Day: June 18, 2025

Meeting Minutes, 27 May 2025

Meeting Minutes, 27 May 2025

Attended by: Tam Coyle (Chair), Gary Atkinson, Alice Cowan, David Cowan, David Hughes, Niall McColl, Gordon Millar, Scott Thornton, Peter Hayman; Councillor Eva Bolander, Depute Lord Provost Christy Mearns; PC Nathan Baxter, PC Gentian Rapi; John Grady MP, Gregor McIntyre; AB, RA, RAo, CD, TD, MG, TMcK, PP.  By Zoom video: EM

1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES

Tam extended particularly warm welcomes to John Grady, MP for Glasgow East, and his assistant Gregor McIntyre, and those attending an MCTCC meeting for the first time.

Apologies: Ros Atkinson, Colin McKay, Ross Naismith, Councillors Angus Millar and Philip Braat.

2. ELECTION OF COMMUNITY COUNCILLOR

Tam Coyle noted that as the only valid nomination received before the deadline Ross Naismith has been elected as a Community Councillor. The Secretary will notify Glasgow City Council. ACTION: Scott

Tam said the Community Council was very keen to attract new members. Anyone interested should speak to him.

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING ON 29 APRIL

Adoption proposed by Tam Coyle, seconded by Gordon Millar. The Secretary will notify Glasgow City Council. ACTION: Scott

4. POLICE REPORT including Celtic fans’ title celebrations

PC Baxter said 21 arrests had been made on 17 May during Celtic fans’ title celebrations on and around Glasgow Cross, with a further 21 arrests made subsequently for offences including assault, public order offences and possession of offensive weapons and pyrotechnics. Further enquiries were ongoing. More than 320 police had been on duty in the area.

RA said it was illegal to drink alcohol in the street. Why had police not enforced this? Why had off-licences been allowed to sell alcohol? PC Baxter said police had tried their best but confiscations had proved impractical because of the sheer mass of revellers.

Scott said there appeared to be a groundswell of demands, at the highest levels, for practical actions to be taken to stop the disruption at Glasgow Cross for the fourth year in a row should Celtic win the Premiership again in 2026.

The First Minister of Scotland and Chief Constable of Greater Glasgow had been among those demanding stronger measures. MCTCC could take great credit from having been in the forefront of this campaign for more than two years.

MCTCC had not received a response to its letter of 22 April to the Chief Executive, Chairman and Company Secretary of Celtic FC.

The Community Council has written to MSP Kaukab Stewart asking what follow-ups were being undertaken to the (it transpired, inconsequential) high level meeting she convened at Hampden on 28 March.

Scott added that earlier today the MSP had sent a survey to MCTCC and asked the Community Council to obtain residents’ views of the event. This will be posted on the MCTCC’s Website. ACTION: Niall

PC Baxter said senior police would be discussing the issue with Glasgow City Council on 10 June. Councillor Bolander said she would keep the Community Council updated on this, adding that Celtic FC’s appeal to its fans to stay away had been issued too late. ACTION: Councillor Bolander

Councillor Bolander said she was surprised alcohol was being sold from off-licences on the day. PC Baxter such a ban would have to be pre-authorised in anticipation of disorder.

Gary said that in addition to the 10 June meeting there would be a full de-briefing for all parties concerned.

Depute Lord Provost Mearns said she had not been briefed as a Ward Councillor.  Solutions so far had proved inadequate. Tam said MCTCC would keep her informed as best it could.

In response to a question from RA, Councillor Bolander wondered whether in similar circumstances football authorities could not take action against the clubs as had happened in England. PC Baxter said the events of May 17 had not been organised by the club but by supporters.

On the subject of Homeless Project Scotland’s Shelter and 24 hour food service in  Glassford Street PC Baxter said he could not provide figures for the number of related incidents reported to police.

He reported indicative figures that in the period 1-27 May a total of 146 crimes had been reported in the MCTCC area. Of these, 88 had been detected (‘Undetected’ includes crimes where enquiries are ongoing).

Chief Inspector Stephen McManus has taken up the role of Local Area Commander for the City Centre.

