Councillors could form Covid recovery group

ACITY- WIDE group o f c ommu n i t y councillors could be formed to aid the recovery from Covid- 19. It is believed a group of 23 appointed members, with access to over 800 community councillors, will make a “significant and diverse network” for engagement.

City councillors will be asked to approve the plan at a meeting next week.

“The key remit of the citywide contact and representative group of community councillors is to aid the operational recovery of community councils and social recovery of the wider community,” a council report states.

“A group of 23 can be more easily communicated with while observing social distancing; it can be formed more effectively into a digital platform; it can inform and shape a meaningful exit and transition towards a ‘ new’ normal for community councils and how they may operate in the future.”

The report states community councils ( CC) currently remain “severely restricted” due to the pandemic.

It adds: “The fact that CCs across Glasgow have not been able to operate as effectively as normal has dealt a significant blow to community engagement for the city.

“The capacity of CCs is at risk of being eroded, and with the additional postponement of the 2020 Full Elections and AGMs, this erosion of CCs capacity may only be compounded.”

There could be a four to eight- week period for nominations for the new group and for any contested elections to be held.

The group could then be established by the end of October or early November.

The report adds: “The proposed approach, which will include encouraging participation and representation from as many of Glasgow’s communities as possible, and potential contested election process can provide legitimacy to the group and its members’ representativeness for each of their respective wards and associated CCs, and the wider communities of Glasgow.

“If we do not take appropriate action at this time then the road to recovery for CCs in the future may be at risk of becoming longer, with the capacity, resilience and sustainability of a significant number of CCs being eroded even further.”

Capacity of community councils is at risk of being eroded