1. FRSC COL Update Sep 25
Renfrewshire Council · 3 September 2025
Back to Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee — 3 September 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 ________________________________________________________________________ To: Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee On: 3 September 2025 _____________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive _____________________________________________________________________ Heading: Cost-of-living Update ________________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 At each of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee meetings, an overview of key context and evidence around current pressures on household finances, both in terms of household income and expenditure has been provided to members. 1.2 Since the last meeting of the Sub-Committee on 28 May 2025, there have been a number of changes in economic factors including a decrease of 7% in the Energy Price Cap from 1 July 2025, meaning households will pay slightly less for their energy use, while inflation increased to 3.8% in the 12 months to July 2025, up from 3.6% in June and the highest it has been since January 2024. Elected members are asked to note that: • The rate of inflation is standing at 3.8% in July and has been above the target rate of 2% set by the UK Government for the Bank of England since October 2024, when it reached 2.3%. • The inflation rate for food has increased to 4.9%, the highest recorded since February 2024 and remains higher than overall inflation. • The Bank of England interest rate was reduced to 4.00% in August 2025. It had decreased from the previous rate of 4.25%. • The Energy Price Cap, originally introduced by Ofgem in January 2019 to set limits on the underlying rates energy suppliers, is currently set at £ 1720 from 1 July, down from £1,849 for the previous quarter. 1.3 This paper provides an overview of information collated by officers in relation at both a national and local level where available.
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2 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that members of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee note the content of the report. 3. Background 1.1. At the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee meeting on 28 May 2025 an overview of key context and evidence around current pressures on household finances, both in terms of household income and expenditure, was examined. Although there has been some easing of cost of living long-term, recent and upcoming changes, especially around food inflation and rents mean that many families are still struggling with costs of living. 1.2. The rising costs of essentials hits low-income families hardest as they spend a greater proportion of their disposable income on these. The Resolution Foundation has found that poorer families are most affected by surging food prices as they spend a far greater share of their family budgets on food (14%, compared to 9% for the highest-income households). As a result, the effective inflation rate for the poorest tenth of households is around 2% higher than it is for the richest tenth of households. 1.3. High fuel costs remain an issue for many households. Although the annual energy bill for a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity went down £129 a year to £1,720 from July, this is £152 higher than the price cap set for the same period last year from 1 July to 30 September 2024 (£1,568). 1.4. As was previously reported to elected members, an increasing proportion of households are struggling to pay bills and pay off debts as a result of cost of living increases. A number of recent reports published show increases in the average amount of unsecured debts and arrears owed. Figures from our own advice services also show that debt is an issue for many, with Advice Works reporting an increase in statutory debt management solutions being used by clients, and RCAB an increasing number of households with deficit income, meaning statutory debt solutions may not be viable for them. 1.5. The cost of essentials; food, fuel and housing remain high, and where there are any decreases, such as in fuel costs, these tend to be small, making no significant difference for low income household who are already finding difficulty in managing and paying all their financial obligations. 2. Impacts of cost-of-living crisis Living costs 2.1. The latest insights into the cost of living from the Office of National Statistics for the period 4th to 29th June 2025, found that 86% of those surveyed reported the cost of living as the most important issue facing the UK today and around 3 in 5 adults (59%) reported that their cost of
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3 living had increased compared with a month ago. This proportion has decreased since a high in April 2025 (72%) where multiple expenses such as mobile phone contracts, council tax, and water bills increased their annual price. Those reporting that their cost of living has remained the same has increased from 27% to 39% in the same period. Around 1 in 50 (2%) adults said it had decreased in the last month. 2.2. The ONS figures record that the most commonly reported reason given by adults in the latest period for a rise in their cost of living ,remains the price of their food shop (94%), which has been the case since they first asked the question in November 2021. 2.3. The proportion of adults reporting that a reason for their cost-of-living increases was the price of their energy bills (64%) has gradually declined since January 2025 (79%); the current figure is higher than June 2024 (47%) but similar to June 2023 (64%). 2.4. Around 4 in 10 (38%) adults reported that a reason for their cost-of-living increasing was the price of their fuel. This has decreased since February 2025 (52%) after rising steadily since a low in October 2024 (32%).
