Q 1 Asked By: Councillor Frank Mcaveety

Q 1 Asked by: Councillor Frank McAveety

To ask the Leader of the Council if they agree with comments Tabled attributed to the Glasgow SNP that prompting members of their Question own party to share images from 2015 on twitter as ‘just a joke’?

Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of the Council and City Convener for Responder Inclusive Economic Growth

Yes.

I made a comment on a private thread in relation to the fallout from the fan zone issue and the readiness of political opponents to fully accept a particular partisan narrative.

It was a joke which was not acted upon and the image was not shared by any SNP councillor at the time.

Q 2 Asked by: Councillor Archie Graham

To ask the Leader of the Council whether the Glasgow Airport Tabled Access proposal contained within the Connectivity Commission Question report will be taken forward in the development of a revised Outline Business Case?

Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of the Council and City Convener for Responder Inclusive Economic Growth

The City Region Cabinet meeting on the 9th April unanimously agreed the recommendations that:

(i) further work be done to develop out the PRT option and note that all costs required would be contained within existing approvals; and

(ii) the project team should take due cognisance of the recommendations of Glasgow City Council’s Connectivity Commission in developing the revised OBC.

Q 3 Asked by: Councillor Matt Kerr

To ask the City Convener for Health and Social Care Integration Tabled the number of community care needs assessments carried out Question for asylum seekers in Glasgow in the last 12 months?

Cllr Mhairi Hunter, City Convener for Health and Social Care Responder Integration

Social Work Services do not record immigration status on the department’s client database system and as such it is not possible to count the number of community care assessments carried out in the past year.

Q 4 Asked by: Councillor Jane Morgan

To ask the Leader of the Council to update the Chamber on any Tabled conversations with the Scottish Government following the Question publication of the Connectivity Commission report?

Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of the Council and City Convener for Responder Inclusive Economic Growth

Following the publication of the Connectivity Commission at the end of April, I wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity on 2nd May outlining the key findings of the report and asking for a meeting to discuss it.

That meeting will take place next week.

Q 5 Asked by: Councillor Thomas Kerr

To ask the Leader of the Council for her response to recent Tabled events which has seen the administration lose 2 Councillors and Question become even more of a minority administration?

Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of the Council and City Convener for Responder Inclusive Economic Growth

Almost exactly two years ago, the people of Glasgow voted for a change as to how their city should be run. Like every other council in Scotland, no party emerged with a clear and overall majority. However, the SNP were by a distance the biggest single party and topped the poll in every ward in the city and so formed the administration.

In the past two years we have resolved Labour’s pay discrimination which haunted this authority for far too long - money owed will start being paid to claimants next month.

We brought Barclays, the largest inward investment ever announced in Scotland to the banks of the Clyde and work on that site in Tradeston continues. We secured one of the hubs for Channel 4, and last week they started advertising for commissioning editors, a huge boost for this key sector in the city.

Our holiday hunger programme and universal credit hubs help mitigate the on- going effects of Tory austerity. We are the first city in Scotland and the second after London to put in place a Low Emission Zone and yesterday we announced our ambition to be the first Net Zero city in the UK.

I’m proud to lead this City Government.

It is unfortunate that two of those elected in 2017 on an SNP ticket have chosen, for whatever reason, to leave the party. That is their decision and it will be for constituents to decide if those who have left have delivered what was expected of them. But the need for change, for freshness of idea and approach, is bigger than any one – or two – individuals. We on these benches, and, where we can, across this Chamber, have every determination to continue delivering for people of Glasgow.

Q 6 Asked by: Councillor Tony Curtis

To ask the convener for health and social care with almost two thirds of people in Glasgow being overweight, and a quarter of Tabled the people of Glasgow being classed as obese, what is the city Question administration doing to reduce the precursors to, and prevalence of, obesity?

Cllr Mhairi Hunter, City Convener for Health and Social Care Responder Integration

Through the integration arrangements in the city we promote breastfeeding and healthy early years. GHSCP has achieved the new Gold UNICEF standard in all localities – the highest accredited level of best practice and the only HSCP in Scotland to achieve this to date.

