Chief Executive Message

January weather in Glasgow is rarely particularly friendly - but Storm Éowyn and the red weather warning that blew in with it made for a wild start to the year for the city.

Most of us had only a few hours to prepare when the storm that hit much of Scotland and Ireland was upgraded to the Met Office's most serious threat level earlier this month.
But, with extreme weather sadly becoming more common, it's really important we are able to adapt, often quickly, to keep the city supported and our staff safe.

I'm really proud of the response from our teams across the city and what you managed to achieve in really difficult circumstances.

During the storm and in its immediate aftermath, teams dealt with reports of 60 dangerous buildings, approximately 500 fallen trees and repairs to our schools to allow them to open on Monday.

We coped with 15 emergency road closures and diversions, clearing them quickly to get the city moving again once the weather lifted - and damage to other vital infrastructure, such as street lights.

Incredibly, our home carers managed to complete around 85% of visits, despite being faced with terrible conditions - ensuring thousands of our fellow Glaswegians were well supported at a really difficult time.

We worked closely with partners in the blue light services, health and other public bodies to keep people safe and informed.

And, across the council family, thousands of others were able to use the lessons learned during the pandemic to keep key work on track remotely.

I want to make sure you all know how much I, the council's elected leadership and the wider city appreciate your efforts.

Time to Talk
It's never a bad time to think how friends, families, communities and workplaces can come together to talk, listen to each other and change lives.

This Time to Talk week, we're all being asked to 'get comfortable and start talking about mental health' and I'm very keen to support this.

Talking openly and honestly about how we are feeling can be the first step towards better mental health for everyone. It can reduce stigma and help people feel comfortable enough to seek help when they need it.

At work, that might just mean checking in with a colleague, speaking openly about yourself to look for support and encouraging others to do the same. 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, and I have made sure that colleagues in the Corporate Management Team ensure there is an openness and support for this approach across the Council.

I'd also like to wish all those observing Ramadan, Ramadan Murbarak - may your Ramadan be blessed.

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