Glasgow SNP calls for motion to be restored to agenda

Glasgow SNP Council group has condemned a move by the the Labour Lord Provost of Glasgow City Council to refuse a debate on a motion about organised crime in the city.

Commenting on the move the Leader of the Council's Opposition, SNP Councillor James Dornan said: "The decision by the Lord Provost is as puzzling as it is disappointing. It is a decision which the Glasgow SNP group find unacceptable.

"By refusing to debate serious organised crime in Glasgow he is complicit in a real loss of democracy in Glasgow. If the Council is not permitted to discuss a matter of the utmost relevance to all those Glaswegians affected by serious crime then why are we here in the City Chambers at all?

"I will be raising this issue with the Lord Provost at today’s meeting and urge him to reconsider his decision."

SNP Councillor Billy McAllister, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and proposer of the motion, said: "The decision to stop a debate on the major issue of organised crime - which affects people across the city, but particularly in the north of Glasgow - is a travesty. If Labour in Glasgow won’t even talk about the issue of crime in the city chambers how can they be trusted to deal with problem?

"This is the second meeting in recent months where procedure has been used to hide from this issue. Rest assured, the SNP Group will not shirk the difficult issues that blight so many people in Glasgow."

Notes:

The Lord Provost has ruled that a motion, proposed by Councillor Billy McAllister, is not competent or relevant.

The decision to reject the motion, which had been checked by senior legal officials within the Council to ensure the motion was competent, was relayed to Councillor McAllister.

Councillor McAllister wrote to the Lord Provost seeking clarification. The text of the response is attached here.

The text of the motion as rejected is as follows:

"Council affirms its commitment to tackling serious and organised crime in partnership with Strathclyde Police and other organisations.

Council notes that a triple shooting and murder was carried out at Applerow Motors, 730 Balmore Road, during working hours. A development of luxury flats next to the MOT station, both of which are owned and/or affiliated with the Lyons family, was burned down on two separate occasions, the most recent being in February of this year. The Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police wrote to the Licensing Committee to say that the owner of the MOT station was involved in serious crime including the trafficking and supply of Class A drugs.

Council notes that whilst the Licensing Committee has as a result refused the second hand car dealership licence at the site, the UK Secretary of State for Transport has so far declined to exercise his powers to revoke the MOT authorised examiner licence.

Council resolves to formally request that the UK Secretary of State for Transport exercise his powers to revoke the MOT authorised examiner licence from David Lyons and the premises of Applerow Motors, Lambhill.”