Glasgow City Council Agenda - 08 September 2022, 11:00 
A meeting to be held at By Hybrid Meeting at 11:00 on 08 September 2022.
| Number | Item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Minutes of Council meeting of 23rd June 2022 (Print 2, pages 227 to 245). View Papers |
| 2 | Print 2 - Committees' minutes - Consideration of paragraphs marked "C", remaining paragraphs being submitted for information and approval as a correct record only (page 246 onwards). View Papers |
| 3 | Proposed Changes to Scheme of Delegated Functions - Report by Councillor Greg Hepburn, Council Business Manager and Convener for Open Government. View Papers |
| 4 | Changes to committees etc - Planning Applications Committee - Remove Elaine McDougall and appoint Imran Alam. View Papers |
| 5 | Representation on outside bodies:- View Papers |
| (a) | Glasgow Allotments Forum - Appoint Elaine Gallagher; |
| (b) | Glasgow East Arts Company - Appoint Laura Doherty, Sharon Greer and Alex Kerr; and |
| (c) | Glasgow Fair Trade Co-operative - Appoint Anthony Carroll. |
| 6 | Correspondence. |
| 7 | Questions. View Papers |
| 8 | Notice of motions. |
| (a) | By Councillor Alex Kerr:- "Council welcomes the announcement by the First Minister of the Scottish Government's intention to hold a referendum on Scottish independence on 19th October 2023 and further notes that a judgement by the UK Supreme Court on the Scottish Parliament's ability to stage such a referendum is imminent. Council recognises that the Scottish Government has a clear and unequivocal democratic mandate to hold a referendum on Scottish independence, expressed by the Scottish people at the last two Holyrood elections. Council reiterates its alarm that hundreds of thousands of people in Glasgow and across Scotland face severe hardship as a result of a cost-of-living crisis created by the policy decisions of the Westminster government and exacerbated by the impact of a Brexit overwhelmingly rejected by Scots. Council notes with deep concern the wholly inadequate responses to this escalating crisis by the UK Government which has placed significant constraints on the Scottish and Local Government's ability to implement our own responses. Council believes that in the face of a decline in living standards such as not experienced in generations, with the severe impact on health, equity and social cohesion that will result, the ability of the Scottish people to choose an alternative to Westminster governance is now not just a clear democratic right but also an urgent necessity. Council instructs the Chief Executive to bring forward a paper outlining the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on Glaswegians to a future committee." View Papers |
| (b) | By Councillor George Redmond:- "Council notes the STUC's "Scotland demands a pay rise" rally taking place outside the Scottish Parliament on 8th September 2022; notes the strike action taken by staff of this Local Authority, and others across Scotland, in response to the unsatisfactory pay offer; notes that this action takes place in the context of the highest rate of inflation seen for over a generation; and notes, with alarm and concern, that the energy price cap is forecast to at least double by January next year, with some forecasts going considerably higher. Council recalls its decision of 23rd June 2022 that it is the responsibility of the Council to act, where it can, to support citizens. Council believes that the current support package announced by central Government is insufficient to avert widespread suffering; and that central Government should use all resources possible to support individuals and households through the cost-of-living crisis, including supporting pay rises across the public sector. Council, therefore, believes that the Scottish Government should meet the additional costs of a pay offer to Local Government staff, recognising (a) pay awards in other parts of the public sector in Scotland, (b) that Local Government accounts for the single largest group of public sector staff in Scotland and (c) that the finances available to Local Government are overwhelmingly determined by the Scottish Government. Further, Council recognises that the expected extraordinary increases in the energy price cap risks vulnerable households choosing to simply not use energy during the winter months; and recognises the acute risk of winter evictions as cost pressures continue to rise. Council additionally notes the reporting in the press regarding Officers exploring the concept of "heat bank". Council considers that the acute pressures this winter requires an emergency response from the Council and all public sector partners. Therefore, Council resolves to instruct Officers to bring forward a paper to CAC at the earliest opportunity that outlines the Council's proposed response, and that this should include consideration of options to utilise its property estate in each community across the city. Further, Council resolves to write to the Scottish and UK Governments demanding an immediate increase to the support package available, including direct support to Local Authorities to support an improved pay offer and increased funding to support the opening of community facilities over the winter months, to match the scale of the crisis that our communities face." View Papers |
| (c) | By Bailie Elaine Gallagher:- "Council recognises that the Cost of Living Crisis is a crisis of poverty borne by those people least able to afford rising fuel and energy tariffs, rents and food prices. The Council condemns the UK government's reduction of tariff controls for energy prices, Ofgem's exorbitant increase to the energy price cap, and the opportunism of energy companies in taking advantage to increase charges across the board, including standing charges. Council views this opportunism as unfair and considers that the rising prices are already harming those people with the lowest incomes, on whom the burden is falling most heavily in proportion to their means. Council further believes that the energy network should be owned by and operated for the people rather than as an exercise in free-market extortion. Council further condemns the increases in high street prices for basic foods and is concerned by a lack of transparency in international commodity markets and generation of excess profits by large corporations in the food and grocery sector. Council considers the current increase in inflation to be driven by this profiteering, and calls on the UK government to enact or restore price controls on energy and on basic goods. Council condemns the move by the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee to limit inflation by increasing interest rates, which is projected to put the UK into a recession which the general public cannot afford. Council acknowledges that wages must rise to meet increasing inflation, supports the growing trade union demands for fair pay negotiations, believes that any pay settlement under the rate of inflation will result in a real terms reduction in spending power and living standards, and agrees that pay settlements which ensure the lowest paid workers receive proportionally higher pay increases is a desirable outcome. Council further pledges to support workers forced into industrial action by not outsourcing their jobs and using the Council's standing in COSLA to lobby for the demands of workers; as well as those of people impoverished by unfair price and tariff increases; and calls on the Scottish Government and