We provide Weaning Fayres to support good earliest feeding practices and around 2000 babies attend 85 fayres annually. The other key programme is the Nursery Dental Health programme; Nursery education training programme which covers oral health – including healthy eating, to support good practice in early child care with a rolling training programme in place across 96% of nurseries.

We’re extending programmes to be more active more often, for instance GGC NHS contracting with Glasgow Life to provide the exercise on prescription scheme (Live Active) and we work together on the Physical Activity Committee particularly around Good Moves.

We support access to affordable and nutritious food. Community Health Projects focusing on the poorest neighbourhoods provide localised initiatives to support healthy eating including homework clubs with cooking for parents, then eat together, and food packs for people to cook at home. We also support groups to run Barra’s in some Health Centre’s/Community Hubs for local people to access fruit and veg at a reasonable cost. Last year we supported the establishment of the GGC Holiday Food Programme, including setting standards for nutritious food provided and public health evaluation of impact of programme on well-being of children (14,600 fed). We have a Food Summit scheduled for the end of May 2019, from which a food plan for the city is being proposed, which again we will work to enable. Finally the Food Insecurity Enquiry providing evidence of scale of food insecurity.

In the HSCP we promote healthy weight interventions. The HSCP developed a ‘Weigh 2 Go’ service for young people (12+) seeking to manage their weight. The service demonstrated appeal and success (10% of body weight lost) and has now been mainstreamed, Glasgow hosts the service for the wider GGC NHS Board area. The HSCP is also part of the implementation group for the GGC NHS Child Healthy Weight Strategy. GGC NHS manages adult weight management services which primary care can refer designated patients into.

The HSCP Health Improvement Team promotes healthy cooking skills and the Get Cooking get shopping provision, with around 60 groups annually and 350 participants.

Q 7 Asked by: Councillor Tanya Wisely

In light of Scottish Government's Declaration of a Climate Emergency, will the Leader of the Council now support Green Tabled Councillors' call of February 2019 to put in place a £10.5 million Question budget to establish a Climate Emergency Fund in the current financial year?

Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of the Council and City Convener for Responder Inclusive Economic Growth

Whilst in year changes to the budget which passed in February are technically possible, and variations occur all year, it would be extremely challenging to put in place a full £10.5m aside for a, still undefined, Climate Emergency Fund. In order to borrow that level of capital funding, over £800k of revenue funding would need to be found from already committed budgets.

The Council already spends millions of pounds a year on carbon reduction and including £1.5 million to install a 3rd phase of solar arrays on the Council estate, £1m to create a Smart and Renewables Hub for electric vehicles at Duke Street Car Park, £600k on to install a hydro-electric generator in Pollok Park and £3.1m to roll out another 130 Electric Vehicle chargers in as well as replacing 10% of our fleet with clean vehicles.

Whilst the budget has already been set, over the course of this year, it might be possible to find some additional funding to accelerate our shared Net Zero ambitions and officers continue to look at alternative opportunities for funding.

Q 8 Asked by: Councillor Kim Long

To ask the City Convener for Equalities to update the chamber Tabled on the first meeting and future plans for the new Asylum Strategic Question Forum?

Cllr Jennifer Layden, City Convener for Equalities and Human Responder Rights

I thank Cllr Long for her question.

The first meeting of the Strategic Forum on Asylum Seekers and Refugees was a useful first step. I would thank Cllr Long, Cllr Rhodes and Bailie Christie for their input.

At our first meeting, members heard in detail about the work of the Asylum Seekers Task Force set up in the wake of last summer’s threatened evictions of 300 asylum seekers by Serco, the outgoing contractor for the Home Office’s asylum dispersal programme.

The task force did a great job in pulling together all the agencies and identifying what went wrong in the lead in to that event. Their report makes clear that there were serious communication failings. We must ensure that all parties learn from that as we move forward into the contract with the Mears Group from the autumn. Preparation for the new contract is already under way and the Scotland regional partnership to work alongside Mears starts work this month.

The City Government has used the work of the task force to push for change with the Home Office approach both here in Scotland and across the UK. The Chief Executive engages with the Home Office on a UK-wide Chief Executive’s Working Group. We are pursuing a range of issues, including giving more asylum seekers the right to work, and a fair distribution of funds to local authorities involved in delivering the dispersal programme.

