Glasgow Life to focus on plugging black hole

GLASGOW Life bosses have admitted plugging the arms-length body’s financial black hole is to take priority over reopening the city’s venues.

A new report has also revealed that the budget “does not exist” to open any of the culture hubs not already on the group’s green list of around 90.

It comes after Glasgow Life lost £38million due to closures in lockdown and amid protests over the uncertain future of some libraries, sport facilities, and museums in the city.

In a report on the future of Glasgow Life and the city’s People Make Glasgow Communities programme to the Wellbeing, Empowerment, Community and Citizen Engagement City Policy Committee this week, it is stated: “Budgeted income has been conservatively set at £6.4 million for 2021-22. This will be generated through cultural concerts and events, occupancy, sports participation, Glasgow Club, and where possible, other external grants. Early indications are that these prudent income targets are on track to be delivered despite footfall being at levels lower than pre-pandemic.

“However, it has been agreed with Glasgow City Council that prior to any further venues and services being considered for re-opening, the focus over the next few years is to generate earned income of £27.2 million to remove the ongoing financial burden to the council.”

As part of Glasgow Life’s recovery, they have been looking at a number of options including Community Activation Pilots, Community Asset Transfers and the People Make Glasgow Communities initiative.

Latest figures show the

People Make Glasgow Communities programme has received 297 “Expressions of Interest”; 131 of these relating to premises operated by Glasgow Life.

The report added that the programme, aimed at giving communities the opportunity to become more involved in the venues and services they rely on, will play a critical role in enabling essential and valuable services to be delivered to local communities.

The report concluded: “It is critical that Glasgow Life works with Council colleagues to progress all viable expressions of interest as the budget does not exist to open any more than the 90 venues which have been agreed with Glasgow City Council.”

A Glasgow Life spokesman said: “We’re working hard to reopen more than 90 venues and to maximise the funding available to us.”