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4 2.5. Further ONS figures show: • Around one in four (24%) adults reported that they had found it very or fairly difficult to get by financially in the past month. This was more likely to be reported by those aged 30 to 49 years (32%) compared with those aged 16 to 29 years (22%), 50 to 69 years (23%), and those aged 70 years and over (12%). • Around one in four (24%) adults said they had borrowed more money or used more credit in the last month when compared with a year ago. This has remained stable over the past three years. • Over one in three (37%) adults reported that they believed they would be unable to save any money in the next 12 months. This has remained stable in the past year. • Around one in three (34%) adults who paid energy bills reported that they found these bills very or somewhat difficult. This has fallen from a peak of almost half (49%) of adults in May 2023. 2.6. The ONS also found that lone parent households were more likely to report taking multiple actions because of cost-of-living increases than households with more than one adult and at least one dependent child including: • Spending less on food shopping and essentials (52%, compared with 39%) • Using less fuel in their home (40%, compared with 28%) • Using credit more than usual (38%, compared with 19%) • Using support from charities including Foodbanks (9%, compared with 2%) 2.7. The JRF Poverty 2025 Report also provides information around costs of living for low income households across the UK. They found households have tried to cut back on a range of costs or tried to increase their incomes in a way to make stretched budgets go further: • 3.3 million low-income families (56%) have reduced their use of appliances to bring down bills • 3.4 million low-income families (59%) have heated their homes less than they needed to, to reduce costs • 2.1 million low-income families (35%) sold their belongings to generate extra income • 1 million low-income families (19%) stopped or reduced pension contributions from their salary to try to meet their costs. 2.8. With regard to savings and debt JRF’s cost of living tracker found that for the households in the bottom 20% of household incomes: • 48% of households held less than £200 in savings, including 14% reporting having no savings at all.
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5 • 44% reported being in arrears (being behind on household bills or credit commitments in October 2024), and almost half (47%) of this group were in arrears with 3 or more different bills. • Almost 4 in 10 households (38%) report currently holding a loan or credit that was originally taken out to pay for essential bills like rent, food, energy and council tax. Thirty- seven per cent of this group held a high-cost credit loan (a loan with a payday lender, pawn shop, loan shark or doorstep lender) that had been used to pay those bills. • Taking on these loans hasn’t helped these households to avoid arrears. Three-quarters (75%) of those who used a loan to pay their bills were still in arrears, and 53% of this group were in arrears with 3 or more bills. • These households are also not escaping going without essentials – 92% of those taking out loans to pay for their essentials also reported going without at least one essential in the 6 months prior, such as enough food, a warm home, or adequate clothing for the weather. Energy debt 2.9. Ofgem collect figures around energy debt in the UK, including for those who have a payment agreement for repaying their arrears and those who don’t. The total monetary value for UK domestic energy customer debt and arrears currently stands at £4.15 billion. 2.10. The average level of debt owed by domestic customers in arrears (who did not have a debt repayment arrangement set up) has risen since they started collecting this data in 2012 and the last year has seen substantial increases in average arrears, reaching £1,712 for electricity and £1,482 for gas in Q4 2024 (up by 18% for electricity, and 20% for gas compared to Q1 2024). 2.11. Ofgem attribute the increase in average arrears to higher retail prices and increasingly difficult financial circumstances faced by some households.
