 2028/29
- £300,000 for a replacement Skoobmobile vehicle
- £150,000 for a community improvement fund to address environment issues around tenements, flats and estates
- A 5-year investment of £337million in Renfrewshire Council housing
- £6.137million to Renfrewshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership
- 5% inflationary increase in charges for services, with the exception of non-residential adult social care services and parking charges which will be frozen
- Commitment to maintain unallocated reserves at £10million
- Council tax rise of 7.5%.
Budget investments
Supporting People
£1.3million is allocated for the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to support:
- Continuation of the £50 winter school clothing payment to eligible children
- Continuation of the Winter Connections programme
- Continuation of funding to Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau to allow them to continue to support Welfare Rights Advocacy and Schools advice
- A further £200,000 will top up the discretionary housing payments
- A top-up of £600,000 for the Scottish Welfare Fund.
£300,000 has been allocated to fund the replacement and fit out of a new Skoobmobile vehicle to support the continued delivery of this service.
Charges related to non-residential adult social care will also be frozen, supporting those most in need so those who are eligible to pay, will not face any increases this year.
£20,000 to expand the DigiKnowVember campaign and DigiZones across Renfrewshire.
Health and Social Care
Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership will receive £5.767million to support adult social care services including social work and Care at Home services.
A further £370,000 will be allocated on a recurring basis - in relation to the 2025/26 pay award.
Investing in our place
A further £1.4million has been allocated to upgrade existing pitches at Linwood and St Benedict’s High Schools, ensuring every High School in Renfrewshire has the benefit of all weather pitch provision.
£2.1million will be invested over the next 3 years to fully complete the significant investment already made towards the refurbishment and or replacement of every council play park in Renfrewshire.
£2million will support the upgrade of sport and leisure facilities managed by OneRen.
£200,000 will be invested in sports pavilions which are in use, but underutilised, to encourage increased usage and potentially community ownership.
£100,000 has been earmarked to enable condition surveys, cleaning and improvements of public memorials in Renfrewshire, recognising their importance to local communities.
A further £200,000 will be used to expand the Community Environment Team adding an additional squad to help keep communities throughout Renfrewshire clean.
Funding for communities
To address the environmental quality around tenements, flats and estates, £150,000 will be invested in a community improvement fund targeting areas where ongoing issues are affecting daily life, with Gallowhill identified as priority for investment.
£100,000 is allocated for resident associations to apply to improve play parks they’re responsible for maintaining.
£30,000 will be allocated to support community and ‘Friends of…’ groups who volunteer to maintain and improve their local areas.
Environment
£25,000 will be allocated on a recurring basis to increase the tree replacement programme.
The council will investigate the potential purchase of land in the Blythswood area of Renfrew to protect open green space and commits £30,000 for initial work to be undertaken.
Budget provision has also been made to enable the council’s entire diesel fleet to use HVO fuel, reducing emissions and contributing to our Net Zero objectives.
Events and Culture
£350,000 will be allocated to extend the current programme of events to 2028/29.
£100,000 will be used to support the delivery of the Johnstone Criterium Cycling event.
£480,000 will fund a two-year visitor marketing campaign and enhanced events support, to build on the major cultural investment by the Council.
£80,000 has been allocated to explore the potential for a Dark Sky Park in Muirshiel Country Park, in partnership with Glasgow Science Centre.
£30,000 will be used to undertake a full condition survey of the visitor centre at Castle Semple to develop options for the improvement of the facility.
£120,000 of match funding will be allocated to help enable the completion of Phase 2 of Exchange Theatre project.
Council Housing
7.5% rent increase in 2026/27 for the second year of the 3-year rent strategy approved in 2025.
A 5-year investment of £337million in Renfrewshire Council housing (made up of £51million of government grant for new builds and net capital programme of £286million).
£250,000 for year 2 of the £600,000 YouDecide Tenant Fund which gives tenants the power to decide how the fund is spent and what improvements they’d like to see in their area.
2,210 improvements will be made to homes this year through investment works, new build housing and our housing regeneration and renewal programme.
A further £1.3million will enhance the responsive repairs and maintenance service tenants rely on.