Chief Executive updates - 2024

6 March 2024 - Dates for your diary

I know it probably feels like we have barely settled into 2024 - but, by the next time I write one of these messages, a quarter of the year will already be behind us.

Many of you will already know that 2025 will bring with it a major milestone for our city, as Glasgow marks its 850^th birthday.

We want to support people, partners and communities to create a citywide, inclusive, yearlong programme of events and activities that reflect on how the city has transformed - particularly over the last fifty years.

I think it is also equally important that the city's celebrations look to how we can inspire further change and a better future over the next fifty.

With heritage, young people, communities, climate change, culture, innovation and business and skills, among the themes of the year, the River Clyde past, present and future is also integral to our city's story.

Colleagues across the council family will be integral to this celebration - after all, around two thirds of our workforce also live in the city.

That might mean simply attending or participating in events, but we also have the opportunity to be real ambassadors for Glasgow's birthday - supporting people to tell their stories and celebrate in their own way and strengthening relationships.

So, while 2025 might still seem a long way away, this is the ideal time to visit www.glasgow850.com and start thinking about what part you want to play.

International Women's Day 2024

While the diary for Glasgow's big year in 2025 is already filling up, there's another important date coming up in the next few days.

This Friday, March 8, is International Women's Day - and a really valuable opportunity for all of us, of any gender, to celebrate women and their achievements while also raising awareness of discrimination.

The Glasgow family has is its own strong Women's Network, which provides an opportunity for women - or anyone interested in gender issues - to get together and discuss relevant topics, share ideas, insights and experiences.

Around 70% or our workforce is female and the group provides a positive, supportive environment enabling members to relate to one another first and foremost as individuals.

It's a key part of our work to support equality, diversity and inclusion, which I'm very proud to sponsor. Whether on International Women's Day or any other, I encourage colleagues to get involved.

You can find out more about our network on Connect or email WomensNetwork@glasgow.gov.uk to join the mailing list for updates.

Inclusion and staff training/events calendar

Finally, I have more dates for your diaries - making our workplaces more inclusive and linked to wellbeing events, training and personal development opportunities.

Here you can access a new Inclusion Calendar marking diverse holidays, cultural events, religious celebrations and other occasions.

Meanwhile, you will find a diary of regular staff training and development activities at 'join us' here.

7 February 2024 - Budget and Take Time to Talk

Many of you will already know that, last week, I confirmed that I'll be retiring as Chief Executive in a few months' time.

In time, I'm sure I'll use this message to say a bit more about my time with the council and the challenges ahead - but that will be closer to my actual departure.

At the moment, I want to stay absolutely focused on the job in hand in what is a really critical time for the city.

We have a budget to set next week - the culmination of months of hard work and the start of many more, as we strive to protect the key services that communities depend on.

For now, I'll just say that it has been a great privilege to work for the city for as long as I have - and in some really challenging but fulfilling roles. I'll miss it and I'll miss all of my colleagues.

Every day, I work with colleagues who are innovative and resilient; totally committed to this city, and formidable leaders in their own right.

Whoever follows me will be ready and they'll have a great team alongside them.

Time to Talk

Although the official Time to Talk day was last week, it's never a bad time to think how friends, families, communities and workplaces can come together to talk, listen and change lives.

The theme for this year's campaign is 'what I really mean', highlighting the fact that the words we say don't always reflect what is going on beneath the surface.

By being honest about how we're feeling we can all help combat the stigma that still exists around mental health.

At work, that might just mean checking in with a colleague, or a chat about wellbeing over a cup of tea - and there is plenty of information available to support your conversations.

Staff can visit the See Me 'Time to Talk' webpage to get involved in mental health conversations in the workplace.

10 January 2024 - Happy New Year: the year ahead

Happy New Year and I hope that everyone was able to relax and enjoy a festive break.

I'm always very conscious that, although many colleagues are able to take an extended period of leave over Christmas and New Year, others will have worked during at least some of the holiday period.

So I want to say how grateful I am that you were ready to deliver essential services that will have made a real difference to Glaswegians over recent weeks.

The year ahead is full of challenges - we have to complete job evaluation and implement a new pay scheme; there will be a General Election to navigate.  

Other challenges, such as dealing with climate and housing emergencies, may now be part of our day-to-day work, but they are no less testing.

We also need to turn our attention back to the annual council budget, which will be set in February.

I'm sure nobody that has ever read any of my previous budget updates, running back over a number of years, will be remotely surprised to hear that is going to be an extremely challenging process.

Our finance team and every Service across the council family is working with a cross-party group of councillors right now to look at not only how we balance the books, but protect services and invest where we can.

A big part of that involves analysing the budget the Scottish Government sets for the country and what it expects of local government - and, realistically, that will continue right up to the eleventh hour.

What I can tell you is that, late last year, we were forecasting a spending gap of around £120 million over the next three years - and I think we can expect to see a budget that looks ahead over that kind of period, to give us the best chance of making strategic decisions and realistic service reforms.

Thank you once again for your continued commitment to the people of Glasgow and I will keep you updated on budget developments when I can.