Plan

Renfrewshire’s Promise annual report

Keeping The Promise in Renfrewshire – Annual Report 2026 provides a clear and accessible account of collective progress from February 2025 to February 2026.

It outlines how partners across Renfrewshire are continuing to embed the foundations of The Promise.

Two versions of the Annual Report:

• Renfrewshire’s Promise 2026 - A comprehensive report detailing progress across all services and partnership areas, explaining how The Promise is being delivered locally and how lived experience shapes decision making, planning and system change.
• Renfrewshire’s Pinky Promise 2026 - A child friendly version presenting the key messages in a simple, visual and accessible format for children, young people, and anyone who prefers a simpler style.

Keep The Promise in Renfrewshire Action Plan 2026 to 2029

The Action Plan 2026 to 2029 sets out detailed actions partners will deliver over the next 3 years. It aligns with: Promise Plan 24–30, Scottish Government Implementation Plan and Local strategic priorities.

The plan uses 2 core descriptors:

• Descriptor 1: Listening, Leading and Working Together -
  Focuses on leadership, governance, culture, language and ensuring Care Experienced voices shape all activity.
• Descriptor 2: Supporting Families and Changing Systems That Work for Everyone - 
  Focuses on workforce development, employability, whole family wellbeing, children’s hearings, community justice, and system redesign.

Each action includes responsibilities, timescales and monitoring measures.

We want to work together to support infants, children, and families when they need help.

The Promise is included in lots of council plans and is across all council services and our partners.

The Promise has a key focus around better life experiences for all our Care Experienced Community.

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.

Key facts from our 2025 to 2026 budget

• £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.

What we are investing in

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.

Key facts from our 2023 to 2024 budget

• £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.

What we are investing in

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.

What the plan is

The Strategic Housing Investment Plan sets out how investment in affordable housing will be targeted to meet the strategic priorities of Renfrewshire's Local Housing Strategy and assist in meeting current and future affordable housing need in Renfrewshire.

The Scottish Government allocate grant funding to local authority areas through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme with this funding used to support the delivery of new build affordable homes across Renfrewshire.

Affordable homes can include those built by either the Council or housing association partners for social rent, mid-market rent or shared equity low-cost home ownership.

All local authorities are required to prepare a Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) each year and to submit this to the Scottish Government.

The current Strategic Housing Investment Plan was finalised following a period of consultation with residents, stakeholders and registered social landlords in August and September 2025 with the final Strategic Housing Investment Plan outlining how grant funding will be used to support delivery of affordable homes across Renfrewshire over the next 5 years.

The Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 was approved by the Council's Communities and Housing Policy Board on 28 October 2025.

If you would like more information on the Strategic Housing Investment Plan, you can email us at strategyandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk or write to us at:

Economy and Development Team
Chief Executive's Service
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1WB

Key facts from our 2025 to 2026 budget

• £571.512 million budget
• £469.069 million Scottish Government grant  
• £2.5 million to unlock a £90 million investment in our roads network across the next 10 years
• £2.5 million as an initial contribution to unlock up to £170million over future years for major investment in our schools
• £700,000 for existing school pitches to improve outdoor sport and exercise opportunities
• £450,000 more for our Fairer Renfrewshire programme, helping people with the cost of living and continuing to tackle inequality and poverty
• £550,000 for our local environment, including the award-winning Team Up to Clean Up campaign, and an additional £180,000 for a dedicated community environment team
• £200,000 for parks and open spaces  
• £800,000 to encourage community ownership of council land and buildings  
• £500,000 for town centre regeneration projects
• five-year investment, totalling £292 million in Renfrewshire council housing
• £6.094 million for the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership
• maintaining Council reserves at a minimum of £10 million
• council tax rise of 9.5% to help meet costs and fund investments
• inflationary rise of 5% for service charges and fees. 

What we are investing in

These are the budget investments agreed for 2025 to 2026:

Schools 

£2.5 million as an initial contribution to unlock up to £170million over future years which will reshape, refurbish and rebuild schools across Renfrewshire. 

Improving opportunities for outdoor sport and exercise for pupils and communities, a further £700,000 will be invested in existing school pitches.  

Roads and pathways  

A £90million investment in our roads, pathways and infrastructure over the next 10 years, delivered through £2.5million this year to unlock borrowing capacity and ringfencing £4million capital funding each year. 

It builds on the previous record £40million investment in local roads and footways in 2019 which has significantly improved the condition of our network 

Creating a fairer Renfrewshire 

Our Fairer Renfrewshire programme provides targeted support for households and families impacted by increased living costs, with £450,000 being invested in: 

• continuing the £50 winter school clothing payment to each child eligible for a school clothing grant, which has been provided every year since 2022
• delivering a further Winter Connections programme
• a summer programme for children and young people from low-income families which gives access to activities and healthy food over the school summer holidays. 

A further £450,000 will top up funding for discretionary housing payments. 

Every child aged between 2 and 5 will receive a free book every month through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library programme following a £100,000 commitment to make this permanent. 

Funding to Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau to allow them to continue to provide a Welfare Rights Advocacy service, and advice in schools. 

Reaffirming the commitment to develop an inclusive soft play area at the Lagoon Leisure Centre. 

Health and social care 

Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership will receive £5.594 million to support adult social care services, including social work, Care at Home services, care homes and occupational therapy. 

An additional £500,000 will support the recent increased costs of employer national insurance contributions. 

Recognising the invaluable contribution foster and kinship carers make to improve the lives of children in Renfrewshire, £200,000 has been committed on a recurring basis to allow a 3% increase in foster and kinship carer fees and allowances. 

Community and neighbourhood improvements 

To continue the joint-working with communities to look after neighbourhoods, £550,000 will be invested in the local environment and make the award-winning Team Up to Clean Up initiative a permanent council service. 

£180,000 will establish a community environment team dedicated to keeping communities clean. 

£30,000 will be allocated specifically to a dog fouling awareness campaign. 

£200,000 will be invested in open spaces and parks, including an initial £80,000 for the refurbishment of the Robertson Park pond, and an additional £40,000 will be provided for play park maintenance to protect the significant investment in play parks made in recent years and support their continued development. 

Our places, town centres and villages 

£800,000 to develop appropriate council land and buildings to make them more attractive for community ownership. 

£500,000 will help unlock further regeneration of our town centres for projects where redevelopment involving significant local buildings or sites may have stalled. 

£150,000 will support more local improvement projects, with £50,000 for each of the Villages Investment, Retail Improvement and the Historic Buildings in Villages funds. 

£100,000 will support the costs for communities developing local place plans. 

And £30,000 will support improvements in the Oakshaw conservation area. 

Arts, culture and events 

£150,000 will support the successful events team to work closely with the local community to develop and deliver a calendar of cultural events for the area's five main town centres. 

£50,000 to improve festive lighting in Linwood and Erskine and £50,000 for festive lighting infrastructure improvements across each of Renfrewshire's five town centres. 

Council housing  

A five-year investment totalling £292 million in Renfrewshire Council housing. 

2,100 homes will see the benefit this year of £61million of improvements, which include:  

• kitchens and bathrooms
• more energy efficient heating systems and insulation
• replacement windows and roof repairs
• building new council houses
• ongoing investment in our major housing programme benefiting 1100 homes across eight areas. 

There are also additional environment teams who improve the grounds around our council housing and a three-year, £600,000 fund which will give tenants the power to decide how it's spent.

A further £20million will bolster the responsive repairs and maintenance service tenants rely on.