Following concerns raised by MCTCC, the Community Policing Team had provided extra attention to Virginia Street, Glassford Street, New/Old Wynds and Trongate.

Three e-scooters/e-bikes had been seized on Trongate as part of another Day of Action on 16 May.

5. PARADES

Scott said MCTCC was minded to ask Glasgow City Council to impose a moratorium on parades, as its Chief Executive had mooted in 2019, and would be discussing this at its next internal meeting. More than 50 Orange Order parades are due to take place in Glasgow on 5 July alone. ACTION: MCTCC

Tam said the County Orange Lodge had inexplicably arranged its parade for 17 May – the same date as the Celtic fans’ title ‘party’ – instead of 8 May, the date observed in every other part of the UK. It was incomprehensible that GCC had permitted this.

Councillor Bolander said GCC could not ban a parade unless police asked for this to be done on the ground of public safety. She understood GCC had received legal advice at the time that banning such parades would be an infringement of human rights. A change might require legislation and perhaps a test court case.

PC Baxter said the public had rights of procession and protest. Routes were set by the City Council.

6. ELECTED MEMBERS’ REPORTS

Depute Lord Provost Mearns expressed concern about restaurants and cafes on Candleriggs taking up too much space on pavements to the detriment of pedestrians and causing planters to be placed haphazardly. This had occurred despite repeated warnings to the businesses. Stronger enforcement was required. Different Council officers were not communicating with one another.

Increased pedestrianisation of Candleriggs was desirable.

Scott said MCTCC received notification from GCC on 15 May that new ‘safe needle bins’ would be placed on Old Wynd and another site with installation due to start a few days later. This had been decided by the Drug and Alcohol Partnership. MCTCC had not been consulted.  Scott is liaising with Councillor Bolander on this. ACTION: Scott

Several attendees called for greater provision of recycling facilities, including those for glass. Councillor Bolander said a more strategic approach was required. Scott said MCTCC needed to delegate a specific Community Councillor to take the lead on liaison with GCC, including Councillor Bolander. ACTION: MCTCC

RA said there was a need for more provision for recycling of textiles and shoes not good enough to be given to charity shops. Depute Lord Provost Mearns said there was no ‘follow on’ market for old clothes.

In answer to a question from Scott, Councillor Bolander said there was no legal requirement for owners’ associations in large blocks of flats to have recycling facilities on their premises. Depute Lord Provost Mearns said the H & M shop has a recycling facility.

Scott asked when a review of the Busking Code would be considered by the relevant GCC Committee. It was regularly being flouted. Depute Lord Provost Mearns said residents should log complaints. However, Scott said reports via the recommended route, the GCC app, often took months to produce a response, if at all.

Tam said he had received no response from Santa Lucia, the Italian Kitchen and Merchant Steakhouse restaurants in Ingram Street to complaints about noisy dumping of glass in the wee small hours and will liaise with MG on raising the matter with GCC Licensing. ACTION: Tam

Tam said double parking on Miller Street remained out of control. Emergency vehicles would be unable to get through. GCC needed to get double yellow lines painted.

7 . PLANNING

Scott read out a summary provided in absentia by Ross.

On behalf of MCTCC he proposed to object to the planned development at George/High/Nicholas/Shuttle Streets, the main reasons being inappropriate proposed architectural massing and aesthetics, plus over-saturation of student accommodation.

He is expecting a re-presentation of plans for the Maxwell Street development proposed for Radisson Hotels.

He had met GCC and Private Housing Sector on upgrading existing housing stock between Trongate and Osborne Street, Saltmarket and Stockwell Street. This would be discussed at the Community Council’s next mid-monthly meeting.

He had also met the Director of the Britannia Panopticon concerning refurbishment, and was continuing to be concerned about the lack of a water feature in the George Square re-development.

Ross was also awaiting re-submission of design proposals for the High Street and Custom House Quay/Clyde Street Avenues projects, and further engagement with GCC on vehicle access alterations on Candleriggs, ‘2nd tier’ tree planting and unnecessary street stanchions.

Councillor Bolander has put him in contact with a representative of Scottish Enterprise which owns the land behind the Italian Kitchen which MCTCC is interested in converting to an exercise area/playpark.

