Council notes the continuing problems facing Glasgow despite some welcome progress. Labour has been in power in Westminster since 1997, has led the Scottish Executive since 1999, and has continued in power in Glasgow City Council. However, there remain many serious issues in the City which have not been resolved, including:

• A widening gap between rich and poor,

• Large amounts of sub-standard housing despite the transfer to GHA,

• Congestion on the roads and no major improvement in public transport,

• Environmental problems including litter and lack of recycling;

• Anti social behaviour linked to alcohol use;

• Loss of greenspace.

Within the Council too there have been significant steps in the wrong direction particularly in the last two years, including:

• Less democracy through the concentration of powers in the hands of the Leader and the Executive Committee;

• The dismantling of the Council (Housing, Building Services, Culture & Leisure, etc) leading to less joined-up thinking and action.

Therefore, Council looks forward to the first Council elections in May under a fair voting system and to a fresh approach and new direction after that.

SNP Group Leader, John Mason, said, “We are the first to accept that new houses have been built and new jobs created. But the gap between the rich and the poor is a real cause for concern and Labour don’t appear to be too bothered about it.”