Glasgow City Council Agenda - 27 October 2022, 11:00 Help

A meeting to be held at By video conference at 11:00 on 27 October 2022.

Number Item
1Minutes of Council meeting of 8th September 2022 (Print 3, pages 311 to 326). View Papers
2Print 3 - Committees' minutes - Consideration of paragraphs marked "C", remaining paragraphs being submitted for information and approval as a correct record only (page 327 onwards).  View Papers
3Council Strategic Plan 2022-2027 - Report by Councillor Hepburn, Convener for Open Government and Council Business Manager. (To Follow) View Papers
4Changes to committee etc. View Papers
(a)Finance and Audit Scrutiny Committee - Remove Dan Hutchison and appoint Elaine Gallagher;
(b)Planning Applications Committee - Remove John Daly and appoint Thomas Kerr; and
(c)Strathclyde Pension Fund Committee - Remove Dan Hutchison and appoint Lana Reid-McConnell.
5Representation on outside bodies. View Papers
(a)Culture and Sport Glasgow (Glasgow Life) - Re-appoint Mr John McCormick as Director; and
(b)Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff - Remove Mr Jim Wilson, Head of Service and appoint Ms Jean Miller, Area Head of Service.
6Correspondence.
7Questions. View Papers
8Notice of motions.
(a)Motion by Councillor Zen Ghani:-

"Glasgow has a strong recent history of, and flourishing reputation for, promoting cohesion and welcoming people from all over the world. Council reaffirms our determination to oppose racism and discrimination in all the forms in which they manifest themselves in Glasgow's daily life, institutions and wider society. Glasgow is proud of its growing diversity and this Council views this as an asset and source of great strength.

Council recognises that Glasgow has been home to a significant Muslim population for generations and that our Muslim citizens are an integral part of all aspects of city life.

Council unequivocally condemns prejudice and intolerance in all forms. Council therefore welcomes, endorses and adopts the working APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) definition of Islamophobia, including all of its examples in full, cited as follows:

- "Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.

- Contemporary examples of Islamophobia in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in encounters between religions and non-religions in the public sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

- Calling for, aiding, instigating or justifying the killing or harming of Muslims in the name of a racist/ fascist ideology, or an extremist view of religion.

- Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Muslims as such, or of Muslims as a collective group, such as, especially but not exclusively, conspiracies about Muslim entryism in politics, government or other societal institutions; the myth of Muslim identity having a unique propensity for terrorism, and claims of a demographic "threat" posed by Muslims or of a "Muslim takeover".

- Accusing Muslims as a group of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Muslim person or group of Muslim individuals, or even for acts committed by non-Muslims.

- Accusing Muslims as a group, or Muslim majority states, of inventing or exaggerating Islamophobia, ethnic cleansing or genocide perpetrated against Muslims.

- Accusing Muslim citizens of being more loyal to the "Ummah" (transnational Muslim community) or to their countries of origin, or to the alleged priorities of Muslims worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

- Denying Muslim populations the right to self-determination eg. by claiming that the existence of an independent Palestine or Kashmir is a terrorist endeavour.

- Applying double standards by requiring of Muslims behaviours that are not expected or demanded of any other groups in society, eg. loyalty tests.

- Using the symbols and images associated with classic Islamophobia (eg. Muhammed being a paedophile, claims of Muslims spreading Islam by the sword or subjugating "Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness." minority groups under their rule) to characterize Muslims as being "sex groomers", inherently violent or incapable of living harmoniously in plural societies.

- Holding Muslims collectively responsible for the actions of any Muslim majority state, whether secular or constitutionally Islamic."

Council agrees to continue to tackle hate crime and Islamophobia in partnership with communities, Police Scotland and other stakeholders. Council further agrees as a first step to support Islamophobia Awareness Month in November 2022 to bring understanding and attention to the scourge of Islamophobia and encourage better reporting of incidents to the police. Council also instructs that a paper be brought to Safe Glasgow detailing how the APPG definition can be embedded in its work and consider how Safe Glasgow can raise awareness of crime motivated by prejudice on the grounds of actual or perceived religion." View Papers
(b)Motion by Bailie Hanif Raja:-

"Council believes that racism is deep-rooted, and the consequences of structural racism are expressed in a continuing lack of representation of BAME people among the general workforce, including just 3.1% of the current Council-family workforce. This does not reflect the diversity of our city, particularly in senior roles including in our schools; and Council notes that this trend is also seen in Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue.

