There was a sense of excitement around Glasgow City Council chambers on Thursday as new and seasoned councillors filed in for the first full council meeting since the local election.
Not just because they were about to shape the way the city would be run for the next five years, but also because this was the first major 'physical' meeting since the pandemic shut down in-person proceedings and saw most council business move online.
As a result the historic room, silent for so long, was full of buzz as councillors tweeted from the chambers and excitedly shared photos while they took their places on the red leather seats.
While the atmosphere was helped by the attendance of so many councillors, not everyone was able to make it in person - with the most notable ‘missing’ attendee being new Labour leader George Redmond.
Returned to the council on May 5, and elected as group leader on Monday, ousting Malcolm Cunning who had overseen a revival in fortunes at the ballot box, Councillor Redmond was reportedly unable to attend as he was 'stuck in Seville'.
He was allowed in the hybrid meeting, and voted remotely, but the SNP group were very fast to point out his absence on Twitter.
And as the new minority SNP administration resumed power, supported by Green allies, Labour were also quick to oppose their choices for top positions.
The greatly bolstered Labour ranks - they have just one fewer councillor than the SNP - even made a bid to get comeback councillor Redmond put in place as the city’s leader, a move was greeted with derisive titters of laughter from the nationalist side of the ornate room.
Councillor Redmond, who used to be a senior councillor before a spell out of power in the city, was elected again earlier this month among Labour gains.
But SNP Councillor Susan Aitken was firmly reinstated back into the role of leader again. The opposition’s preference was outvoted by the Green and SNP politicians, a sign of things to come for the next five years.
Apart from some councillors choosing to vote from home and log in from their computers, the proceedings seemed to operate as a normal council meeting -before Covid - with no masks to be seen.
Enthusiasm swept across the city’s room of power as councillors witnessed new civic roles being appointed including the Baillies, which deputise for the Lord Provost.
Labour put forward their choices for these positions but they were predictable outvoted. The SNP’s Jacqueline McLaren and the Greens Christy Mearns were appointed and took their seats in the Lord and Depute Provost chairs in front of the room’s large stained glass windows.
Over in the depleted blue Conservative corner - the two remaining councillors Thomas Kerr and John Daly abstained from voting on the other party’s choices. The Conservatives come into the new council term with six fewer representatives than before following election losses.
Councillor Kerr was appointed as one of the 17 Baillies for the city. Like the previous appointments of the mornings the new Baillies were greeted with applause as the Lord Provost congratulated them.
A mixture of new councillors were given the positions of Baillie including Southside Green councillor Elaine Gallagher, former asylum seeker SNP councillor Roza Salih, and Labour councillor Sharon Greer.
A number of re-elected politicians who were also picked for the role include Labour's Malcolm Cunning and the SNP's Norman MacLeod.
As the meeting finished and the room returned to silence, it is clear the chambers can expect plenty of heated proceedings in the future.
