Proposals will support people
COUNCIL LEADER IAIN NICOLSON
I understand the challenging financial pressures being experienced by households across Renfrewshire right now, and it’s front of mind ahead of the full council meeting tomorrow, where the council’s budget will be set for the year ahead.
My SNP administration will put forward proposals that protect services and support people with the cost of living, while understanding the need to work differently to ensure the delivery of high quality services to our residents in the future.
One area being considered is a proposed investment supported by my administration of £41 million for improvements to housing for the coming year.
Through this plan, more than 1,200 council homes in Renfrewshire would benefit from improvements which include new kitchens and bathrooms, more energy efficient heating systems, replacement windows and roof repairs.
Informed by what our tenants have told us, it would deliver external upgrades to more than 700 homes including cladding, guttering, roofs and windows, while a further 220 would see kitchen and bathroom improvements and electrical rewiring.
New energy-efficient heating systems would be added at 300 properties and the funds would also be used to build new council houses and carry out improvements at high-rise buildings and sheltered housing.
This is part of a five-year investment totalling £281m which will be considered by councillors.
I’m very pleased that, despite the difficult financial climate, we’re able to put forward this plan which shows our continued commitment to modernise and improve council housing right across Renfrewshire.
Being able to help people during the cost-of-living crisis and ensuring support reaches those who need it most has been the primary focus of our Fairer Renfrewshire Programme which, alongside our partners, looks to tackle poverty and inequality.
At a recent council meeting, there was cross-party support for the work being undertaken through the programme.
This includes the breakfast snack pilot implemented across four primary school locations providing a healthy snack option each day to all pupils.
As part of the scheme, almost 1,200 pupils benefited from the healthy snack option each morning.
Work is now underway to look at the findings from the pilot to consider development of breakfast provision in Renfrewshire in the future.
My administration is committed to improving outcomes for young people across Renfrewshire.
The creative sector is a key growth area for the future and our secondary pupils are getting the opportunity to sample the cultural industries available on their doorstep through the pathways programme which started last week.
The programme is a partnership between the council-led Future Paisley programme, the University of the West of Scotland and West College Scotland.
Over the course of the three-week programme, more than 200 S3 pupils from every secondary school in Renfrewshire will visit local cultural venues and learn more about creative career opportunities which are open to them from professionals currently working in that field across their local area.