Council notes the BAME Employment Working Group which has produced several outputs, including an over 1% increase in the BAME workforce within the Council; further notes that the work of the Black Lives Matter/Slavery Legacy Group is due to address barriers to employment.

Council believes progress to date has been insufficient and that progress needs to be accelerated.

However, Council recognises that the onus should not just be on the Council's existing BAME workforce to drive that action. Council reiterates its belief that anti-racist work, and work to improve equality outcomes for the city's diverse communities is core to its work.

Therefore, Council resolves to instruct officers to work with the various working groups and key stakeholders to bring forward an Action Plan to be approved by the relevant committee by March 2023. This action plan should:

- demonstrate the potential generational change towards representation and diversity in the Council's workforce, so that our workforce better represents the communities it serves;

- establish a target to achieve population-proportionate level of BAME employment across the Council family, including senior levels, and an assessment of how this can be achieved;

- respond to the Report of the Inquiry into Islamophobia in Scotland's recommendation to "Include representatives from Scotland's diverse communities - where possible - on interview panels in the workplace"; and

- respond with key actions and strategies to enable a step-change in the city's commitment to equality and diversity among its workforce.

Council recognises the importance of the work already being done to support its own workforce who have experiences of prejudice-based bullying and racist incidents, and resolves to work to understand those experiences, including by developing a training resource on that basis.

Council further resolves that the Wellbeing, Empowerment, Community, Citizen Engagement and General Purposes City Policy Committee should be renamed to include 'Equality and Justice' with quarterly reports from the various working groups." View Papers
(c)Motion by Councillor Holly Bruce:-

"Council agrees that in order to create public spaces that are safe and inclusive for women, and accessible for all members of the community, it is fundamental that women are central to all aspects of planning, public realm design, policy development and budgets.

Council notes a gender-neutral approach to city development does not work, that women and people of marginalised genders have diverse needs that are not currently reflected in practice and that an intersectional, inclusive and climate-friendly approach is needed.

Council recognises the main features of a healthy city are aligned with gender-equal cities including walkability, proximity to services, mixed-use environments, a safe public realm and open greenspaces. These factors aren't only important for women, they are key considerations for creating a healthier, more liveable city for all, with positive impacts in terms of physical and mental wellbeing and air quality.

Council agrees that public places that are better attuned to women's security and practical needs would open up opportunities for women, and could lead to an increased participation in political meetings, and ultimately women's elected representation. It would present job opportunities, and enhance the autonomy of disabled women, women of colour, unpaid carers and lone parents.

Council recognises that data-gathering, community consultation, policy development and planning processes need to engage and ask questions about the everyday embodied experience of women, so that public spaces and services are truly accessible. Council believes that intersectionality must be at the heart of this approach.

Council can learn from evidence of international initiatives, such as the gender lens used in Vienna's planning frameworks and Barcelona's policy on urban planning with a gender perspective, to design spaces and services around women's needs.

Therefore, Council instructs the Chief Executive to prepare reports to the appropriate Policy committee(s) that will consider how council policy and practice needs to be adapted to

- Adopt a feminist town planning approach within planning policy and the new City Development Plan.
- Gather intersectional gender-disaggregation of data in all council consultations to ensure specific gender differences in behaviour and needs are fully understood, ensuring that there is a standardised, consistent approach across all consultations undertaken by council departments, committees, working groups, partnerships and ALEOs.
- Ensure recommendations from the Scottish Government's review into the Public Sector Equality Duty are incorporated at the earliest opportunity.
- Incorporate gender competence training with Heads of Service and key members of staff across all council services.
- Begin work on applying a gender budgeting lens to council budgets to ensure that gender perspectives are integrated into all stages of the budget process." View Papers
(d)Motion by Bailie Roza Salih:-

"Council condemns the shocking killing of the 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini following her arrest in Tehran by Iran's so-called "morality" police for alleged dress code violations. Council believes Iran's "morality" police routinely subject women and girls to arbitrary detention, torture and other ill-treatment for not complying with abusive, degrading and discriminatory compulsory laws.

Council recognises protests are being brutally quashed by the Iranian authorities and met with a deadly crackdown. Council stands in solidarity with the Kurdish Women's Group, Glasgow Kurdish Community Association, Unity in the Kurdish Community/Scotland, Scottish Solidarity with Kurdistan, Iranian Scottish Association and other Iranian community groups and those protesting in Iran and globally. Council supports the protestors call for "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi" - meaning Woman, Life and Freedom. Council believes in women's rights and choices and that they should be free to decide what they wish to wear and be free from violence and discrimination.

