Committee Information

Glasgow City Council Agenda - 30 March 2023, 11:00

A meeting to be held at City Chambers, Glasgow at 11:00 on 30 March 2023.

Number	Item
1	Minutes of Council meeting of 16th February 2023 (Print 6, pages 577 to 585). View Papers
2	Committees' minutes - Submitted for information and approval as a correct record only (page 586 onwards). View Papers
3	Scheme of Members' Allowances - Report by Councillor Greg Hepburn, Council Business Manager and Convener for Open Government. View Papers
4	Changes to committee etc. View Papers
5	Representation on outside bodies. View Papers
6	Correspondence.
7	Questions. View Papers
8	Notice of motions.
(a)	Motion by Councillor Christina Cannon:- "Council notes that addressing food insecurity and hunger has been a priority for the Council and measures to support this have achieved cross party support including millions of pounds of funding for our Holiday School and Activity Programme and local food growing. Council recognises the cost-of-living crisis, food inflation and the impact of Brexit is raising food insecurity in the city in ways that have not been seen for decades and that this is having a significant impact on people's health and wellbeing. Council believes that adequate nutrition is vital to allow our young people to reach their full potential and that the nutritional value of School Meals is equally important in supporting our young people to make healthier choices. Council commends the staff working across the Council together on food education, growing, health and, addressing poverty which has led the Council being awarded a Food for Life Served Here Bronze accredited by Soil Association Scotland. Glasgow has also recently been recognised by Sustain in its recent Every Mouthful Counts report which has commended Glasgow for its food policy, practice, and procurement. Council further believes that the nutritional value of School Meals is equally important in supporting our young people to make healthier choices. Council therefore resolves that a paper should be brought before the Education, Skills and Early Years City Policy Committee in due course, outlining: how the Council's school meal provision fulfils the requirements of the Food and Drink in Schools regulations; and the current policy and practice across Glasgow schools to ensure young people have access to a wide range of healthy and filling meals. Council notes the recent Health and Wellbeing Census for 2021/2022 which has given us data to build and act upon. Nearly 60% of pupils at least sometimes went to bed or school hungry; 3% of respondents to the survey said that they always go to bed hungry; 6% said they often did and 27% have said that they sometimes do. These are finding that Council agrees we need to act upon. Council supports the ongoing programme of Financial Inclusion in Schools which seeks to ensure that parents and guardians are accessing the financial support they are entitled to help weather the cost-of-living crisis. Additionally, Council notes, and applauds, the efforts of all our School and Education staff in supporting our young people and families during this especially stressful period. Council notes that Glasgow has been Scotland leading in extending free school meals to Primary 4 and readying the education estate for future extensions to school meals over the coming years. Council reiterates its commitment to expand free school meals to all Primary school pupils when funding from the Scottish Government is received and regrets that this funding continues to be delayed. Council recalls the decision at the last meeting of the Education, Skills and Early Years City Policy Committee for officers to bring forward a paper at the earliest opportunity on how the roll-out of universal free school meals to P6 and P7 will progress; in addition, Council asks officers to include details on how uptake of free school meals will be promoted for all those eligible following the expansion of eligibility to children in P6 and P7 who receive the Scottish Child Payment. Council welcomes the Unite the Union's "Feed the Weans'' campaign and Debt Justice's "Together Against Debt" campaign. Council agrees to write off current levels of school debt held centrally. Council agrees to use reserves to write off current levels of school debt held locally, where that debt is over and above the equivalent of one month's worth of meals, in line with Principle 5 of COSLA's Good Practice Principles for School Meal Debt Management. Council further notes the recent Good Practice Principles for School Meal Debt Management guidance published by COSLA which, among other recommendations, highlights the discretionary ability of schools to use their funding streams to write-off school meal debt and provide additional free school meals for those in need who may not meet the national eligibility criteria. Council instructs the Executive Director of Education to update Glasgow City Council's policies in line with this best practice and bring a report with these updated changes to a future Education, Skills, and Early Years City Policy Committee for discussion and feedback; these policies should ensure that no child is denied food in school, regardless of ability to pay at the time of eating." View Papers
