Councillors demand full meeting in July
GLASGOW’s Labour councillors say it is essential all elected members can meet next month to scrutinise the authorities response to coronavirus.
Council bosses are hopeful of holding a full council meeting at the end of July but admitted there’s “lots of ifs, buts and maybes” during a digital meeting on Thursday.
Most meetings were suspended in March to allow the local authority to focus on its response to the pandemic.
Labour councillor Elaine McDougall asked Carole Forrest, director of governance and solicitor to the council, if she is confident a meeting can be held in July.
Forrest said: “I am confident but caveat that with the fact we’ve got a lot to do and a lot to get through.
“I’d appreciate the cooperation of all your groups, making themselves available for the training.”
She added the process “may be subject to issues which will need to be resolved”.
Council leader Susan Aitken said: “One of the things that has held up this process in the past was elected members not taking up the training when it was offered to them.
“If we want this to happen, we need to make it happen as well.
“Please do as you’re asked to do.”
In response, McDougall said: “If they can do it in Westminster with 650 members, I’m sure you will make this happen. We are asking you to make it happen.
“If it doesn’t happen then I think something has went terribly wrong and there would maybe need to be an investigation into how we’re not getting this to happen.” Aitken responded: “I’m not sure Westminster has been the best example of how to conduct democracy during the current pandemic. “In fact, most of us have looked at it in absolute horror. It wouldn’t be the example that I’d pick.” She added: “We are still in the middle of a global pandemic and an extremely complex operational response. That response continues to evolve on a virtually daily basis.”
The council leader highlighted the challenges facing the local authority, including providing a Shielding and Shielding Plus service for almost 100,000 people. Bailie Soryia Siddique, Labour’s education spokeswoman, said:
“I think it is important for a full council meeting to take place in July.”
She said parents and carers have concerns around blended learning and the pause in 1140 hours plans for early learning and childcare.
Siddique added: “In absence of the education committee meetings, a full council meeting allows a detailed debate allowing elected members, parents, carers, unions and education staff’s views to be taken into consideration.”
Aitken said: “Those are operational matters that Baillie Siddique is referring to.
“We would need to be clear about what we were debating.”
She said education and the “complex logistics” involved with trying to return pupils to school in August is “very high on everyone’s agenda”.