Calton council faces ‘impasse’
ASUSPENDED community council in Glasgow’s East End could be dissolved due to “irreconcilable working relationships” between members.
Glasgow councillors are being asked to consider the formal dissolution of Calton Community Council (CCC) at a meeting on Thursday.
A report on the issue states there is an “impasse” amid complaints about the “alleged conduct of certain members”.
The community council was first suspended in 2018 after a number of resignations left it with insufficient membership to conduct business.
A “concerted effort” during that suspension “led to a significant increase in membership and a return to full operational status”.
However, in July last year, CCC was suspended again as it “was unable to function or to fulfill its general purpose to ascertain, co-ordinate and express the views of the community which it represents”.
A number of complaints were submitted to Glasgow City Council about the conduct of members and a “lack of correct procedures being followed”.
The community council was placed under close scrutiny before the suspension.
“It was made clear that suspension should not be viewed as a punitive measure, and rather an opportunity to revitalise the foundation for CCC,” the report adds.
A steering committee was set up but members were told if no progress was made within three months then the city council’s administration committee would be recommended to support formally dissolving the community council.
The report states, after one meeting of the steering committee in August, it was “evident that an impasse exists which involves irreconcilable working relationships between certain community council members”.
It adds: “Respect and objectivity between all parties are made explicit within the code of conduct for community councils, and it is evident that certain community council members would be unable to meet this requirement of governance for community councils.”
The “collective membership” has “demonstrated it would be unable to conform” within three months. “This leads to the recommendation for CCC to be formally dissolved.”