I see the Strategic Forum helping us to keep in touch with the work that takes place with asylum seekers and their host communities and to help the city influence the wider agenda.

Q 9 Asked by: Councillor Tanya Wisely

To ask the relevant City Convenor what engagement did the Tabled Council have with the Scottish Government’s interim review of Question Regional Improvement Collaboratives?

Cllr Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills and Responder Early Years

There has been engagement with the Scottish Government through the Directors of Education who have reported on this to the Education Committee which consists of elected members from each of the eight authorities.

The interim review report was discussed by the Education Committee at a recent meeting, and an update will be coming to an upcoming committee.

Q 10 Asked by: Councillor Euan Blockley

Does the Leader of the Council agree with me that Sectarianism Tabled has no place in public office and that those that seek to represent Question this council at a senior level should be careful with what they post online?

Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of the Council and City Convener for Responder Inclusive Economic Growth

Yes. I agree with Cllr Blockely that sectarianism has no place in society.

I have previously stated publicly that inflammatory and irresponsible comments made by party colleagues of elected members within this Chamber had a significant impact on the Depute Leader and I following accusations that we acted improperly in relation to a fanzone application – accusations which have been repeatedly rebutted by the officers involved.

These accusations that the Depute Leader and I were motivated by sectarianism or footballing allegiances culminated in death threats being made against members of this administration, someone being arrested and charged in relation to this threat, and police protection having to be put in place.

I believe we all have a responsibility in relation to remarks that they make in public, and I hope that Cllr Blockley will reflect on the extremely inflammatory language he has used in his public remarks too.

Q 11 Asked by: Councillor Mandy Morgan

To ask the City Convener for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Tabled Public Realm what progress the council is making on its Question commitment to deliver new affordable homes?

Cllr Kenny Mclean, City Convener for Neighbourhoods, Housing Responder and Public Realm I thank Cllr Morgan for her question.

The city is making good progress in the delivery of new affordable homes. Over the last two financial years, we have achieved almost 2,700 site starts.

This is being done in a challenging financial climate, with tender costs for new build homes increasing significantly year on year, and, quite rightly, increasingly stringent environmental standards being applied. From September last year, house builders will have to meet a sustainability standard that demonstrates best practice in sustainability and accessibility.

Also, as we have discussed many times in this chamber and in committees, we have been left to deal with a legacy of contaminated land that is very expensive to address, with much of the cost currently falling on the housing budget, something on which we will continue to press for wider action.

These new homes are being delivered through a very wide range of projects across the city, including the hugely challenging Transformational Regeneration Areas. At the smaller end of the project scale, I am sure Cllr Morgan will welcome the new build taking place in Provanhall in her ward, which brings together GHA and Provanhall Housing Association to deliver a range of housing including wheelchair and amenity housing.

For a project at an even smaller scale, I know Cllr Scally is taking a particular interest in the work going on to deliver six self-build homes, which may not be classed as affordable, but do represent a different approach families can take to meet their housing needs.

Q 12 Asked by: Bailie Soryia Siddique

To ask the City Convener for Education, Skills and Early Years to Tabled update the chamber on the Governance arrangements in place to Question ensure that Schools are able to maximise their use of Pupil Equity Funding.

Cllr Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills and Responder Early Years

Education Services have a range of approaches to ensure that school communities make appropriate use of Pupil Equity Funding to reduce the poverty- related attainment gap. In the first year, Head Teachers were provided with detailed guidance and were asked to submit a plan which was reviewed by the Executive Director. Workshops were set up with finance officers to build Head Teachers’ skills and expertise. Head Teachers are now asked to ensure that pupil equity funding is aligned to their improvement priorities and is referenced in their improvement plan. They report on the impact through their standards and quality reports and their education perspective report. The latter report is monitored annually by link quality improvement officers and senior education officers.

In terms of financial governance, the Head of Service Development works closely with Business Managers and Administrative Financial Assistants, known as AFAs. Each AFA links directly with a group of schools and they work closely with each Head Teacher to ensure that budgets are spent appropriately and that Head Teachers get regular reports. There are separate financial reports for pupil equity funding and for other spend managed by Head Teachers.

Q 13 Asked by: Councillor Alexander Belic

Will the Leader of the Council join me in congratulating The Al- Tabled Farooq mosque in my ward which has just won Scottish Mosque Question of the Year?

Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of the Council and City Convener for Responder Inclusive Economic Growth

I’d like to thank Cllr Belic for bringing to the Chambers attention the inaugural Community Awards, held by the Scottish Annual Conference last month, to recognise the important work by individuals and organisations in Scotland’s Muslim community.

After a public vote, Al-Farooq Education and Community Centre was named Mosque of the Year 2019.

The mosque was established in the late 1990’s in Govanhill to provide the local Muslim community with a centre for gatherings, festivals, religious education and worship. The mosque continued to grow and prosper and became known as Al- Farooq Education and Community Centre in 2016.

AFECC is a forward-thinking, creative and energetic group of individuals dedicated to benefiting the local community both and across Glasgow and beyond. AFECC aims to push boundaries and hosts innovative projects where design and creativity inform success.

Al-Farooq became the first mosque in Scotland to provide British Sign Language translations for its Friday sermons this year. It is also the only mosque with dedicated classes for the deaf community, as well as providing social and educational programmes for women.

The Education and Community Centre launched a food bank in 2015 which it runs six days a week offering fresh food and bakery items. They have also partnered with other charities to distribute food packages to the homeless community across Glasgow.

On behalf of the Chamber I’d like to wish AFECC “Ramadan Mubarak” and congratulations on being Scotland’s Mosque of the Year.

Q 14 Asked by: Bailie Josephine Docherty

Does the Leader agree that the Centenary of 1919 “Battle of Tabled George Square” is an important part of the people of Glasgow’s Question heritage, and that it is right one of the main activists, John MacLean, was celebrated at this year’s May Day rally?

Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of the Council and City Convener for Responder Inclusive Economic Growth

The events in George Square in January 1919 are very much a part of this city’s story. As the nations of these islands mark a decade of centenaries, not least the impact of - and fallout from - the First World War, the case for this city better understanding our often tumultuous past is compelling.

A century ago this year, the people of Glasgow were exhausted by the events of a war which had ended some 80 days before. Britain and its allies emerged as victors but ordinary people had not yet won the peace. A land fit for heroes was beset with pandemics and growing worklessness, culminating in the events on the Square on those last days of the month. George Square certainly witnessed one of the most astonishing outbreaks of civic violence in Scottish modern history.

A battle erupted, the Riot Act read, a panic-stricken cabinet in London sent in troops and tanks. For a moment, revolution, like that which shook the world from Russia a year before and erupted earlier that month in Germany, looked set to sweep western Scotland. But from that week many lasting myths and folklore emerged, not least the enduring notion of the Red Clydesider.

So it’s entirely appropriate that Glasgow acknowledges and understands this part of its social history and, indeed, considers something which acknowledges it. To be clear, acknowledgement and understanding is not the same as a celebrating.

The strikes were led of course by Willie Gallacher, Manny Shinwell and David Kirkwood. John Maclean, who for many remains the symbol of the campaigning by the workers of Glasgow for change, was in England on speaking engagements. But he is synonymous with a time of great change and challenge. Our history if that of our people, our people have always made Glasgow and yes Bailie Docherty it right that he was celebrated on May Day.

And I, for one, believe a celebration of his life, work and ideas are worthy of further discussion by the Council.

Q 15 Asked by: Councillor Cecilia O’Lone

To ask the City Convener for Health and Social Care Integration Tabled the current timescales for the decision of a Child Protection Question Conference?

Cllr Mhairi Hunter, City Convener for Health and Social Care Responder Integration

Decisions are made at Child Protection Conferences at the time of the meeting and detailed by the Chair at the end of the meeting. This allows for dissent to be noted by anyone present who may disagree.

The decision letter should be sent out within 24 hours and the full minute as soon as possible thereafter.

Q 16 Asked by: Councillor Allan Casey

To ask the City Convener for health and social care for an update Tabled on discussions on the need for a safe drug consumption facility in Question Glasgow?

Cllr Mhairi Hunter, City Convener for Health and Social Care Responder Integration

The Integrated Joint Board continues to engage with Home Officials and politically we continue to make the case for a Safe Consumption Facility in Glasgow. The UK government remains entirely resistant to the idea.