RENFREWSHIRE Council is facing a massive £35million black hole in its budget over the next three years.

A paper setting out the local authority’s current financial position and projected shortfall was published today ahead of a council meeting on September 29, where it will be considered by elected members.

It also explains the steps underway to reduce costs and increase efficiency, with some council services set to suffer.

The council has a current budget of around £480million, with 80 per cent provided through a Scottish Government grant and the remaining 20 per cent raised through local council tax.

Two-thirds of current spending is already committed on running the region’s schools, looking after the most vulnerable and on adult and children’s services, with the remaining third – around £175m – allocated for growing the economy and services such as waste collection, street cleaning and lighting, roads and parks and ensuring safe and clean neighbourhoods.

Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said the budget black hole means some "difficult" choices about local services will need to be made.

He told The Gazette: “As a council, we’re responsible for delivering a wide range of vital public services that support those most in need, help look after our local environment and support our local communities at a time when people need our services more than ever but, like many households, we are now finding our costs are increasing significantly, through inflation, energy and fuel costs and increased costs for materials and supplies.

“This is going to mean we will need to make some difficult choices in the next few years to protect priority services, listening to what people have told us matters to them most.

“Things have been tough for people over recent years and, as an administration, helping people with the cost of living is our priority. We also want to support local businesses as we emerge from the pandemic and ensure we help create the conditions that make Renfrewshire a great place to live, work and visit.

“Public finances are limited and it is clear we will have to work differently in the future. We will listen to what communities and businesses have told us and work closely with them over the coming years to invest in a Renfrewshire to be proud in.”