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6 2.12. The average level of debt for customers with a debt repayment in place rose by 5% for electricity customers (to £740) and also rose by 4% (to £608) for gas customers in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024. Ofgem have encouraged suppliers to act quickly to establish debt repayment arrangements. 2.13. The proportion of domestic customers repaying debt to their supplier using a Pre Payment Meter (PPM) has ranged between around 30% and 60% for the last few years. Since Q4 2022 the figure has been above 40%, and during 2024 the number of customers repaying debt through a PPM rose to record levels. In Q1 2025, for electricity customers, this dropped back to 47% compared to 58% in Q1 2024. For gas, the number of customers repaying a debt via a PPM fell to 44% from 56% in Q1 2024. 2.14. Numbers of PPM customers in arrears increased rapidly during the energy crisis, so recent the fall in numbers is bringing this back down to a rate more akin to recent years, although still on the higher side. PPM customers, however, face a huge amount of volatility in energy spending and it’s hard to overstate the seasonal impacts of energy costs on the living standards of PPM customers.
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7 Spending – particularly on heating – is highly concentrated during the coldest time of the year, with 78 per cent of heating demand occurring between October and March, and 46 per cent in the first quarter of the year alone. This seasonal spike forces families to either spend a very high proportion of their income to keep warm, or to endure cold living conditions that can bring with them significant health impacts. 2.15. The Resolution Foundation has calculated that the amount of energy that PPM customers need to consume to maintain a reasonable standard of warmth and electricity use will, on average, be more than 30 per cent of their incomes during December, January and February – a figure that falls by close to two-thirds (to around 12 per cent) during the summer. 2.16. The total monetary value for UK domestic energy customer debt and arrears is £4.15 billion Debt in Renfrewshire 2.17. In the last quarter from April to June 2025, Advice Works has seen a noticeable rise in clients undertaking a statutory debt solution. 24 clients applied for bankruptcy, where there were 61 for the last full financial year, and 22 clients accessed a Debt Arrangement Scheme (where interest is frozen and clients arrange payback to all their creditors over an extended period), compared to 57 for the last full year. In all 241 clients received debt advice last quarter for £717,584 of debts. 2.18. Renfrewshire CAB has not noticed a similar upswing in statutory debt solutions but commented that they are seeing many clients with significant debt and no reasonable prospect of repaying, as they are operating on a deficit budget, so for whom statutory debt solutions aren’t viable options. They have seen 374 clients in quarter 1, and have new debt under management this quarter of £667,420. 3. Employment and Wages 3.1. According to the ONS, the Claimant Count in July 2025, which is taken from JobcentrePlus administration systems, for those claiming unemployment-related benefits in Renfrewshire is 3360 people – 2030 men and 1330 women aged between 16 and 64. This is a slight reduction from 3,375 last reported. The Renfrewshire unemployment rate of 2.8 % is less than the Scotland rate (3.1%) 3.2. ONS figures for the UK show that from the period from January to March 2025, annual growth in employees' average earnings for regular earnings (excluding bonuses) was 5.6% and total earnings (including bonuses) was 5.9%. Annual average regular earnings growth was 5.6% for the private sector and 5.5% for the public sector. These increases are all above the rate of inflation, with the annual growth in real terms, adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs being 1.8% for regular pay and 1.7% for total pay. 3.3. Over the long term, average weekly earnings for both total and regular pay show a steady increase. Average weekly earnings were estimated at £722 for total earnings and £671 for regular earnings in March 2025. 3.4. The most recent local figures are from 2024 and show average weekly earnings of £745 overall in Renfrewshire - £803 for males and £708 for females. More recent figures will be provided when these are available.
