Meeting Minutes, 26th May 2026
Attendance
| Community Cllrs | Scott Thornton; Niall McColl, Ross Naismith, Gordon Millar; David Cowan; Alice Cowan; Peter Hayman |
|---|---|
| Elected | Bailie Christy Mearns, Cllr Philip Braat |
| Guests | Ciaran Buchanan (Avenue Projects), Emma Hargreaves (Project Officer, City Deal), Aislinn Watters (Wills Bros Ltd), Robert Walker (Glasgow City Council) |
| Residents | RC, TD, MF, MG, PP |
| Online (Zoom) | Gary Atkinson, EM, AC, OG |
| Police Scotland | PC Chris Convery and PC Stevie Gemmell |
1. Welcome And Apologies
Chair Scott Thornton welcomed everyone.
Apologies: Cllr Millar, Cllr Bolander, Gregor McIntryre (from MP John Grady’s Office), Community Councillors David Hughes and Rachel Angus.
2. Minutes Of Previous Meeting On 28th April 2026
Adoption proposed by Gordon Millar and seconded by Niall McColl.
The Secretary will notify Glasgow City Council.
3. Police Report
PC Convery noted that the crime statistics show that shoplifting was the main offence committed recently in our area. Violent crime, youth offending and the carrying of weapons reduced.
Football Celebrations
There is a dedicated enquiry team working on the disorder following Celtic’s Premiership win. There have been 15 arrests but this number is expected to increase.
Scott, and Tricia Fort of Calton CC, asked to meet the CEO of GCC but she said she was busy as Returning Officer for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Elections. She arranged for them to meet Denise Hamilton (Head of Events) and Colin Edgar (Head of GCC Public Relations) but that meeting yielded no progress on ways to avoid trouble after the last game of the season. The football celebrations costs a considerable amount of money including for police time. Last year there were 350 police officers, this year there were more. The GCC clean-up team was another expense and there are others.
The number of fans attending are fewer each year, it was down to around 3,000 this year. It is believed that the comments of the Celtic FC manager may have made a difference by asking them to “behave themselves.”
A resident noted how the police were better prepared this year and asked what lessons can learnt for next year? PC Gemmell explained the police have a review to see what worked and what didn’t.
Although the police have the right to close public houses, they believed this threshold was not reached on the day.
MCTCC agreed the police generally controlled the crowd in difficult circumstances. Likewise, we would like to give formal thanks to the GCC clean up team who carried out their work in quick time such that Trongate was made ready for the charity race the next day,
Niall noted how prior to the event the glass was removed from the bus stops on Trongate. It would be good if they could now be reinstalled.
Alcohol Sales
There is evidence that anti-social behaviour is made worse by the consumption of alcohol. It was noted that some outlets were selling drink irresponsibly and in large quantities. This has been brought to the attention of GCC. PC Convery will email the Licensing Department to see if all the sales done in a legal and responsible way.
Gary Atkinson, MCTCC’s Licensing Forum representative, has advised the Clerk to put this as an item on the next meeting agenda of the Forum to discuss if supermarkets and such like ought to be closed during football celebrations to reduce the amount of alcohol being consumed.
Scott noted how the police were not confiscating alcohol to those coming down High St but they did so to those from the Saltmarket direction.
Bailie Mearns asked if there were any licence visits on the day to see if they were overselling alcohol. It is believed there were none.
Dispersal Zone
Cllr Braat asked if it there was any discussion about extending the 3-month trial period. This will be reviewed.It was noted how the World Cup starts on 11th of June until the 19th July, followed by the Commonwealth Games at the end of July and early August.
Busking Complaints
The number of complaints about buskers has risen with the good weather. Cllr Braat has had numerous reports of them causing disturbance not only to the public but also to retail and office workers in the city centre. Gordon noted how other councils have applied exclusion zones to buskers. The Busking Code does not appear to be working and it is now time for review.
It would seem that GCC does not have an appetite for legislation to be put in place. In addition, the Scottish Parliament has decided there is no need for further legislation on busking. PC Convery recommended that people keep submitting reports about nuisance buskers to the police who will keep these reports should new powers be granted.
The Busking Code is just being ignored. There is only 1 sign on Buchanan Street.
