Urbanist pay under scrutiny
QUESTIONS have been raised over the cost of appointing Scotland’s first city urbanist.
Glasgow City Council has employed Professor Brian Evans to oversee the city’s future development.
The urbanism expert will earn £400-a-day and will work two days a week – amounting to £37,000 each year.
GLASGOW’S new city urbanist will cost the city nearly £40,000 a year – for two days’ work per week.
As told in the Evening Times last month, Glasgow City Council has employed Scotland’s first city urbanist to oversee the city’s future development.
Council leader Susan Aitken hailed the appointment of Professor Brian Evans as a forward-thinking addition to the council’s strategic planning.
But Professor Evans, an expert in urbanism and landscape at the Glasgow School of Art, will earn £400 a day.
Working two days a week, that amounts to around £37,000-a-year for each year of his three-year tenure, drawing criticism from some.
Local councillor Martin McElroy said: “After 12 years of budget cuts from the Edinburgh government and staff reductions within every department in the council, I was surprised that this appointment has been seen as a priority for the administration. I’m not sure too many people actually know what a city urbanist is so we will need to wait and see if this appointment is worth the money. But I wish Professor Evans the best of luck in his new role, I hope he engages positively with businesses and elected members during his tenure.”
The appointment was made through a private recruitment firm the council paid £18,000 to “carry out an international search for an appropriate candidate,” according a Freedom of Information request response.
Glasgow’s council said it wants the city to be the “best liveable city” in Scotland, with Professor Evans charged with overseeing how planning, development and transport can link up to benefit communities.
He will not, however, be able to veto planning decisions.
Councillor Greg Hepburn, chairman of the Neighbourhoods, Housing and Public Realm Committee, said: “The role of the city urbanist will be integral to making our communities cleaner, healthier and more vibrant places to live, work and visit – and I’m confident that every neighbourhood across Glasgow will benefit over the coming years.
“The fact Labour doesn’t value that as something worth investing in only goes to show their lack of ambition for our city.
“It’s a pity Councillor McElroy didn’t discover his frugal streak a little earlier, when he and his colleagues were racking up millions in legal bills trying to avoid giving women equal pay.”