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February 26, 2026Investment over the next three years will ensure every council play park in Renfrewshire will have benefited from improvement, as set out in Renfrewshire Council’s budget for 2026/27 agreed by councillors today (Thursday 26 February 2026).
The £622.794million budget outlines plans to invest in local communities and create opportunities for people to come together, while continuing to support those most in need with cost-of-living pressures and protecting essential services.
Over the past five years significant investment has been made in play parks throughout Renfrewshire. A further £2.1million will be used to complete this project ensuring every play park in Renfrewshire has been refurbished or replaced, recognising the importance of local spaces for residents.
The commitments made in this budget were informed by feedback from local residents on what they say matters most to them.
A key focus of the budget is to help residents facing the pressures of the cost of living.
An additional £1.3million was allocated to the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to continue the £50 winter school clothing payment to eligible children, deliver another winter connections programme and provide additional funding to support Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau, and top up discretionary housing payments and the Scottish Welfare Fund.
To support literacy for young people £300,000 will fund the replacement and fit out of a new Skoobmobile Library bus. While £20,000 will be used to expand the DigiKnowVember campaign and DigiZones across Renfrewshire to promote digital inclusion.
Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership will receive £6.137million to support adult social care services including social work and Care at Home services.
Councillor John Shaw, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board, said: “Fairness, wellbeing and improving our place are at the heart of this budget which focuses on the things our communities tell us matter to them most.
“In last year’s budget we unlocked major long-term investment in our roads and schools. This year’s budget reinforces our commitment to supporting and investing in our communities. By prioritising the places, services and environments which impact on resident’s everyday quality of life, we want to ensure everyone in Renfrewshire can thrive.
“By taking these decisions, we are supporting those who need it most while ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the council and protecting the vital public services people rely on.”
Building on the £700,000 investment last year an additional £1.4million will be used to upgrade pitches at Linwood and St Bendict’s High Schools, improving opportunities for outdoor sport and exercise and ensuring every High School in Renfrewshire has the benefit of all weather pitches.
Leisure facilities operated by OneRen will also benefit from £2million to support internal upgrades to the venues.
Funding was allocated for community and neighbourhood improvements which include, £200,000 for sports pavilions which are in use but in poor condition to encourage increased usage and public ownership, tree replacement programme, improvements to public memorials and the expansion of the community environment team, established last year.
The council also commits £30,000 for initial works to investigate the purchase of land in the Blythswood Woods area of Renfrew to protect open green space.
The budget also set out a range of community funding opportunities which cover, a £150,000 community improvement fund to address the environmental quality around tenements, flats and estates, funding for resident associations to apply to improve play parks they’re responsible and £30,000 for community groups who volunteer to maintain and improve their local area.
Funding of £350,000 will be used to maintain and extend the council’s successful events programme to 2028/29. Funding was also agreed to support the delivery of the new Johnstone Criterium cycling event and a two-year marketing campaign to build on the major cultural investment by the council in recent years.
Funding was allocated to explore the potential for a Dark Sky Park in Muirshiel Country Park, carrying out a survey which will inform development options for the Castle Semple Visitor Centre in Lochwinnoch and £120,000 of match funding to support the completion of Phase 2 of the Exchange theatre project.
Councillors also agreed an 7.5% rise in Council Tax rates to help fund investments and meet rising costs, as well as a 5% inflationary increase in fees and service charges, with the exception of non-residential adult social care services and council parking charges which will be frozen.
For more information, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/budget.