Cllr Braat will email to ask GCC how many Community Enforcement Officers (CEO) there are as it is evident they are being relied upon for more issues. Being based in the East of Glasgow they are some distance from where they are needed most.
Cllr Braat noted the Busking Code is just for guidance and there are no powers attached to it.
E-bikes
The police have been stopping e-bike riders and discussing road safety issues.
Scott asked if the police should have more powers to control the many issues reported. PC Convery has observed that the situation is not getting better. He will talk to Sgt Wright about this. Scott asked about e-scooters. Although they are meant to be used on private land, they are becoming more common on our streets where they are illegal.
4. Avenues Update – Argyle St East
Emma Hargreaves gave an overview of the Avenues projects. More information can be found at:
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/11815/Argyle-Street-East
This project is split into 4 sections:-
Section 1 – Union St to Queen St
Section 2 – Queen St to Stockwell St
Section 3 – Stockwell St to Glasgow Cross
Section 4 – Glasgow Cross to Moir St
The Argyle St East Avenue project has been awarded to Wills Bros who will start work on the 16th of June and are due to complete Sections 1 and 2 by June 2028. Sections 3 and 4 should be complete by June 2029. Mr Buchanan explained how construction crews are only working on one section at a time and complete it before starting the next.
Ross expressed concerns about health and safety issues due to the heavy traffic and cycle lanes. Buses, cars, bikes would be converging in the same area, adding to hazards. Mr Buchanan noted this would be a 20mph zone and the cycle lane is segregated.. Planners had conducted road safety road audits from the design stage onwards.
On the issue of communications with the public, he said a public display in a shop on Argyle St had attracted few visitors. Public engagement will be via the website and updates to stakeholders such as MCTCC. The contact number and email of the construction company would be displayed on street signage. There will be an email update when the project starts with more detailed information.
Aslinn Watters of Wills Bros said contact details for the constructors are:-
Enquiries.argyleseastpr@willsbros.com; Telephone: 07554 841 332
Major work details, including maps, will be posted out to stakeholders such as interested residents.
Ross noted that at Cowcaddens, the last contract Wills Bros were involved with, pedestrians had to walk on the road.
Bailie Mearns asked if there is any opportunity to increase pedestrianisation on Trongate and surrounding streets. Mr Buchanan said here would be problems with extending this.
David Cowan asked about the last stretch of Argyle St West, at the Radisson Blue hotel, which was taking a long time to complete. It was explained there is a Scottish Water main feed pipe there that has ruptured and needs replaced. In order to fix this, SW had to dig up all the new works that had just been completed. They should be complete at the start of June. At this point the Avenues will have to come in and relay the roads. This is also the case in other areas of the Avenues project such as Duke St and Cathedral St.
The Stockwell St Avenues project, delayed due to the Union St fire, will start in August this year and the High St will start at the start early in 2027. Scott requested that traffic signage at the Clutha Pub junction should be changed as the current situation was confusing and dangerous.
The Ingram St bus gate is not part of the Avenues project. It is a pilot project and its effectiveness will be reviewed.
Ross has requested technical drawings for the project
5. Elected Member Reports
**Cllr Braat **said the public toilets contract ended in March, and a new contract is yet to be issued.
He has asked a GCC officer to act upon the litter in the Old Wynd area.
He has asked for the repainting of double yellow lines on Miller Street. He believes they are working in the Yorkhill area at present and will start the repainting sometime in July.
He contacted Environmental Health department regarding suitable times for recycling refuge collection times. He received a complaint about noise from a chainsaw being used at Ramshorn Graveyard to crop trees.
He has expressed his concerns to the police regarding anti-social behaviour in St Enoch Square. He has sent a link to MCTCC about the review of the Dispersal Zone as it now in its second month, with one month left to run.
He has asked for an update on the derelict Fox/Clyde Street site and been informed that the enforcement notice ought to be issued this week by GCC legal department. He will send a follow-up email to ensure this is being processed.
Bailie Mearns is meeting with GCC officials to discuss increasing pedestrianisation. They will use traffic modelling as a starting point. She continues to engage with groups who are promoting a greener city centre.
She is waiting to learn plans for Union St following the fire. There is a meeting with Network Rail to discuss what the challenges and opportunities are.
She has a meeting with Glasgow Street Aid next week who support people experiencing difficulties at night in the city.
