No cuts - but budget puts up council tax
Renfrewshire families are facing a three per cent rise
The leader of Renfrewshire Council claims his budget tomorrow has communities at its heart.
Councillor Iain Nicolson and his minority SNP administration are looking for agreement to press ahead with their financial plans.
The biggest impact on household purses across the district will be the three per cent increase in council tax.
But Councillor Nicolson said his was a good news budget, boosted by bonus cash from the Scottish Government.
He said: “This is a good budget. We’ve had enhanced support from the Scottish Government which has allowed us to bring forward a lot of different projects and schemes.
“This is one of the few times we’ve been able to expand the budget in real terms into specific areas.
“There will be no cuts announced in the budget.”
Councillors will meet tomorrow to discuss the SNP’s proposals, which include:
£4.5 million for a new employability programme for Renfrewshire
£5m for a new five-year Tackling Poverty programme to 2023, which includes Families First, breakfast clubs, school counselling, Street Stuff and digital inclusion
£50,000 to provide an affordable funeral service to remove burial and registration fees for the loss of a child under 16, supporting families at the most difficult of times
An increase in the school clothing grant from £ 55 to £ 70, available to around 6,500 eligible families in Renfrewshire
£ 2m for digital infrastructure across the region
£ 1.5m for green spaces and playparks
£1.5m for a new Community Empowerment Fund which will provide up-front investment in facilities that can be transferred to community use and ownership.
The council also says it is making the largest single investment by the authority in roads and footpaths.
The proposed increase in council tax will bring in an extra £2.1m, contributing to the council’s overall £391m budget.
There are also plans to increase council rent charges by one per cent.
Councillor Nicolson added: “We have a good financial settlement this year and we have managed to deliver almost £10m of efficiencies to maintain our existing services but we do face challenges ahead.
“Through the additional income the proposed council tax increase will deliver, we will be able to protect the services we deliver and make sure we target our investment where it will make a difference.
“We want to target our investment where it will make the most impact and this is a balance between supporting the everyday needs of our communities with longer term investment to make sure everyone can thrive.
“I hope that councillors will tomorrow support a budget that puts people first.”