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8 4. Benefits 4.1. On 17 June 2025, the Scottish Government announced that it would effectively cancel the impact of the two-child benefit cap from 2nd March 2026. The UK-wide policy prevents parents from claiming universal credit or child tax credit for more than two children, with a few exemptions. This negation of the policy will be done via a Two Child Limit Payment which will start to receive applications in March 2026. 4.2. It is estimated that 840 families are affected by the 2 child limit in Renfrewshire, with these households not receiving a child element amount for at least one child. As the policy only applies to children born since 6 April 2017, the number of children potentially affected by it increases each year. 4.3. Currently the child element for second children, and any subsequent children who are eligible (for example through multiple births or non-consensual conception), is £292.81 per month. 4.4. Details of the Payment are yet to be released, however elected members will be updated as more information is provided. 4.5. As previously reported, in the UK Government’s Spring Statement 2025 reform measures for health and disability benefits were announced. These originally proposed reforms, which related to both existing and new claimants of disability benefits were changed to only apply to future claims, and all reform and changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have been halted and will be reconsidered following the outcome of the Timms Review. 4.6. Some changes, however, remain in place for example: • the DWP will continue to introduce a legal ‘right to try’ whereby a claimant can try employment without worrying that it could affect any wider benefit claims • Contributory benefits, such as New Style Job Seekers Allowance and New Style Employment and Support Allowance, will continue to be merged into a new time limited contributory benefit • The UK government has increased the amount it has pledged for employment support for sick and disabled claimants through an increase in the Pathways to Work of £300 million over the next four years 4.7. The picture of changes and how they will affect Scotland is still unclear, and potential impacts on those living in Renfrewshire will be reported as detail becomes available. 5. Inflation, Food Costs and Foodbank use
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9 5.1. Inflation is standing at 3.8% in July 2025, up from 3.6% in June. This is the highest inflation has been since January 2024 and has been driven by increased food and fuel prices. Inflation has been above the target rate of 2% set by the UK Government for the Bank of England since October 24, when it reached 2.3%. 5.2. The latest figures show that food and drink inflation jumped to 4.9%, the highest recorded since February 2024, driven by the rising price of cakes, meat, milk, eggs and cheddar cheese. Motor fuel prices fell by 9% in the year to June 2025 compared with a drop of 10.9% in the year to May. Because prices fell by less than a year earlier, this contributes to pushing up the annual inflation rate. The costs of furniture and household goods also made their largest contribution to inflation since December 2023. 5.3. Research by Worldpanel, which follows the shopping habits of 30,000 UK households, shows that on average, UK households spend around £5,283 for a year on groceries currently, but this could increase by £275 due to higher prices unless people change what they buy, for example switching to supermarket own brands. Furthermore, they report that around a fifth of households in the UK are "struggling" with grocery bills, with some of those in a situation where they can’t cut food costs any more. 5.4. The Institute of Grocery Distribution forecasts that retail food inflation is set to peak at 5.1% in late summer 2025, significantly outpacing general inflation. This rise is expected to place further pressure on households, with food prices being the top concern for UK shoppers. They also point to consumers changing habits and purchasing more own label foods. Their Head of Economic and Consumer Insight stated about their most recent research “We identified only 29% of consumers
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10 plan to cut back on grocery spending, suggesting many have already tightened their budgets and have little room to cut back further. Instead, shoppers are more likely to look for savings on discretionary purchases like clothing and eating out, underscoring a clear prioritisation of food shopping over other categories.” 5.5. The Renfrewshire Foodbank issued 1,342 vouchers in Quarter 1 of 2025/26, a decrease of 4.1% in comparison with the 1,400 vouchers issued during the same quarter last year. The vouchers covered 1,775 adults and 854 children this year, which was a decrease in the total number receiving assistance compared to the same quarter last year (1,838 adults and 866 children). The number of vouchers this quarter is also slightly less than last quarter when 1,357 vouchers were issued covering 1,792 adults and 917 children. 5.6. The rising costs of essentials remains the most commonly cited factor in the reason for voucher issue in Renfrewshire, at 541 times. This is compared to the second most cited factor, ongoing impact of physical or mental health condition at 195 times. Other unexpected expense has become the third most cited factor, at 170 times. 5.7. Renfrewshire Foodbank splits priority and non-priority debt as reasons for voucher issue. This quarter, were these to be added together, debt as a whole would be the second most cited reason for voucher issue at 282 vouchers. 5.8. The table below shows the number of Vouchers fulfilled per Ward in Quarter 1 2025/26 compared to Quarter 1 last year. Although numbers are still small, the highest percentage rise was within Erskine and Inchinnan Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank, where 13 vouchers were issued in Quarter 1 this year, compared to 8 last year - an increase of 62.5%. Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch had the highest numerical rise, from 66 to 103, a rise of 56.1%. The voucher numbers in this particular Ward have been rising steadily over the last year and Officers will work with the Foodbank to establish, if possible, what has driven this increase.