(b)	Motion by Councillor Christina Cannon:- "Council welcomes the latest statistics published by Skills Development Scotland that shows 97.1% of Glasgow's young people went on to positive destinations, exceeding the national average for the second year in a row. Council particularly commends the four schools in the city who achieved 100%: Hyndland Secondary School, Lochend High School, Saint Roch's Secondary School & Glasgow Gaelic School. Council thanks our teachers, education staff, Council officers, school communities, parents, carers and the young people themselves for achieving this result and reiterates our commitment to providing a high-quality education system where all children and young people are able to learn in an environment that helps them to reach their full potential. Council notes the recent Health and Wellbeing Census 2021-22 which has given us useful data to build and act upon about pupils' priorities. Council notes that when S1-6 pupils were asked what they thought they would most likely be doing when they left school 63% said they thought they would go in to further or higher education; 6% into an apprenticeship or trade, 3% into employment and, 22% said they did not know. Council resolves to continue looking at educational outcomes through a holistic lens, acknowledging that a child's health & wellbeing also contributes to their ability to learn and achieve. Council instructs the Executive Director of Education to bring an update to a future committee outlining good practice across Glasgow's schools so that we can continue to build on these foundations and get it right for every child in the city." View Papers
(c)	Motion by Councillor George Redmond:- "Council notes: the UK Government's Budget on 15th March; that the key feature of the Budget amounted to a "large giveaway to a small number of higher earners" at a cost of £1.2billion to public services; that cuts to Fuel Duty amount to £4.8billion from public services, while public sector workers are denied real-terms pay rises; and that the typical energy household bill is expected to be 17% higher in 2023/24 than in 2022/23. Council also notes the commitment to create an Investment Zone in Scotland; however, it recognises the failure of the UK Government to meaningfully deliver on the 'Levelling Up' agenda; and condemns the last-minute changes to Levelling Up funding that denied the City of Glasgow vital investment. Council believes that it should maximise every opportunity for additional investment into the City; and therefore instructs Officers to engage with the Scottish Government to identify options for bringing the Investment Zone to Glasgow in a way which reflects the values of this Council; but resolves to write to the UK Government outlining its serious concerns about the allocation of funding to date and to secure assurances that time and resources will not be wasted by the last-minute decisions of Ministers." View Papers
(d)	Motion by Bailie Christy Mearns:- "Council acknowledges that car-centric transport design has created many significant negative impacts on quality of life for communities across Glasgow and the West of Scotland, particularly those bordering the M8 motorway, including ongoing physical barriers, unattractive and unsafe routes for walking, wheeling and cycling, and increased noise and air pollution. Council notes that transport is Scotland's biggest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions; that car and van use accounts for over half of these emissions; that uncontrolled access to roads creates more vehicle traffic through induced demand; and that negative impacts are not evenly distributed as around half of Glasgow's households do not own a car, yet dominant road infrastructure and excessive car-use affects those experiencing poverty and inequality the most. Council reaffirms recent commitments made in Glasgow's Strategic Plan 2022-2027 to reduce the impact of the M8 on the city centre and to explore longer-term replacement options; as well as commitments in Glasgow's City Centre Transport Plan to reduce vehicle kilometres by 20% by 2030, and to "offer a more liveable, people friendly urban environment [which] uses its space and streets differently". Council notes that reversing the long-standing dominance of car use in favour of people-friendly environments is a significant challenge, however it is absolutely necessary in order to reduce health inequality, address climate change and to support a sustainable economy. Council notes that repair works and the propping up of the Woodside Viaduct alone will cost upwards of £100 million and last until at least the end of 2024 - one year and £65 million over original estimates; and that recent Freedom of Information requests have revealed that Transport Scotland are currently not assessing all immediate mitigation measures, including lower speed limits, which could address traffic volumes, air and noise pollution, as well as the number and cost of collisions. Council believes that the public cost of maintaining an ageing motorway is so significant as to warrant further investigation of possible alternatives, including but not limited to, full replacement; and that public money should be spent on achieving incremental change and not simply maintaining the status quo. This will require close collaboration with external partners and an urgent commitment to work jointly to move forward with these objectives. To this end, Council therefore asks the City Convener for Climate, Glasgow Green Deal, Transport and City Centre Recovery to (1) write to the Scottish Transport Minister to: - formally request Transport Scotland's involvement in and a funding contribution towards Glasgow City Council's research into reducing the impact of the M8 on Glasgow city centre; - formally request a 6-month trial of 30mph speed limits on city centre sections of the M8; and - request a review of powers to extend the Low Emission Zone to motorway roads; and (2) bring a report on existing air quality monitoring taking place along the motorway to the relevant city policy committee within six months." View Papers
