Council tax in East Renfrewshire will increase. The budget aims to protect services and invest in key areas.
Council tax in East Renfrewshire will increase. The budget aims to protect services and invest in key areas.
East Renfrewshire Council Tax Increase Confirmed After Budget Pass
O’Donnell stated an 8% tax increase is higher than desired. It is needed to safeguard key services. It will also allow new investments in education, care, roads, and housing. He said they would protect teacher numbers.
Reduced funding for culture and leisure saves £390,000. Cutting two vacant education jobs creates further savings. Reducing brown bin collections saves £356,000; this decision was agreed upon last year by the council.
O’Donnell confirmed plans for a local credit union. They will pay modern apprentices a living wage starting in April. The council will spend £3.5 million more on roadways. This was announced last year. They plan to buy back ex-council homes using £1 million.
The area’s health partnership will get £1.6 million more. Work should begin on a new railway station. A new leisure center will be made for Eastwood Park. The council received £271.3 million from the government for 2025/26, a £14.7 million rise.
O’Donnell saw grounds for optimism amid financial strain. There will still be hard decisions ahead for the council. He sees a path to provide better resident services.
The leisure trust’s fee will decrease by £200,000. Removing two support roles in education helps, roles that are currently vacant, saving £190,000. Previous cuts remove school roles, including janitors and crossing guards. These cuts are worth over £840,000. No one faces forced job loss.
They will use £385,000 from a special reserve. Public infrastructure payment costs were spread out with this reserve. After the rise, a Band D home pays £1528.44 before water charges. Water costs are rising by 9.9%, bringing the total cost to £2128.83.
The UK government increased national insurance, which will cost the council around £1.4 million. Councillor Buchanan, who leads the council’s group from the SNP, stated the funding came with “barriers.” He said national insurance impacts every public sector employer.
Government funding aims to lessen this effect. The £1.4 million could have improved services. Buchanan highlighted effects on third sector partners; these partners lack financial support, and council charges could rise as a result. The council leader discussed the improved funding. He accepted the third sector concern.
Councillor Morrison, a Conservative, said they support the budget. Input from Conservatives helped. Morrison said palatable savings are thin now, stating they are reaching the bottom. He noted cohesive work in a strategy group.
Morrison addressed leisure trust funding, viewing it as a good thing, not a cut. The trust is becoming more self-sufficient.
O’Donnell stated an 8% tax increase is higher than desired. It is needed to safeguard key services. It will also allow new investments in education, care, roads, and housing. He said they would protect teacher numbers.
Reduced funding for culture and leisure saves £390,000. Cutting two vacant education jobs creates further savings. Reducing brown bin collections saves £356,000; this decision was agreed upon last year by the council.
O’Donnell confirmed plans for a local credit union. They will pay modern apprentices a living wage starting in April. The council will spend £3.5 million more on roadways. This was announced last year. They plan to buy back ex-council homes using £1 million.
The area’s health partnership will get £1.6 million more. Work should begin on a new railway station. A new leisure center will be made for Eastwood Park. The council received £271.3 million from the government for 2025/26, a £14.7 million rise.
O’Donnell saw grounds for optimism amid financial strain. There will still be hard decisions ahead for the council. He sees a path to provide better resident services.
The leisure trust’s fee will decrease by £200,000. Removing two support roles in education helps, roles that are currently vacant, saving £190,000. Previous cuts remove school roles, including janitors and crossing guards. These cuts are worth over £840,000. No one faces forced job loss.
They will use £385,000 from a special reserve. Public infrastructure payment costs were spread out with this reserve. After the rise, a Band D home pays £1528.44 before water charges. Water costs are rising by 9.9%, bringing the total cost to £2128.83.
The UK government increased national insurance, which will cost the council around £1.4 million. Councillor Buchanan, who leads the council’s group from the SNP, stated the funding came with “barriers.” He said national insurance impacts every public sector employer.
Government funding aims to lessen this effect. The £1.4 million could have improved services. Buchanan highlighted effects on third sector partners; these partners lack financial support, and council charges could rise as a result. The council leader discussed the improved funding. He accepted the third sector concern.
Councillor Morrison, a Conservative, said they support the budget. Input from Conservatives helped. Morrison said palatable savings are thin now, stating they are reaching the bottom. He noted cohesive work in a strategy group.
Morrison addressed leisure trust funding, viewing it as a good thing, not a cut. The trust is becoming more self-sufficient.