Glasgow City Council Agenda - 04 April 2019, 13:00 Help

A meeting to be held at City Chambers, Glasgow at 13:00 on 04 April 2019.

Number Item
1Minutes of Council meeting of 21st February 2019 (Print 7, pages 493 to 511). View Papers
2Print 7 - Committees' minutes - Submitted for information and approval as a correct record only (page 512 onwards). View Papers
3Members' Remuneration Arrangements - Report by Council Business Manager. View Papers
4Changes to committees etc. View Papers
5Representation on outside bodies. View Papers
6Correspondence - Letter from Kwasi Kwarteng MP in response to Council motion on Brexit. View Papers
7Questions. View Papers
8Notices of motions.
(a)By Baillie Annette Christie:-

"Council welcomes the Scottish Government gender pay gap action plan "A fairer Scotland for women". Council particularly welcomes the vision for inclusive growth and fair work, and a continuation of efforts to lower the gender pay gap.

Council recognises that the gender pay gap has been consistently lower in Scotland than in the rest of the UK, but there is still work to be done to increase gender equality in Scotland's labour market.

Council acknowledges that although employment law is not yet devolved to Scotland, measures can still be taken to improve this indicator.

Council understands that interviewers requesting salary history perpetuates ingrained structural discrimination against women and contributes to the gender wage gap.

Council notes that a key commitment of the Action Plan (Chapter 2 Employment) is to:

Undertake research into international practices on using wage setting powers within the public sector to reduce the incidence of low pay among women.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to work with the Scottish Government, COSLA and others to support the implementation of the national action plan; and, explore the option of prohibiting public bodies from asking for salary history in its recruitment of employees to ensure that women are consistently paid a fair market value for their skills." View Papers
(b)By Councillor Frank McAveety:-

"Council notes the international working definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which states:

"Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed towards Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."

Council further notes that this definition has been adopted by numerous local authorities across the UK; the Welsh, Scottish and UK Governments; and 30 other countries.

Council resolves to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism in full, and pledges to combat this pernicious form of racism."  View Papers
(c)By Councillor Robert Connelly:-


"Council acknowledges that litter is a blight on our landscape and our communities, with recent research showing that littering across Scotland is at its worst level in a decade. Council recognises that litter on our streets forces local authorities to divert public money away from other vital services like schools and roads, with £46 million being spent every year in Scotland cleaning up after litterers.

Council regrets that a small minority are spoiling Scotland's streets, parks and countryside for the law abiding majority - with 15,000 tonnes of litter collected every year in Scotland - and understands that increasing the default fine for littering is one way to make people stop and think before just throwing something away.

Council therefore acknowledges the importance of discouraging people from dropping litter; supports increasing the fixed penalty notice for littering from £80 to £100; agrees that a letter from the relevant Executive Director will be sent to the Scottish Government making clear Glasgow City Council's support for increasing the default on-the-spot litter fine from £80 to £100 and to request that Ministers implement this change as quickly as possible." View Papers
(d)By Councillor Allan Young:-

"Council aims to protect residents and visitors from road danger, and promote greater use of streets for active travel by all ages and abilities.

Council notes the introduction of the Proposed Restricted Roads (20mph Limit) (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament by Mark Ruskell MSP and understands this Bill seeks to make 20mph the default speed limit on most residential streets in Scotland. Council believes that this is a cost-effective public health measure which will reduce road deaths and injuries, improve air quality and encourage more walking and cycling.

Council further notes that this Bill is supported by evidence from NHS Health Scotland, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, British Lung Foundation, Brake and other road safety and public health experts as well as being supported by the SCOTS network of local authority transport officers.

Council therefore agrees to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Minister for Transport and to MSPs on the Parliament's Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee urging them to support the Proposed Restricted Roads (20mph Limit) (Scotland) Bill through Parliament to become law." View Papers
(e)By Councillor Christina Cannon:-

"Council notes that 2019 was the Year of Young People; was a cause for celebration; and congratulates all who supported and participated in programmes, projects and events. Council recognises that an aspect of this year was bringing together younger and older people.

Council considers that intergenerational work counteracts a tendency in society to segregate age groups, bringing positive dialogue and better quality of life for individuals and communities. Council believes that both groups have skills and experiences of considerable value to each other.

Council further believes that intergenerational work provides many opportunities for sharing experiences, skills and co-learning and helps both generations feel more engaged, valued and empowered in their communities.

Council commits to building stronger social connections and develop intergenerational work in the City with the wider Glasgow Family and key stakeholders such as Generations Working Together.

Council calls upon the Chief Executive to build upon its commitments in the Age Friendly Glasgow strategy, and, new Scottish Government "A Connected Scotland" strategy priorities, for tackling social isolation and loneliness.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to bring together a working group to explore how innovative and best intergenerational practices can be embedded in our policies and make them happen in our communities."  View Papers
(f)By Councillor Elaine McDougall:-

"Council notes the recent announcement by Richard Leonard MSP, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, and Pauline McNeill MSP, an elected representative of this city, for a 'Mary Barbour Law' to help solve Scotland's Housing Crisis. Such a law would empower residents in the ever expanding Private Rented Sector and help to control unaffordable rent increases by linking increases in rents to improvements in standards.

Council further notes that Mary Barbour, a former Bailie of this city, was a leader of the famous Rent Strikes in 1915 which led to the Rents and Mortgage Interest Restriction Act of that same year.

Council believes that a Mary Barbour Law is necessary given the increase in the Private Rented Sector in Glasgow, which has more than doubled since 2001, and that increases in rents have outstripped increases in wages, pushing higher the cost of living for young adults and families with children, who constitute the majority of tenants in the Private Rented Sector.

Council welcomes recent increases in funding available for house building in Glasgow in future years, after successive budgets which constrained the ability to meet demand for new socially rented and mid-market rent housing. However, it also recognises that this increase in funding is a response to the emerging housing crisis that is taking place in the country.

Council therefore resolves to support calls for a Mary Barbour Law and Pauline McNeill MSP's proposed Members' Bill, and instructs the Chief Executive to write to Ms. McNeill outlining the Council's support for her Members' Bill." View Papers