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11 6. Interest and Mortgage Rates 6.1. The Bank of England has cut its base interest rate five times in the past year, most recently in August to 4.00%. This reduction was unexpected as economists had said that evidence of lingering high inflation could delay further reductions. The Bank of England has changed its inflation forecast. It now expects inflation to peak at 4% in September. That is twice the Bank's target rate and above the 3.8% rate previously estimated. 6.2. The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee have stated that if the economic situation in the UK remains stable, they should be able to reduce interest rates further over time, but can’t say precisely when or by how much. The Committee remains focused on squeezing out any existing or emerging persistent inflationary pressures, to return inflation sustainably to its 2% target in the medium term. In their August statement they said "monetary policy is not on a pre-set path" and although the Bank considers the Bank that the future direction is downwards if the facts change, the direction for interest rates could change too. 6.3. Their next decision is due on the 18th September and at that stage they will look at the state of the economy and recent global developments, and what we expect for the coming months. The factors they consider include: • how fast prices are rising • how the UK's economy is growing • how many people are in work 6.4. Markets appear to not be predicting a further rate cut at the next meeting in September, but think cuts in November and December may be more likely. 6.5. Since the base rate was cut to 4.00% the average fixed rate mortgage rate has also decreased. The average two-year deal is now 4.50%, down from the 5.21% last reported and the average five-year deal is now also 4.50% down from 5.12%. As previously reported, however, about 800,000 fixed- rate mortgages, currently with an interest rate of 3% or below, are expected to expire every year, on average, until the end of 2027, so this will still mean an increase in housing costs for those householders. 6.6. For those who have savings, the reduction in interest rates are likely to mean a reduction in interest paid on savings accounts. According to Moneyfacts, the average savings rate is currently 3.5%, which is 0.42% lower than this time last year and is expected to keep falling. The average easy access ISA rate had also fallen by 0.46% over the year. Financial Markets Online also point out that "The combination of rising inflation and falling interest rates will slash the value of people's savings in real terms."
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12 7. Housing costs Rental Costs 7.1. According to Zoopla’s Rental Market Report of June 2025, rents have grown 21% in the UK over the last 3 years, compared to 4% for house prices. Their research also shows that Rental supply has increased, with 17% more homes available than a year ago, as homes take slightly longer to rent. There are also signs of increased landlord purchasing activity as borrowing costs fall, however rental supply remains 20% below pre-pandemic levels. While the pace of rent increases has slowed, renters still face strong competition for rented homes, especially those on lower incomes with little hope of being able to buy a home. 7.2. According to the ONS, average rent for Scotland was £999 in June 2025, up 4.4% (£41) from a year earlier. This annual rise was lower than in the 12 months to May 2025 (4.5%) and represents the lowest annual rise for three years. Scotland's annual inflation rate has been generally slowing since the record-high annual rise of 11.7% in August 2023. Zoopla estimates that the rental market remains on track for rental inflation of 3-4% over 2025, however Renfrewshire inflationary rises remain above this average figure. 7.3. In Renfrewshire, private rental prices have continued to rise to an average of £807 across all property sizes in June 2025, an increase of £5 per month on the last reported figure of £802 in March 2025 and an annual increase of 7.9% from £748 in June 2024. Average rents as of March 2025 in Renfrewshire/Inverclyde by how many bedrooms there are in a property were: • One bedroom: £509 (from £504 in March 25) • Two bedrooms: £675 (from £670 in March 25) • Three bedrooms: £871 (from £867 in March 25) • Four or more bedrooms: £1,537 (from £1,533 in March 25)
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13 Home ownership 7.4. In general, house prices have continued to rise and ONS figures show that the average cost of a home in Renfrewshire is now £159,000 in May 25, up from £146,000 in May 24, although less than the last reported figure of £165,000 in February 25. This is less than the average house price in Scotland which was £192,000 in May 2025. In the year to May 2025, the average price for detached properties in Renfrewshire rose by 14.9%, while the average price for flats increased by 5.2%. 7.5. For each property type, average prices as of May 2025 in Renfrewshire were: • Detached properties: £367,000 • Semi-detached properties: £216,000 • Terraced properties: £158,000 • Flats and maisonettes: £103,000 7.6. The average price paid by first-time buyers was £129,000, which was higher than the previous year’s figure of £120,000. For homes bought with a mortgage, the average house price was £173,000, again higher than the £159,000 paid in May 2024, although less than the Scottish average of £200,000. 7.7. According to Adzuna, a recruitment agency, the average salary for jobs advertised in Renfrewshire in June 2025 was £37,740. Salaries in Renfrewshire have gone up 20.7% year-on-year, higher than the national annual change of 8.2%, although salaries have fluctuated throughout the year. 8. Changes to Supports for Energy Bills 8.1. On 18 June, the UK Government announced changes to the rules on who qualifies for the Warm Home Discount and increased the level of spend available in Scotland. The changes mean that in