There is a survey underway to consider how the old Saint Vincent St public toilets might be brought back into use. They are not deemed suitable to be used as public toilets. Scott noted how MCTCC has had no response from its submission to the Public Toilet Strategy submitted in February 2025.
Questions for Bailie Mearns:
Scott noted there has been another planning application by Homeless Project Scotland. What was happening with this?
Peter Haymans noted the fans on the roof of the City Halls were still creating a nuisance to nearby residents – even worse in finer weather. Bailie Mearns has enquired about this however there has been no reply from Glasgow Life. Residents noted their complaints about these are repeatedly marked as ‘closed’ when no resolution has been achieved. Cllr Braat will also email NRS about this.
A shopkeeper has noted the congregation of ebike riders outside their premises. Cllr Braat noted this is a wider issue and he anticipates GCC will issue guidance on this matter soon.
Gary and Scott have met with the management of the Merchant City Festival (MCF) on Thursday to discuss arrangements. This year it will cover two weekends:-
Friday 24th July to Sunday 26th July and
Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd of August.
There will be a meeting of our Community Engagement group to discuss options.
Scott and Ross had a walkabout with Cllrs Braat and Millar last week and noted the mess behind the wire fencing, behind the construction site on Osborne St and Old Wynd. Only the construction workers appear to have access to the site.
6. Follow-Up From Previous Meetings
There were no matters this month.
7. Local Place Plan (LPP)
David Hughes will give an update next month.
8. Planning
Ross Naismith had a meeting with Cllr Millar, Head of City Centre Regeneration, last week. They discussed the benefits of mature tree planning and agreed 5 possible new locations for this.
He is still waiting for details of the lighting design on George Square. He had a positive meeting about Trongate regeneration and the City Centre Strategy.
Ross was expecting to hear about the planning decision for Custom House Quay this month, but no news was received.
There is a planning application for 178 Trongate, at Hutchinson St. He has asked for clarification on what the current application is for. On the walkabout, he highlighted how the Stockwell St and Howard St area would benefit from upgrading. He is hoping to have a meeting with Praxis (owner of the St Enoch Centre) regarding this.
Cllr Millar is on holiday and when he returns he will engage with him about Ingram St, Candleriggs, and Queen St.
The Malocchio restaurant at 150 Ingram St have planning application underway to build a conservatory, which we have objected to.
The Osbourne St and Old Wynd site now has a new owner and they wish to build student accommodation. He is hoping to have a formal meeting with them.
Granite House has a new application presented which he will discuss at the mid-monthly meeting.
The application for serviced apartments, including the demolition of the old Annie Miller’s public house next to Pipeworkz ‘gentlemen’s sauna’ on Ropeworks/Metropole Lane, closes soon.
9. Licensing
Gordon attended the Licensing Committee in John St on 20th of May for DF Concerts (TRNSMT) to show the Friday night Scotland World cup game from 11pm to 1am on their “Big Screen”. MCTCC objected, as did other surrounding CCs.
However, the Licensing Committee approved the application. We have asked for a written explanation relating to the breach of the Council’s own criteria that late night extensions would only be given to venues which had preciously shown televised sports.
10. External Groups
David Cowan initiated a vote to advocate the establishment of the Glasgow Community Councils Federation (GCCF) which was passed. MCTCC will consider the details of the proposal in further detail at a later date.
11. Friends Of Ramshorn Graveyard (FoRG)
No report this month.
The tours are available on Eventbrite and can also be booked by emailing them at:
12. Treasurers Report
Gordon Millar (Treasurer) reported the MCTC bank balance at 26/5/26 was £9,461.79
Expenses this month were £178.80 for leaflets.
Outstanding film income is due from filming in Bell and Parnie Streets. We are holding £500 in reserve to pay towards the mural near the Social Hub.
13. AOCB
There has so far been no adverse response from the community to the filming of the Meantime production (Bell/Parnie Streets). Details have been posted on our Website.
MCTCC are in discussion with the Film Office regarding notifications. We received no prior notice of filming today on Virginia Place by Sky TV.
In June MCF will give a presentation and SAMH/ The Nook will give a presentation in July.
14. Date Of Next Meeting
Tuesday 30 June 2026 – 6.30-8.30pm in City Chambers.