Claim reps locked out of funding decisions

COMMUNITY representatives are being “locked out” of funding decisions totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds, Glasgow Labour has claimed.

Grants to voluntary and community organisations are usually agreed by 23 area partnerships, representing each ward in the city.

Members of community councils and other local groups would normally discuss proposed donations at partnership meetings. However, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, emergency decision-making arrangements were introduced by Glasgow City Council on March 17; a move supported by all political groups at the time.

Grants are currently being agreed by a senior council officer after talks with the chairs of area partnerships, who are all SNP councillors. Around £360,000 was allocated in April.

The Labour Group is calling for the process to be made “more open and transparent” before more decisions are made on Tuesday.

A council spokesman said the recommendations for the next round of funding had been sent to all councillors, with responses expected yesterday.

Councillor Martin Rhodes, the Labour Group’s communities spokesman, wrote to the SNP administration about the issue.

He said he had been told there would be “wider input” this time but “despite this assurance”, there has been “no input from local communities whatsoever”.

“This is, once again, a very disappointing decision from the SNP administration to effectively lock-out vital representatives of Glasgow’s communities,” Mr Rhodes said.

A council spokesman said: “The current, emergency decision making arrangements were agreed by all parties at the City Administration Committee in March.”