Renfrewshire sets annual budget

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A £347 million revenue budget, setting a Band D council tax bill of £1143, was agreed by Renfrewshire Council today (Thursday 9 February ).

The 4.8% increase amounts to a rise of £1 a week for band D council taxpayers.

“We have done everything possible to limit the increase in council tax while still maintaining the level of services people want and expect,” said Councillor John Kenny, Renfrewshire Council’s Finance Spokesperson.

“This has been a very difficult budget,” added Councillor Kenny “The grant from the Scottish Executive was insufficient to maintain existing services let alone meet new demands on us - many of which rise directly from Scottish Executive legislation.”

“Renfrewshire Council has made efficiency savings of £11.5m. That has involved a major programme to develop new approaches to delivering the best services possible with the resources available. Without those savings, council taxpayers would have been looking at an increased bill of around 20%”

Renfrewshire Council leader Jim Harkins added: “In spite of the financial difficulties facing the Council, we’ve managed to deliver significant improvements in the education of our young people, care of the elderly, protection of the environment through recycling, and investment in the infrastructure of roads and bridges to improve transport and boost economic development.”

Among the areas highlighted in the budget by Councillor Kenny is the continuation of the biggest ever investment in Renfrewshire’s school building through the £263million combined PPP and school estates programmes.

Work is already underway at St Andrew’s Academy, Todholm Primary, Gleniffer High and St Benedict’s through the PPP contract. Renfrewshire Council’s refurbishment programme is investing in significant upgrading at Williamsburgh Primary, Johnstone High, Trinity High and Lancraigs Primary.

In the next year, work will commence at Fordbank Primary, Woodlands Primary and the new West Johnstone Campus under the PPP programme. And under the Council’s schools refurbishment programme, work will commence at Gryffe High, St Charles Primary and Bushes Primary.

Also in education, £245,600 will enhance curriculum and provide additional support to raise achievement in schools in Renfrewshire’s least well-off areas.

There are significant benefits in partnership with Renfrewshire Leisure. Work will begin on site in May on a £4million extension to the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley for a dry sports centre and there will be new facilities in Erskine and Renfrew.

Roads and bridges in Renfrewshire are set for major investment. An additional £8million will upgrade and repair roads across the Renfrewshire area combined with a series of bridge strengthening projects.

£6million of that money will be spent on improving major arterial roads and to improving roads in residential areas. Another £2million will be spent on bridge strengthening works - in particular key structures such as the Abbey Bridge and Abercorn Bridge in the centre of Paisley, and improvements to the Thorn Brae railway bridge in Johnstone.

There will be the biggest ever investment in the environment - over £28 million - with an award from the Strategic Waste Fund. Recycling and organic waste collection have already been expanded and further investment is being made at the Council’s household waste and recycling centre to upgrade them.

A £16m investment will create three new high quality care homes for the elderly - two in Paisley and one in Renfrew.

The Council is continuing to invest in modernising services - including the refurbished council headquarters and a new customer services centre.

There’s further support for the hugely popular senior citizens’ scheme with £348,000 being spent to provide 17,000 senior citizens with a range of benefits, including a £20 gift voucher, or a day’s outing, or a credit to a council tax or housing rent account.

Almost £1million of council investment will support the Renfrew Town Centre action plan and there are also funds for the Johnstone and Paisley Town Centres.

The Council is also continuing its pioneering approach to tackling anti-social behaviour. It has secured £1.7million from the Scottish Executive as part of a £7m three-year partnership programme to deal with anti-social behaviour through prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation and support.

“Overall, this budget addresses the funding, spending and investment priorities for Renfrewshire,” concluded Councillor Kenny.

“These proposals strike the right balance between raising taxes and protecting taxpayers, and between making efficiencies and protecting services.”

Renfrewshire Council tax levels 2006-07

A £762
B £889
C £1016
D £1143
E £1397
F £1651
G £1905
H £2286


Press Release: Thursday 9 February 2006