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14 Scotland it is estimated that an extra 240,000 families will receive this discount for the first time this winter. 8.2. The payment is applied directly to customers bills, normally by their electricity supplier with those who receive Pension Credit receiving the discount automatically, and all others on low income having to claim from their energy provider. 8.3. The scheme reopens in October 2025. 8.4. Changes have also been announced to the Winter Fuel Payment. All pensioners in Scotland with an income of less than £35,000 will receive the Scottish Pension Age Winter Heating Payments this winter of either £203.40 or £305.10 per household. Pensioner households with no-one aged 80 or over will receive £203.40, rising to £305.10 for households with someone aged 80 or over. 8.5. While all pensioners will receive the payment, if you are a pensioner with a taxable income over £35,000, HMRC will take back your Pension Age Winter Heating Payment automatically through the tax system. 9. Child Poverty statistics UK child poverty 9.1. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation published UK statistics in their recent UK Poverty 2025 Report. The report found that children tend to have higher poverty rates, but this varies between families. For example, in 2022/23, the poverty rate for children in families with 3 or more children was almost twice as high as the poverty rate for children in 1- or 2-child families (45% compared with 22% and 22%). 9.2. Lone-parent families have the highest poverty rate of any family type. Over 2 in 5 children in lone- parent families (44%) were living in poverty in 2022/23, compared with 25% of children in couple families. 9.3. Poverty rates also vary depending on the age of children in the family. Approximately 1 in 3 children in families where the youngest child is aged under 5 (36%) were living in poverty. Meanwhile, around a quarter of children in families where the youngest child is aged 5 to 10 (25%) or between 11 to 15 years old (25%) were living in poverty. Lastly, 3 in 10 children in families where the youngest child is between 16 to 19 years old (31%) were living in poverty. 9.4. The report also highlights the prevalence of in-work poverty. Two-thirds of working-age adults in poverty (68%) in the UK are in a household where at least one adult works, and 43% are in a family with at least one adult working full-time. That most adults in poverty are in a family where at least one adult is in work demonstrates that for many households, work alone is not providing a route out of poverty. For children:
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15 • Almost three-quarters (74%) of children in families where no adult is in work are in poverty, however even in families where at least one adult is (but not all adults are) in work the child poverty rate is 50%. • 14% of children in poverty live in families where all adults are in work (note that this includes children in single-parent families where that parent is in work). • 52% of children in poverty are in a family where at least one adult is working full-time. Local statistics 9.5. At the last Sub-Committee meeting new Scotland wide statistics on poverty were reported. Since then, we have received local child poverty statistics which are broken down to Renfrewshire and to Ward level before housing costs are taken into account and to Renfrewshire and Parliamentary constituency after housing costs are taken into account. 9.6. The proportion of children in low-income families in Renfrewshire has been steadily rising since 2014/15 (discounting data for 2020/21 which has significant caveats, due to the coronavirus pandemic). This year’s figures, however, show a slight decrease in rates. The decrease is likely to be at least partially due to Scottish Child Payment income being included for the first time, with 2023/24 being the first full year that Scottish Child Payments were paid to all eligible children under the age of 16. 9.7. For 23/24, the percentage of children in relative low income, before housing costs in Renfrewshire is 15.2%, representing 4,613 children. This is a decrease of 330 children compared to the previous year, when the rate was 16.6%. The rate for Scotland is 16.3%. Not all wards in Renfrewshire saw a reduction in the proportion of children in low-income families, with three wards seeing a slight increase in rate. There continues to be particularly high proportions of children in low-income families in both Paisley North West and Renfrew South and Gallowhill wards, with children living in relative low income rates at 27.5% and 23.9% respectively, although both these wards showed the largest annual decrease in rates compared to last year.