Council agrees with Amnesty International that there is a crisis of impunity in Iran, and it has emboldened the Iranian authorities to kill hundreds of protesters and torture and ill-treat thousands more in recent years without fear of consequences. Council condemns the use of violence in response to the expression of fundamental rights, by women or any other members of Iranian society, is wholly unjustifiable. Council calls on Iran to respect the right to peaceful assembly, to exercise restraint, and to release unfairly detained protesters.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the UK Government's Minister, Lord Ahmad to make an official statement on Mahsa's death to the UN Human Rights Council, of which UK is a member. Council calls for the UK to advocate for a joint statement or resolution with other members, and to immediately set up an independent UN mechanism to investigate and ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law in Iran." View Papers
(e)Motion by Councillor Jon Molyneux:-

"Council notes that the world continues to experience the devastating impacts of climate breakdown on every continent, but particularly in countries in the Global South. Council believes that the climate emergency remains the most significant crisis we all face, and that it is both caused by and will further exacerbate inequality across the world unless climate action is taken urgently and in a just and equitable way.

Council notes that COP27 is due to take place in Egypt from 6th - 18th November and that Glasgow continues to have an important platform as the host city of COP26. Council believes that we should use our platform to demand more and therefore welcomes the opportunity which is presented by the Leader of the Council attending COP27. Council agrees that the Leader should: demand a global response which is commensurate with the scientific consensus; call-out the failure of the Global South by richer nations at COP26; and urge meaningful action on climate justice, including reparations for loss and damage.

Council believes that tackling the climate emergency needs real leadership, ambition and action at a local level and this will require integrating climate adaptation and mitigation into all aspects of how we plan our city, deliver services and support our citizens. Council notes the recent Audit Scotland report "Scotland's councils' approach to addressing climate change" which reinforces the important role of local government in influencing and delivering climate action at a local level, and the need for councils to set our clear, data-driven pathways to meet net zero targets, such as through carbon budgeting. Council therefore welcomes the creation of a Climate and Net Zero Progress Monitoring Committee with a remit to scrutinise the impact of our Climate Plan actions and identify where they can be strengthened. Council notes that its early considerations have looked at how all policy and decision making can have climate justice at their heart and have supported the view that carbon literacy and climate justice training should be mandatory for all elected members and senior officers.

Council recognises the continuing risks posed to climate action by those, including the current UK Government, who are pursuing policy agendas which are influenced by climate denial and the fossil fuel lobby. Council restates its opposition to fracking and is reassured that no fracking will occur in Scotland due to its prohibition in national planning policy. Council recommits to an industrial strategy in Glasgow which supports and enables the development of renewable energy and low carbon industries.

Council is also mindful that Glasgow's increased profile and ambition may mean that polluting companies and those who support them may seek to "greenwash" themselves by association, and that this poses a strategic and reputational risk. Council therefore agrees to continue to develop and implement policies which guard against this, including exploring climate conditionality in how we procure goods and services and how we do business with others more widely." View Papers
(f)Motion by Councillor Jon Molyneux:-

"Council notes that fireworks are enjoyed by many but equally that they can cause fear and alarm for others, especially where they are misused by people either letting them off illegally in public spaces or by deliberately aiming them at people or property. Council notes that this places significant demand on the resources of the Council, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and other agencies. Council also notes 2019 research commissioned by the Scottish Government which reported that a majority (71%) of people would welcome an increase in control over the sale of fireworks in Scotland, and 58% would support banning the sale of fireworks to the public.

Council therefore welcomes recent legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament which will introduce tighter controls on the sale and use of fireworks in Scotland. However, Council understands that many of these new legal provisions, including new licensing powers, and the power for councils to designate certain areas as 'no fireworks zones', are yet to come into effect, awaiting further directions to be issued by Scottish Ministers.

Council believes that the full range of new powers should be available to it and other agencies as soon as possible, and before November 2023 at the very latest, in order to address ongoing concerns over fireworks misuse, and therefore resolves to write to Scottish Ministers urging them to make this a priority. Council also instructs the Chief Executive to liaise with partner agencies to begin to gather and analyse data which could inform the potential use of new legal powers, in particular identifying which areas of the city could be considered as priorities for designation as no fireworks zones.

Council further notes that dedicated youth and community work has formed an integral part of localised responses to fireworks misuse in Pollokshields and Govanhill in recent years, believes that this has kind of activity has an important role in engaging people, especially young people, who may be drawn into misusing fireworks, and resolves that this work should continue and be built on by the Council family working in partnership with local third sector organisations in these and other local areas as needed." View Papers