Glasgow to leave Cosla

Glasgow has opted to leave Cosla

Glasgow City Council will officially withdraw from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on Thursday.

Scotland's largest council says the orgnanisation is a "waste of money" and failed to secure it enough cash in the recent local government settlement from the Scottish Executive.

Cosla says that Glasgow Council is not acting in the best interests of its people and could be left isolated by its decision.

Now the future of Cosla is in doubt if, as expected, other local authorities review their membership.

You can't be a credible organisation and not represent the biggest council

Michael Kelly

Speaking on BBC's Newsnight Scotland programme, Glasgow City Council Leader, Charlie Gordon, defended the decision to withdraw from Cosla.

He said "it was debatable whether the council should spend a six-figure sum on affiliating to a body which doesn't deliver services to the people of Glasgow".

He said that "by implication" of deciding to leave, Glasgow viewed Cosla as a waste of money.

"We have decided that there are more important things to spend Glasgow council taxpayers money on," he said.

Councillor Gordon reassured Glasgow employees that the decision to leave Cosla would not adversely affect them.

'Best value'

"I can only speak for Glasgow City Council and I can assure our staff and their relevant trade unions that we will soon put in place proper machinery to discuss these matters with them," he said.

But Cosla Labour Group Leader, Jim McCabe, disagreed with Glasgow's decision to withdraw.

Jim McCabe

"Every council doing a budget must take into consideration best value," he said.

"I don't agree with the interpretation that Glasgow has put on this, that by withdrawing from Cosla, it's in the best interests of the people of Glasgow.

"Obviously we have to take into account what the negotiating rights of any council withdrawing from Cosla are in the future."

But former Lord Provost of Glasgow, Michael Kelly, thinks Glasgow's decision is the beginning of the end for Cosla.

"I think Cosla should be worried," he said.

"You can't be a credible organisation and not represent the biggest council."

He said that he knew of two other councils who were considering their position and that if they left "Cosla would crumble".