Glasgow City Council Agenda - 31 October 2013, 13:30 Help

A meeting to be held at City Chambers, Glasgow at 13:30 on 31 October 2013.

Number Item
1Print 4 - Committees' minutes - Consideration of paragraphs marked "C", remaining paragraphs submitted for information and approval as a correct record only (page 257 onwards). View Papers
2Consideration of minutes previously objected to.
3Local Government By-Election - Election of Councillor for Electoral Ward 5 (Govan) - Report by Returning Officer. View Papers
4Changes to committees etc. View Papers
5Representation on outside bodies - Culture and Sport Glasgow (Glasgow Life) - Re-appoint Sir Angus Grossart as Independent Director. View Papers
6Correspondence.
7Questions. View Papers
8Notices of motions:-
(a)By Councillor Gordon Matheson:-

"Council supports efforts to save jobs at Prestwick: acknowledges that Glasgow Airport currently serves over 7 million passengers each year to some 90 global destinations and plays a significant role in the economy of Glasgow and west central Scotland; expresses concern that assistance provided to Prestwick Airport by the Scottish Government could be at the expense of the continued growth and development of Glasgow Airport; and instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Deputy First Minister to seek assurance that the Scottish Government's efforts to develop and promote a sustainable business case for Prestwick Airport will not impact now or in the future on the success of Glasgow Airport." View Papers
(b)By Councillor Billy McAllister:-

"Council recognises the immense economic and social benefits which will be derived from the 2014 Commonwealth Games being hosted by Glasgow. Furthermore, Council notes the international exposure which Scotland and Glasgow will receive as a result of the 2014 Games.

Council regrets that ATOS are implementing the iniquitous welfare policies of the Westminster Government. Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014 seeking the removal of ATOS as a corporate sponsor of the 2014 Commonwealth Games."  View Papers
(c)By Councillor Martha Wardrop:-

"Glasgow City Council welcomes the first Challenge Poverty Week from 13th to 17th October which brought together a wide range of groups and individuals to highlight what is being done to tackle poverty and build momentum for increased action.

Council acknowledges that women may be at increased risk of poverty compared to men, and can experience recurring, long term poverty. In Glasgow, there is a disproportionate number of lone mothers in the most deprived neighbourhoods, as well as some black and minority ethnic women who may face a particularly high poverty risk.

Council notes that many of the welfare reforms have a larger impact on women, due to women's roles as carers. As a consequence, poverty and social exclusion, especially amongst female single parents is expected to increase in Glasgow.

As part of Glasgow's Action Plan for Change, the Council will do more to engage with women's organisations and individual women directly experiencing poverty, to identify:-

(1) the impact of key policies implemented under the banner of Welfare Reform;

(2) areas in which it can mitigate the impact of the UK's welfare reform programme; and

(3) gaps in support services for women affected by the welfare and tax reform policies.

Council agrees to support the development of dialogue with women's organisations to address the continuing challenges that women face in tackling poverty." View Papers
(d)By Councillor Matt Kerr:-

"Council is greatly concerned by the government's rushed and shambolic privatisation of the Royal Mail. Council further believes that any income generated in the short term by the sale of this public service will be outstripped by additional future costs to customers and risks transforming a self-sufficient, profitable service into an organisation unable to maintain the Universal Service Obligation across the United Kingdom without significant public subsidy. Council rejects the premise that private capital is required to sustain the Royal Mail and believes that privatisation represents an appallingly poor deal for the owners of Royal Mail - the people.

Therefore, Council calls for a public inquiry into the mishandling of this process and the gross undervaluation of the Royal Mail.  View Papers
(e)By Councillor Archie Graham:-

"This Council welcomes the official launch of our co-operative unit and awaits with interest its draft action plan. This Council is committed to encouraging the growth of existing and supporting the development of new co-operatives and social enterprises across the city and will offer support to these organisations.

In order to assist the co-operative unit meet its objectives, Council instructs the unit to undertake a mapping exercise to identify exisiting co-operatives in the city and to identify gaps where resources should be allocated to encourage future development in this field." View Papers
(f)By Councillor Kieran Wild:-

"Council notes that as part of the Spending Review 2010. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are required to achieve 25% savings by 2015.

Council acknowledges that the UK Government's Digital Strategy, published in November 2012 as part of the Civil Service Reform plan, champions "Digital by Default" as a way of achieving budget savings. The new operating model being piloted in the North East of England, also known as the Needs Enhanced Support pilot, would see the closure of the Enquiry Centre network in early 2014 and all customers including those that need extra support being required to seek advice and support through the Contact Centre help lines. There is potential for all of the UK's 281 enquiry centres to close next year, which could place around 1,300 jobs at risk across the UK.

Council requests that the findings and implications of the pilot in the North East of England are reported to the Finance and Audit Scrutiny Committee and the relevant Policy Development Committee." View Papers
(g)By Councillor Mhairi Hunter:-

"Council is concerned by changes to the appeals system applied to social security benefits.

New regulations, introduced this month, remove the automatic right of appeal for those in receipt of ESA who have been found fit for work.

Instead, a claimant who wishes to contest a decision will be required to request a review/mandatory reconsideration. There is no statutory time limit within which a response must be received and Legal Aid cannot be accessed during the new reconsideration phase.

During the period of reconsideration, a claimant cannot continue to claim ESA at a reduced rate, as they could under the previous system. Instead, the claimant must claim Job Seekers Allowance. If the client fails to meet his/her obligations for entitlement to JSA their benefit may cease, with the risk that Housing and Council Tax Benefit will also cease.

Council believes that these changes pose a serious risk to many vulnerable individuals as well as posing a potential risk to Council finances and a risk of increased rent arrears impacting on both social and private landlords."
(h)By Councillor David McDonald:-

"Council pledges its full support for the expression of interest made by the Scottish Football Association for Glasgow to be a host venue for the UEFA European Championships in 2020.

Council believes that being a host city would inspire more young people to get involved in football and would continue to build a strong sporting legacy in the city beyond the Commonwealth Games in 2014."
9Minutes of Council meeting of 12th September 2013 (Print 4, pages 249 to 256). View Papers