NY jolly does not make any cents
»»Council plans to send four representatives to US for Scotland Week despite huge service cuts in city »»Unions and opposition parties say jolly would be a ‘kick in the teeth’ to struggling Glaswegians
COUNCILS are having to make hard choices due to the poor funding settlement from the Government.
Jobs are being slashed and services will be cut in a bid to balance the books.
Glasgow City Council, which has already made deep cuts in recent years, is facing a £107million black hole.
Hundreds of teaching posts could be axed and Glaswegians will pay more for parking and school meals.
Given these sacrifices, councillors should ensure every spending decision can be justified to their constituents.
The plan to spend thousands sending four councillors and officials on a Scotland Week trip to New York fails this test.
There is no doubt councillors face terrible choices over which services to axe. But it is vital through this process that every penny spent is justified.
The benefits of this event to ordinary Scots – particularly those struggling with money – have never been clear.
Scotland Week has always looked like an extravagance that is good for the politicians and bigwigs who get a free trip to the US.
The council should bring forward an analysis of how attendance at Scotland Week will help Glasgow. It should give figures on the number of jobs likely to be created and any inward investment coming to the city.
Failure to do so will fuel criticism that this is a trip of questionable value to Glasgow.
The city’s local politicians have made some poor decisions of late and need to make amends with voters.
Jetting off to New York is another slap in the face for hard-pressed taxpayers across the city.
An SNP council has been blasted for a plan to send senior politicians on a lavish trip to new York after pushing through savage spending cuts.
Glasgow Council intends to fly four councillors and officials to Scotland Week in the Big Apple – despite 450 teaching posts being at risk and local services being slashed.
Council treasurer Richard Bell, a key architect behind the Glasgow cuts, is in line to attend alongside Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren and two council officials.
Last night, trade unions representing council workers reacted with fury to the plan, which will cost £1700 per person.
Keir Greenaway, an organiser in the GMB trade union, said: “It is absolutely tone deaf and shows a complete disregard for what is happening in the city to fly across the Atlantic when every councillor and official should be working around the clock to protect services.”
The council, led by Susan Aitken, is facing a £107million financial black hole over three years, including steep cuts this year.
Despite these pressures, the council is planning to send a team for what was previously known as Tartan Week.
The council’s City Administration Committee will be asked to approve the plan next week.
As part of the council’s latest budget, the cost of school meals, parking charges and using Glasgow Life facilities will rise.
Aitken is also under fire over plans for education service “reform” which could see up to 450 teaching posts lost.
Greenaway said pushing ahead with a US “junket” during the financial crisis showed councillors had “lost touch with reality”.
He said: “From roads and refuse to schools and home care, the people of Glasgow rely on frontline services delivered by our members every single day.
“Right now, Tartan Day should be so far down the list of the council’s priorities it is invisible.”
Political opponents on the council also hit out at the plan.
George Redmond, Labour leader on the council, said: “Given the SNP council is making huge cuts, we can’t send the treasurer to New York on this jaunt. It would be a kick in the teeth for Glaswegians.”
Chris Sermanni from the trade union Unison said: “This does not seem like the best use of council funds when Glasgow is threatened with millions of pounds of cuts to local services.
“Of course, we understand the importance of promoting the city to America, but surely the Scottish Government have this one covered. The top brass should be leading by example and show some restraint.”
Organisers of Scotland Week believe the event is an opportunity for government and other public bodies to showcase the country to an American audience but critics have questioned the benefits to the people of Scotland.
A Glasgow City Council paper proposing the visit said the city could benefit, stating: “The visit will allow the opportunity to promote Glasgow 850 and raise awareness.
“As well as energising civic pride and celebrate the city’s remarkable journey, it is important to not only promote 850 – 2025 to our Glasgow citizens here in the city but it is also an opportunity to sell our business story to the world and to bring back our diaspora during a year of celebration.”
A council spokeswoman said: “The proposed trip to New York still requires approval from the City Administration Committee. If agreed, it presents an opportunity to promote Glasgow and demonstrate its long and enduring friendship with New York and the USA as well as engage with diaspora. It’s also our intention to promote Glasgow’s 850th anniversary which occurs next year. It’s a visit undertaken by many lord provosts’.”