Renfrewshire residents will see their council tax hiked by six per cent after the SNP administration’s budget passed.
The party’s £483 million spending plan was backed by independent councillor Andy Doig and Liberal Democrat councillor Anne Hannigan in a move which will see an annual charge of £40 for garden waste collection introduced.
The council tax change means the Band D charge – used as a general measure – will rise from £1,354.88 to £1,436.17 amid a challenging economic environment, which has been impacted by soaring costs and high inflation.
The SNP’s budget was pushed through with Councillor Doig’s support virtually guaranteed due to a confidence and supply agreement signed following the election in May and Councillor Hannigan also getting behind the motion.
Labour put forward their own counter-proposals, which were supported by the Conservative group – despite a recent war of words between their respective leaders – but it was not enough to mount a significant challenge.
Finance convener John Shaw said setting the budget had been “extremely challenging”, citing the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis, Brexit and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He said the combination has created “sustained hardship” in communities, before emphasising that “ensuring dignity and respect” remained key in the council’s response.
Councillor Shaw said: “The council, like all households in Renfrewshire, is managing unprecedented cost increases; utility charges, materials and fuel increases, the cost of care, everything from paying our staff to the cost of a school meal – there is no area of the council’s business unaffected and despite a small increase in our grant settlement, the majority ringfenced for specific national initiatives, the reality is we simply cannot deliver the same services in the same way as before.
“For that reason, the 2023/24 budget has been designed to build two things, the council’s financial sustainability and a fairer Renfrewshire.”
A total of £8.3m in savings form part of the budget, which adds to the £160m already generated since 2010.
A position of no compulsory redundancies will be protected, but general service charges will go up by five per cent, while it was later confirmed by housing convener Marie McGurk that council tenants will see their rent increase by 5.5 per cent.
A series of spending pledges were outlined by Councillor Shaw, including headline figures such as £6.7m investment in roads, £450,000 on road safety measures and £300,000 to support a £50 winter clothing payment for eligible school children.
They also included £100,000 for a programme of summer activities for children from low income families, £210,000 to increase foster and kinship carer allowance by 10 per cent and £200,000 for resurfacing the running track at the On-X in Linwood.
Labour brought forward counter-proposals, which suggested a five per cent rise in council tax instead, plans to spend £1.7m on breakfast clubs for all school children, £300,000 for additional support needs investment and £170,000 on pothole repairs.
Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling, the group’s finance spokesperson, could not present the budget statement due to a declaration of interest, so Councillor Iain McMillan, the group’s leader stepped in to read her speech.
He said: “Renfrewshire Labour is concerned with addressing the impact, mitigation and prevention of socio-economic inequality for the benefit of the citizens of Renfrewshire.
“We are committed to making life better by supporting economic growth and public transport initiatives, tackling climate change and the causes of poverty, poor housing and road standards, mental health care, welfare and education.”
The SNP’s budget passed after a vote which the group won by 23 to 16.
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