Around 200 businesses have had a ‘facelift’ since a Renfrewshire Council-run initiative to improve the area’s retail and hospitality scene was launched more than a decade ago.

The success of the council’s retail improvement scheme was heralded at Tuesday’s economy and regeneration policy board.

The programme has run annually since 2012 and supports shops to undertake external property improvements, such as the creation of new signs or installation of shutters.

The Gazette: Grants have been made available for up to 70 per cent of qualifying works, with a maximum of £12,000 on offer through an application process.

A report highlighted the work of the scheme, which could now be used by a task force – formed recently in response to rising vacancy levels – to enhance town centres in the local authority.

Councillor Graeme Clark, Labour group economy and regeneration spokesperson, who represents Paisley Northeast and Ralston, said: “Over 200 businesses in Renfrewshire have had a facelift. I think that’s fantastic.

“I know some of the shop-owners where that’s happened and they’ve been really delighted with that.

“I just think we need to tell this story in a better way and make sure that businesses across Renfrewshire realise all the things that the council is doing to assist them in these days.

“There’s quite a lot of critique of the council which comes from local businesses and that’s happening just now, so I think it would be good if we could concentrate on our PR side of what this board is doing.

“This is a wonderful scheme and it’s helped a lot of shops to look a lot better and it helps the whole community to feel better too.”

Councillor Andy Doig, independent representative for Johnstone North and the surrounding villages, brought up the possibility of extending the work to include the improvement of the insides of shops as well.

He said: “I know there’s been various traders in Johnstone town centre over the years … that have gained from the upgrade.

“It’s been an overwhelmingly positive scheme. One of the things we could look at and again this is all down to money.

“Maybe, in the future, once the council’s finances are in a better place, we could look at not just the externals of shops but is there a way that we could possibly look at the internals of shops as well?

“That would make it an excellent scheme to promote the town centre task force.”

Councillor Andy Steel, SNP board convener and representative for Johnstone South and Elderslie, responded: “Everything that a council can do to promote physical shop-keeping is to be encouraged.

“You’re absolutely correct that it’s certainly not the ideal financial situation to be doing it in, but at some point in the future local authorities are going to get funding again and that sounds like an excellent idea to bring to them at that point.”