Glasgow’s Greens are planning a ‘day of action’ to “highlight the impact of devastating cuts” to the council’s budget — but they have been accused of “hypocrisy” by the city’s Labour group.
Councillors will meet on Thursday when city treasurer Ricky Bell is set to present the SNP administration’s proposals to plug a £60m funding shortfall.
The Green group has said it continues to work on its own plans to deal with the budget gap, and has called on acting finance secretary John Swinney MSP and Glasgow MSPs to attend an emergency summit in the city chambers tomorrow [Wednesday].
Now, Green councillors have revealed they also intend to visit services and workers, under threat due to the financial situation, ahead of the summit.
However, Cllr George Redmond, the Labour group leader, who has said his party won’t present alternative budget options, hit out at the “hypocrisy” of the Greens, who are in a power-sharing agreement with the SNP at Holyrood.
He said the “shameful budget is nowhere near enough” and called on the Green group “to stand beside Labour and fight for Glasgow”.
The SNP previously said it can’t “just walk away from setting a budget to make a political point” as “refusing to set a budget means civil servants will set it for you and their priorities are balancing the books, not the well-being of staff and communities”.
The £60m council funding gap is made worse by an estimated £40m hole in health and social care finances.
Cllr Redmond and his deputy, Cllr Soryia Siddique, have sent a letter to Nicola Sturgeon calling on her to make an “urgent intervention”.
It asks the First Minister to commit, by noon tomorrow, to commit to three pledges: protect the IJB [health and social care] budget to ensure no breach of statutory duties, provide resources to support schools and “sustain and maintain resources” to protect services.
Cllr Redmond said the council is currently being forced “to choose between areas of equal, desperate need”. "It would set family against family, child against child and community against community,” he added. “Labour will not stand for that.”
Cllr Siddique added: “Glasgow communities have been subjected to over a decade of cuts. Glasgow Labour has taken a stance after listening to communities and is saying enough is enough.”
The Greens have said their ‘day of action’ will call for a “collective effort to transform council funding”. They plan to carry out joint visits with teachers and cleansing staff.
Green councillors want to highlight opportunities to raise more revenue locally, including environmental and tourism levies, as well as replacing the “unfair” council tax.
Cllr Martha Wardrop, Greens co-leader, said: “The reality of the current financial settlement for local authorities paints a bleak picture for Glasgow and those living here.
“On Wednesday, our councillors will highlight the impact of devastating cuts if no action is taken to increase funding to councils.”
Cllr Jon Molyneux, Greens co-leader, added: “Greens across Glasgow are giving voice to those whose livelihoods are at risk, and those communities who will bear the brunt of cuts to services.
“Many of these vital services are already at breaking point, so now is the time to address the challenges the city faces and to explore both immediate and long-term solutions which can be implemented locally or lobbied for via both the UK and Scottish Parliaments.
“This needs all parties to work together in a collective effort in the best interests of the city.”
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