Challenges ahead as Renfrewshire Council seeks £35million savings over next three years

The Council has a current budget of around £480million, with 80 per cent provided from Scottish Government grant and the remaining 20 per cent raised through local council tax.

Two thirds of current spending is already committed on running the region’s schools, looking after the most vulnerable and on adult and children’s services with the remaining third, around £175million allocated for growing the economy and services including waste collection, street cleaning and lighting, roads and parks and ensuring safe and clean neighbourhoods.

Council Leader Iain Nicolson said:

“As a council, we’re responsible for delivering a wide range of vital public services that support those most in need, help look after our local environment and support our local communities at a time when people need our services more than ever. But now like many households, we are now finding our costs are increasing significantly, through inflation, energy and fuel costs and increased costs for materials and supplies.

“This is going to mean we will need to make some difficult choices in the next few years to protect priority services, listening to what people have told us matters to them most.

“Things have been tough for people over recent years and as an administration, helping people with the cost of living is our priority. We also want to support local businesses as we emerge from the pandemic and ensure we help create the conditions that make Renfrewshire a great place to live, work and visit.

“Public finances are limited and its clear we will have to work differently in the future. We will listen to what communities and businesses have told us and work closely with them over the coming years to invest in a Renfrewshire to be proud in.”