(e)	Motion by Councillor John Daly:- "Council notes that the City Administration Committee of 13th October 2022 agreed to a time-limited exemption for non-funded taxi operators with Low Emission Zone enforcement for this group not coming into effect until 1st June 2023. However, Council recognises the significant concern is continuing to be expressed by taxi operators and users of other vehicles regarding the ability to source compliant vehicles both due to supply chain delays and the macro-economic environment. Council notes the concerns expressed by Unite Union Glasgow Cab Section that over 1,000 drivers could be lost as a result of retaining the 1st June 2023 enforcement date. Council considers that this would have a detrimental impact on the city's economy (particularly its night time economy) and on the ability for those with access needs and those who require night-time transport to be able to access the city for work and leisure. Council notes that Scotland's other LEZ's are not due to start enforcement until 1st June 2024 (30th May 2024 in Dundee) and that reflecting the significant challenges facing many small and medium businesses at the moment, it would be prudent to align the full enforcement of Glasgow's LEZ with these other schemes. Accordingly, this Council agrees that the full enforcement of Phase 2 should be delayed until 1st June 2024 and instructs the Chief Executive to make arrangements for this to occur." View Papers
(f)	Motion by Councillor Sean Ferguson:- "Council acknowledges the forthcoming centenary of the death of John MacLean, teacher and campaigner on behalf of working people and their families. Maclean was born in Pollokshaws, then part of Renfrewshire, on 14th August 1879, and died on 30th November 1923, at the age of just 44, also in Pollokshaws, which had been incorporated into Glasgow in 1912. Council recognises that MacLean closely identified with this city, whose boundaries he expressed a wish to see expanded further to match the economic and social challenges facing residents across the Clyde valley. Council recalls that both MacLean's parents had relocated to the West of Scotland because their families were forced from their homes by highland and island landowners and that his father died of an industrial disease when MacLean was just 8 years old; Council acknowledges that MacLean's personal commitment to education was a defining feature of his life, from his early engagement as a founder member of the Pollokshaws Progressive Union through many years of organising and delivering classes in economics across the West of Scotland and beyond. Council also recognises that, despite living his whole life in and around Glasgow, MacLean's commitment to and actions on behalf of working people have been recognised around the globe and immortalised in many songs, plays, and books. Council recalls that a memorial committee was established in 1973 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of John Maclean's death resulting in the erection of a memorial cairn, funded by public subscription, which was unveiled by then Lord Provost Sir William Gray and watched by MacLean's daughters, Nan and Jean; notes that the site of the cairn is adjacent to the Old Town House of Pollokshaws, at which location MacLean had held many public meetings, and is within the Pollokshaws Transformational Regeneration Area; further notes that the cairn may be removed temporarily to permit works to proceed and affirms the Council's support for the return of the cairn to a fitting and prominent site in a regenerated Pollokshaws; Council also acknowledges that the transformational improvements underway across Pollokshaws should seek to reflect the areas past and its famous son and asks the TRA to consider how MacLean's contribution to his home city can be best commemorated within those changes, allowing Council time to respond to those proposals and properly recognise the contribution of the 'bonnie fechter' and 'fighting dominie' John MacLean to the life, character, and history of the city of which he was such an important part." View Papers
(g)	Motion by Councillor Soryia Siddique:- "Council notes that 1. Approximately 45% of the world's polysilicon is made in the Uyghur Region under conditions of forced labour. Seeing as this polysilicoin can be blended at the ingoting and wafering stage, and upwards of 95% of the world's ingots and wafers are made in China, therefore experts indicate that as much as 97% of solar panels could contain materials made by millions of Uyghur forced labourers. 2. That the UK's plans to double its solar capacity by 2030 and expand the council led 'Solar Together' scheme put public bodies at greater risk of long-term complicity in modern slavery practices. 3. That solar power is an important strand of Glasgow's work to tackle the climate emergency, but that without putting in place the appropriate safeguards there is a significant risk of purchasing solar panels from suppliers that are very likely to have forced labour in their supply chain. 