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16 9.8. In terms of the after housing costs statistics, there is no ward-level data, with only local authority and UK Parliamentary constituency level data provided. For 2023/24, the percentage of children in relative low income, after housing costs in Renfrewshire is 21.0%, representing 7,241 children. The rate for Scotland is 23.0%. In 2022/23, the rate recorded for Renfrewshire was 24.0% so there has been a 3% decrease in child poverty using this measure. 9.9. The percentages of children in relative low income (after housing costs) between the two Renfrewshire constituencies are almost identical for 2023/24, however Paisley and Renfrewshire South constituency has shown a larger percentage increase compared to 2022/23 (5.2% compared to 3.3% for Paisley and Renfrewshire North). It should be noted that the constituency percentages are higher than the Renfrewshire local authority area percentages and it is likely that this is due to the change in parliamentary constituency boundaries, which no longer match the Local Authority boundary. The after housing costs statistics provide a more accurate picture of how disposable incomes vary in different areas, factoring in housing costs from both the rented (social and private) and mortgaged sectors. Parliamentary constituency/Local Authority Areas 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 Change in % compared to previous year Paisley and Renfrewshire North 20.1% 21.1% 21.2% 23.1% 22.0% 23.7% 20.7% 20.6% 21.3% 24.6% 3.3% Paisley and Renfrewshire South 18.9% 20.3% 21.6% 23.3% 22.7% 23.8% 20.8% 19.1% 19.3% 24.5% 5.2% Renfrewshire 19.3% 20.4% 21.3% 22.8% 21.9% 23.1% 19.5% 23.3% 24.0% 21.0% -3.0%
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17 Implications of the Report 1. Financial – There are no financial implications associated with this report, which provides an overview of the position and is for noting. 2. HR & Organisational Development – none 3. Community/Council Planning – This report provides a detailed summary of the current evidence relating to household income and expenditure. Wider poverty related issues are a key element of both the Council and Community Plan and the information included within this report is part of the wider Strategic Needs Assessment for these plans. 4. Legal - none 5. Property/Assets - none 6. Information Technology - none 7. Equality and Human Rights – The report provides an overview of the position around household income and expenditure, and is for noting. As such there are no impacts arising from the recommendation of this paper. It is however important to note that impacts on households explored within this paper are likely to be disproportionately felt by equality groups. 8. Health and Safety - none 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. Climate Risk - none 13. Children’s rights – the articles within UNCRC underpin the work that is being progressed in Renfrewshire through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, particularly in relation to rights in relation to aspects such as life, survival and development, food, clothing and a safe home and supporting the best interests of the child and their families. Child poverty and family wellbeing are key local partnership priorities. 14. COSLA Policy Position – none Author: Diane Dunn, Fairer Renfrewshire Manager, diane.dunn@renfrewshire.gov.uk