the UK Government to do likewise until adequate price controls are implemented. Council agrees: (1) that the Chief Executive will lead work to establish a warm bank network across Glasgow as soon as possible, on the understanding that: - this network will consist of buildings where people can go to keep warm, in anticipation of large numbers of people being unable to pay bills and heat their homes this winter, and it should operate in line with prevailing public health advice; - this network should be as extensive as possible and therefore officers should consider including as many council buildings as practical while also working with colleagues across the city, including in Glasgow Life, community venues and in the faith community, to identify as many potential sites as possible; - information about this warm bank network must be as accessible as possible, with clear communications made across as many channels as possible, including direct engagement with organisations working with the most vulnerable groups in Glasgow; and - people who access sites within the warm bank network should be able to access information about other forms of available support while at the warm bank sites, and also, where possible, Citizens Advice advisers, income maximisation officers, and officers from the Financial Inclusion team should be present at the sites, as well as signposting to other forms of support; (2) that the Leader of the Council will write to the UK Government to demand: - Nationalisation of the 'big 5' energy firms - Reversal of the energy price cap rises, taking prices back to October 2021 levels - Bringing back the £20 Universal Credit uplift from the pandemic, and then doubling it, with corresponding increases for legacy benefits - Raising the national minimum wage to a level that meets the Real Living Wage for all, accounting for inflation - Taxing corporations making unjust profits from this crisis with a real windfall tax that avoids the exemptions and loopholes of Rishi Sunak's energy profits levy - Increasing and inflation-proofing Scotland's block grant from Westminster, to allow for fair pay increases for workers; and (3) that the Leader of the Council will write to the Scottish Government and to COSLA calling them to do everything in their power to offer an acceptable pay settlement for Council workers, including a more equitable distribution of pay uplifts so that lowest earners get proportionately more." |
| (d) | By Councillor Ruairi Kelly:- "Council agrees that the Real Living Wage should be the minimum that any employee earns and welcomes the fact that all direct employees of Glasgow City Council are paid at least the Real Living Wage. Council recognises that as one of the largest procurers of goods and services in the city it has a responsibility to promote the payment of the Real Living Wage by all of the suppliers we do business with. Council therefore instructs officers to begin work on making Glasgow City Council an accredited Real Living Wage employer and as part of the renewal of the Corporate Procurement Strategy use all legal means to require that companies doing business with the Council pay the real Living Wage, and encourage other public and private sector organisations in Glasgow to do the same." View Papers |
| (e) | By Councillor Lana Reid-McConnell:- "Council strongly believes that art should be accessible to all Glaswegians, that art comes in many forms, and that everyone should have the opportunity to express themselves artistically. Council welcomes the vibrant street art culture within Glasgow including: the development by SWG3 of a "striking graffiti and street arts district" in Partick, Yorkhill and Greater Govan; the work of Colourworks CIC, an "artist led organisation which aims to support and promote graffiti and street art within Glasgow"; our own City Centre Mural Trail and the growing number of linked walking tours; and organic development of murals and street art such as those in Shawlands supported through the Langside Area Partnership. The council spends considerable resources removing graffiti and recognises the concerns of residents over graffiti which includes discriminatory or offensive language or symbols. Council understands that other cities and local areas have successfully embraced the even greater potential for vibrant street art to transform overlooked areas, give opportunity for people to engage in creating art, whilst respecting people's rights to feel safe in their communities. Council therefore instructs the Executive Director of Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability to: - engage with street artists and street art organisations to consider what more the Council can do to support the development of street art culture in Glasgow, including providing public "legal walls"; expanding existing mural trails to cover other parts of the city; and improving outreach with people who could benefit from involvement in street art to allow creative expression and discourage vandalism; - develop a business case for a pilot programme rolled out via Area Partnerships as a mechanism to connect with local artists and local third sector organisations on a ward level. Also explore potential for engaging with community centres, housing associations and other local stakeholders likely to have walls that could be linked with a specific artist or utilised as a public wall for workshops or practice, with a focus on engaging local youth groups; and - bring a report to an appropriate policy committee in the next three cycles to report on this engagement and business case, and further actions the Council can take to support a vibrant street-art culture, including analysing publicly-owned sites which could be made available for street art, as well as action to address problem graffiti and reduce the costs involved with clean-up." View Papers |
| 9 | Emergency motion by Bailie Hanif Raja:- "Council notes with great concern the devastating flooding in Pakistan, considered to be the worst flooding in the country's history; that this flooding is affecting 33million people; has led to outbreaks of various waterborne diseases; and that at least 1,300 people have died as a result of the flooding. Council believes that this is a humanitarian crisis which requires our support; and believes that this demonstrates the catastrophic impact that climate change is already having on some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities around the world, and notes that representatives of the Pakistani Government have made that explicit link. Council expresses its sympathy with all those whose lives have been touched by this tragedy and resolves to encourage Glaswegians to support the UK Disaster Emergency Committee's Pakistan Floods Appeal through all appropriate channels; and supports the actions of the Lord Provost in expressing the City's condolences and support to the Pakistani Consul General. Council therefore requests that Officers urgently investigate the ways in which the Council family can facilitate practical support on the ground, and support Glaswegians who also wish to support relief efforts. Council instructs that an update on this work should be submitted to the City Administration Committee on 29th September. Council further resolves to call on the UK Government to work with bilateral and multilateral partners to provide whatever support is needed to help struggling communities, and to support the Emergency Appeal issued by Pakistan and the United Nations." View Papers |