The new Leader of Renfrewshire Council, Councillor Derek Mackay, has pledged to bring the Council “closer to the people and communities of Renfrewshire.” Councillor Derek Mackay also said that the priorities of the new Council will be to have a more inclusive approach, a fairer representation for all political groups, and a more decentralised approach to decision-making “to return power to local people.”

Councillor Mackay also pledged that economic regeneration, including the renewal of town and village centres, will be “at the heart” of the new Council’s approach.

Renfrewshire Council will be governed by an SNP – Liberal Democrat Coalition which has 21 of the 40 Renfrewshire councillors. The SNP Leader, Councillor Mackay, has been elected as the Leader of Renfrewshire Council. Councillor Eileen McCartin, the Liberal Democrat Group Leader, becomes Depute Leader of the Council.

The first meeting of the Council also elected Councillor Celia Lawson as the Provost of Renfrewshire. Renfrewshire’s new Provost said she was “delighted and honoured” to take on the role. “I know that the Provost represents all the people of Renfrewshire and I am looking forward to meeting the many groups and organisations who do so much to help people and communities across Renfrewshire.”

Councillor Kenny MacLaren said: “This is the beginning of a new era for Renfrewshire. We have clear policy priorities to take Renfrewshire forward and a commitment that there will be more involvement than ever before for people to have their say in shaping decisions which affect their communities.”

One of the ways the new Council will promote that greater local involvement will be to look at allowing petitions to the Council’s Scrutiny Board. The Council has also agreed a new structure for its policy boards which Councillor Mackay says is designed to “demonstrate clearer responsibilities for areas such as education and housing and generally streamline the overall system of policy and regulatory boards.”