4. That solar panels produced in the Uyghur region are also contributing to climate change due to the use of fossil fuels and lax environmental standards across the region. On the path to securing a 'just transition' to renewable energy, decision-makers must consider the environmental and human impacts of clean energy production on frontline communities in the Global South. renewable energy requires solutions which integrate climate and environmental justice. Finding alternative solar suppliers is a humanitarian priority as well as an environmental one. 5. That current UK laws relating to supply chain due diligence, including the Modern Slavery Act of 2015, have proved unable to curtail the infiltration of forced labour made solar panels into the supply chain, let alone start, to turn the tide of exploitation. Council believes: 1. That Glasgow City Council should not purchase solar panels that are made from polysilicon or other materials sourced from the Uyghur region. 2. That, even if complete eradication of tainted solar panels is not achievable in the near term, it is possible to make improvements in procurement and contract management to reduce the association of Glasgow City Council with forced Uyghur labour. 3. That, within a year, this Council should have sufficient measures in place to ensure their responsible procurement strategy tackles the problem of forced-labour-made panels. Council, therefore, resolves to: 1. Instruct Officers to present a report to the appropriate Committee, outlining how the council's Sustainable Procurement Strategy can be adapted to reflect a responsible Uyghur forced labour policy, on the basis of UNISON's template. 2. To engage with partners, including the Stop Uyghur Genocide campaign, to develop a plan of improvement including: (a) Start dialogue with existing suppliers to review their entire supply chains from quartz to panels, then discuss and agree an action plan. (b) Raise the issue to test suppliers' attitudes to finding alternative producers during pre-market engagement, when advertising for tendering and during tender interviews. (c) Review existing practice at contract stage, to insert forced labour specific contract clauses, including clauses for exiting for non-compliance (d) Consistently manage the contract by following up the action plan progress and if necessary, invoking the contract clauses. 3. Raise the issue of solar procurement amongst local Parliamentarians."
(h)	Motion by Councillor Dan Hutchison:- "Council notes that Foster and Kinship Carers provide an essential service to Glasgow's children and allow us all to meet our obligations as corporate parents and that this is of the highest priority following the care review. Council further notes that these carers have seen their incomes fall in real terms over the past decade and that this is not in the best interests of children in their care. Whilst some carers saw an increase in their allowances as a result of the 2021/22 budget, those with children over the age of 10 have remained frozen for more than a decade. Council also acknowledges that at the Foster and Kinship Carer summit held on the 1st February it was clear that the current cost of living crisis is severely impacting the carers and the families that they care for. Council therefore renews its call for the Integration Joint Board to restore inflation-linked increases to allowances for all foster and kinship carers, and to continue to lobby the Scottish Government for funding to deliver this. Council believes that the situation in respect of foster and kinship carer allowances has arisen, in part, due to a lack of formal partnership working between carers, collectively, and Social Work officers. Council agrees that the most effective method of partnership working with these carers, in particular relating to their rights to collective bargaining, would be through formal recognition of their chosen trade union(s). Council further agrees that enabling collective bargaining is the best way forward for the carers but also the children in their care, and agrees that the children's wellbeing must continue to be of central importance in these discussions. Council therefore instructs the Director of Human Resources to submit a report to the City Administration Committee setting out the legal, financial, strategic and operational implications of entering into a formal recognition process in order that Committee can consider whether to begin that process with the Independent Workers of Great Britain Trade Union who represent the largest body of Foster and Kinship Carers at Glasgow City Council for the purposes of collective bargaining. Such a report should be submitted to the City Administration Committee by Summer Recess 2023."
(i)	Motion by Bailie Thomas Kerr:- "Council welcomes the recent agreement at the United Nations for a High Seas Treaty. Council notes that this treaty will provide a legal framework for managing parts of the ocean known as "international waters" - those outside of specific national jurisdictions. Council further notes that this treaty will provide a way forward to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030 ensuring that they are managed in a conservation-friendly manner and will also provide arrangements for Environmental Impact Assessments for deep-sea activities and for sharing marine genetic resources. Council notes with interest that the oceans ecosystems produce around half of the Earth's oxygen, are 95% of our biosphere and are our largest "carbon sink" removing CO2 from our atmosphere. Council welcomes that the UK Government has been supporting the development of this treaty as part of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, the High Ambition Coalition for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction and the Global Ocean Alliance and encourages the UK Government to ratify the treaty as soon as possible."