ACTION on above: Ross

Scott said that despite all Homeless Project Scotland’s appeals having been dismissed concerning its shelter on Glassford Street Glasgow City Council still seemed to be doing nothing to stop unauthorised use. The operator had been offered alternative premises but had not responded. The situation was basically unchanged from 18 months ago.

Depute Lord Provost Mearns said she would raise this with Planning. ACTION: Depute Lord Provost Mearns

Councillor Bolander said the MSP should take this up with the Scottish Government in respect of the service’s standards. She could not force the Council to close it down. Services wider than those provided by HPS were offered by other organisations such as the Simon Community.

She will ask Councillor Alan Casey, whose portfolio includes homelessness issues, to meet MCTCC. ACTION: Councillor Bolander

CD said the centre had caused an increase in local crime and disturbances for local residents and businesses. John Grady MP said Glasgow had a serious homeless problem. Some of the shelter’s users ‘are not easy people.’

Gordon asked the MP what liaison there had been between him and GCC about use of hotels for asylum seekers. John said he would be following this up. ACTION: John Grady MP.

Peter said EM had reported irregularities including unexplained redactions in correspondence with the Scottish Government (which said some of the requested information was no longer available) re conversion of the NCP car park in Ingram street into 109 apartments.

The good weather had emphasised the noise disturbance caused by air-conditioning fans, installed by Glasgow City Council without planning permission, on top of the City Halls. Depute Lord Provost Mearns said she would be looking into this. ACTION: Depute Lord Provost Mearns.

Councillor Bolander said a planning application for advertising on a ‘phone kiosk on Wilson Street at the corner of Stockwell Street had been refused because of perceived distractions for motorists.

Scott noted that the St Enoch Centre has been bought by investment and commercial real estate management  group Praxis.

8. LICENSING

Tam said an application for an alcohol licence by Cozi Cafe in High Street would be considered at the next mid monthly meeting. ACTION: MCTCC

9. LOCAL PLACE PLAN

Scott has met a senior GCC City Regeneration officer and will meet a representative of Planning to discuss conversion of empty properties. ACTION: Scott

10. AREA PARTNERSHIP

David Hughes, MCTCC’s representative on this body, said GCC had taken away for consideration the Community Council’s three proposals for payments under the Neighbourhood Infrastructure Fund: activities centre/playpark behind the Italian Kitchen, refurbishment of the Tron steeple and increased pedestrianisation of Candleriggs.

Money had been put aside for trees and he had discussed with a GCC officer funding for some in Ingram and College Streets as well as provision of more benches. ACTION: David Hughes

11. FILMING

Scott said MCTCC had been promised a donation to local good causes of £700 from the company filming the new BBC TV drama series ‘Mint’  in and around Wilson Street, and the company filming  in and around City Chambers for renowned United States Director J J Abrams’ new movie.

12. FRIENDS OF THE RAMSHORN GRAVEYARD (FORG)

David Hughes, Chair, reminded the meeting that the first public tour would take place next Wednesday 4 June (11 am-12 noon).

Notices on opening times still need to be sorted out. ACTION: David Hughes

David reported the AGM would be held on 19 June.

13. LITTER PICK

MCTCC’s next Litter Pick will be on Saturday 7 June, starting from the gates of the Ramshorn Church at 10.30 am.

14. MURAL BESIDE THE SOCIAL HUB

Gary commended the design by well known mural artist Smug which features a woman with tattooed cultural and historical references. A QR Code would be included for detailed explanations. Work was due to start in 10 days. Councillor Bolander said she could follow this up with a local urban women’s feminist group.

15. POTHOLES

Peter drew attention to a large pothole north of Bell Street which was especially dangerous for cyclists.

16. TREASURER’S REPORT

Gordon reported a current bank balance of £5,576.75 with minor expenses and film companies’ donations pending. Niall noted he would be submitting an invoice for repair of a broken notice board.

17. MERCHANT CITY FESTIVAL (July 19-21)

Its Director will deliver a presentation to the June meeting.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Tuesday 24 June, 6.30-8.30 in City Chambers.

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