Budget highlights at the bottom of this article
Renfrewshire Council has put economic regeneration, local communities and supporting the most vulnerable at the forefront of its spending priorities.
The budget for 2015-2016 includes a doubling of the council’s investment in its fight against poverty with the commitment rising from £3m to £6m. In addition, the regeneration pot for Paisley and Renfrewshire will top £22m as part of an ambitious programme of investment in the town’s heritage assets.
A major commitment to improve community halls and facilities will result in the level of investment being doubled from £1.5m to £3m and charges for sports pitches and community halls will remain frozen.
Care of the elderly, vulnerable adults, children and young people have also been prioritised with a £2.952m cash boost for the social work budget. This takes account of the growing elderly population and the council’s commitment to support older people to live safely at home for as long as possible.
Overall, the council is spending £375.8m on services and £141.601m on a three-year capital programme. As part of the capital investment plan, £45m will be directed to the housing stock and 224 new build council properties will be constructed at Seedhill, Paisley, Bishopton and Johnstone Castle. This support’s the council’s strategy to deliver 1000 affordable new homes by 2020.
Roads and footpaths are to benefit from an additional commitment of £0.5m, which together with the £3.262m already earmarked, will take the total capital investment in the network to £3.762m for 2015-2016.
The highly successful Street Stuff initiative will see its funding secured. The programme, which reached 20,000 young people in the space of nine months last year, has resulted in a 75% reduction in youth disorder since its inception. Funding of £100,000 will be directed towards the initiative and, as a result, additional funding of £100,000 will be freed up to help local community groups on the ground.
Every primary school and additional support needs school in Renfrewshire will have their charity fund raising activities boosted with the council setting aside a match contribution of up to £500 per school.
Council tax charges for Renfrewshire will be frozen at 2014/2015 levels.
Announcing the council’s budget for 2015-2016, Council Leader Mark Macmillan, said:
“The council has remained committed to its priority: to make Renfrewshire the best possible place to live and work for everyone.
“Our budget will continue to ensure that thousands of jobs and millions of pounds worth of investment are generated for the area. We have earmarked a further £7.114m to bring the total revenue and capital resources to £22m. It will secure the progression and promotion of Paisley as a destination town and deliver the regeneration of the historically significant Russell Institute. This further commitment represents a serious statement of intent to put in place the necessary funding arrangements to support the delivery of the council’s ambitious vision to regenerate Paisley town centre.
“We have protected our education budget and, with it, we will protect the number of teachers in our schools.
“And in spite of the harsh economic environment facing Renfrewshire as a result of the funding settlement from Scottish Government, the council is driving forward its programme to achieve £30m in savings by 2018. For example: an element of our savings has included £2.9m in efficiencies from changing the way we manage our debt and, as a direct result, we have been able to target an extra £2.9m towards our social work budget.”
Cllr Macmillan added: “But we are not complacent. There are challenges ahead such as our continued fight against poverty and delivering the best possible support for the most vulnerable people in Renfrewshire.
“We have doubled our efforts in the fight against poverty and therefore we are doubling our funding to £6m. The further £3m will address recommendations arising from the Tackling Poverty Commission which was initiated by the council and is due to report next month.
“This proactive commitment, in addition to the significant resources that have already been directed to support the development of credit unions and the i-save initiative for all 1st year pupils in Renfrewshire, are aimed at alleviating the far-reaching and negative consequences of the UK Government’s welfare reform agenda.
“We continue to see the positive impact of our employability strategy including Invest in Renfrewshire, which has resulted in 2000 people moving in to employment, further education and training.
“More than 230 families have received one-to-one support through Families First and since November 2013, Advice Works has helped families access £480,000 in support they did not know they were entitled to. That is approximately £1000 in extra support per day.
“We have also continued to secure the Living Wage for hundreds of employees who are contracted to the council via external suppliers.
“All of these achievements underline our commitment to tackling poverty, reducing inequality and supporting families across Renfrewshire.”
Budget highlights
- Fight against poverty – £3m to £6m.
- Area Regeneration for Paisley and Renfrewshire (and protect the town’s heritage assets – £22m
- Improve community halls and facilities investment doubled £1.5m to £3m
- Charges for sports pitches and community halls will remain frozen.
- Care of the elderly, vulnerable adults, children and young people £2.952m cash boost for social work budget. (This takes account of the growing elderly population)
- Council is spending £375.8m on services and £141.601m on a three-year capital programme.
- As part of the capital investment plan, £45m will be directed to the housing stock and 224 new build council properties will be constructed at Seedhill, Paisley, Bishopton and Johnstone Castle. The Council have said they will deliver 1,000 affordable new homes by 2020.
- Roads and footpaths, an extra £0.5m, the total is £3.762m
- Street Stuff initiative funding secured.Funding of £100,000 will be directed towards the initiative and, as a result, additional funding of £100,000 will be freed up to help local community groups on the ground.
- Every primary school and additional support needs school in Renfrewshire will have their charity fund raising activities boosted with the council setting aside a match contribution of up to £500 per school.
The budget for 2015-2016 includes a doubling of the council’s investment in its fight against poverty with the commitment rising from £3m to £6m. In addition, the regeneration pot for Paisley and Renfrewshire will top£22m as part of an ambitious investment in the town’s heritage assets.
A major commitment to improve community halls and facilities will result in the level of investment being doubled from £1.5m to £3m and charges for sports pitches and community halls will remain frozen.
Care of the elderly, vulnerable adults, children and young people have also been prioritised with a £2.952m cash boost for the social work budget. This takes account of the growing elderly population and the council’s commitment to support older people to live safely at home for as long as possible.
Overall, the council is spending £375.8m on services and£141.601m on a three-year capital programme.
As part of the capital investment plan, £45m will be directed to the housing stock and 224 new build council properties will be constructed at Seedhill, Paisley, Bishopton and Johnstone Castle. This support’s the council’s strategy to deliver 1,000 affordable new homes by 2020.
Roads and footpaths are to benefit from an additional commitment of £0.5m, which together with the £3.262m already earmarked, will take the total capital investment in the network to £3.762m for 2015-2016.
The highly successful Street Stuff initiative will see its funding secured. The programme, which reached 20,000 young people in the space of nine months last year, has resulted in a 75% reduction in youth disorder since its inception. Funding of £100,000 will be directed towards the initiative and, as a result, additional funding of £100,000 will be freed up to help local community groups on the ground.
Every primary school and additional support needs school in Renfrewshire will have their charity fund raising activities boosted with the council setting aside a match contribution of up to £500 per school.
Council Tax 2015-2016
Council Tax charges for Renfrewshire will be frozen for 2015-2016
- Band A – £776.46
- Band B – £905.87
- Band C – £1035.28
- Band D – £1164.69
- Band E – £1423.51
- Band F – £1682.33
- Band G – £1941.15
- Band H – £2329.38