The Housing Capital Investment Plan has two strategic priorities: to improve the energy efficiency and quality of the existing housing stock, and to add to the supply of affordable housing throughout the area.

Investments agreed include:

• Investing £5m on energy efficiency
• Investing £2.87m on housing quality including a replacement programme for windows, doors, kitchens, bathrooms and roofs
• An allocation of £32.419m to increase the council’s affordable housing supply
• Investing £4m for the purchase of properties from the open market
• Improving the standard of void decoration, moving to a full decoration standard which will improve the look and feel of properties.

Council leader Councillor Gordan Low said: “Despite the financial challenges facing all local authorities, we firmly believe that our Housing Revenue and Capital Budgets represents good news for our housing estate and more importantly our tenants. This budget shows our commitment not just to investing in the existing housing supply, but to adding to it.

“Our plans will see a total of 308 new properties – all built to Passivhaus standards - being developed across nine sites. This includes the construction already underway at Twechar Canalside and construction beginning at a further six sites later this year, including the former Merkland School in late summer and Auchinairn Primary School in late 2026 – the latter subject to planning consent.”

A rent increase of 4% was agreed, increasing the average weekly rent to £105.63 over 48 weeks, an increase of £4.06 per week. A 4% increase for lock-up and garage site rents was also approved. 

Councillor Low added: “Our goal is to ensure rent remains affordable for our tenants whilst directly supporting our housing operations and investment. Our agreed rent increase of 4% is the third lowest of the 15 comparison authorities considered in our budget planning process and lower than the comparison average of 6.24%.

“I’m also particularly pleased that we will be improving the standard of our void decoration which will provide an enhanced standard of let to our tenants.”

Overall Revenue and Capital budget agreed

Elsewhere, East Dunbartonshire Council will spend £395.641m on delivering essential local services and important investment in the area after its Revenue and Capital budgets for this year (2026/2027) were approved.

To commit to significant investment in the area whilst decreasing the budget gap of £23.946m to ensure a balanced budget, a rise of 9.5% in Council Tax was agreed.

This increase includes 3% to support the critical financial position the local HSCP are in, helping it to continue to deliver vital social care services to the most vulnerable residents in East Dunbartonshire.

The 2026/2027 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme will:

• Maintain key local services
• Continue improvement works across the school estate with the ongoing construction of Balmuildy Primary School, completion of the Milngavie Primary School refurbishment and preconstruction works for the new Westerton Primary School
• Invest in vital infrastructure including the commencement of the Westerhill Development Road and Bishopbriggs Town Centre redevelopment programme
• Invest £1m to bring forward design proposals for new sports pavilions and associated facilities in Oakburn Park, Milngavie and Merkland, Kirkintilloch
• Reinstate the Community Grant Fund benefiting local grassroots groups and organisations following the end of UK Shared Prosperity Funding. 

Further budget decisions to bridge the funding gap include a range of management and operational efficiencies which will save over £15m.

Council leader Gordan Low said: “It is well documented that Councils are facing incredibly challenging financial pressures. We continue to face ever increasing demand for our vital services and the cost of delivering those services also continues to escalate. There has been no respite from ever increasing construction costs and the revenue pressures that come with borrowing to meet our capital development aspirations.

“However, against this background, we have set and agreed a budget that reduces our costs, continues to deliver essential services to our residents and invests in our communities. We believe our agreed Revenue and Capital budgets demonstrates our commitment to providing the best services to the people of East Dunbartonshire.”

The Council Tax increase of 9.5% will see an annual Band D charge rise from £1,599 per year to £1,751 - an annual increase of £151.97.

Councillor Low added: “Our HSCP faces significant financial pressures and a funding gap of £2.345m. It is imperative that we support our HSCP and the vital social care services they deliver to our most vulnerable residents. Our agreed Council Tax rise includes 3% to specifically meet and baseline the HSCP shortfall.

“Significant work that has been carried out by council officers to explore every possible cost reduction without impacting service delivery should be commended. Financial efficiencies taken by the chief executive and chief finance officer across council and HSCP services will ensure savings of over £15m.

“There was agreement across the Chamber that once again setting a balanced budget has been difficult. But I believe this budget meets our financial challenges head on without the need for the use of reserves and safeguards the council’s immediate and medium-term financial position.”

Almost 50% of the council’s Revenue budget is spent on Education with almost 20% on Health and Social Care. The remaining ensures the delivery of operational services that includes waste, roads, flood prevention and open space maintenance.