Glasgow launches a major cleaning initiative. It invests £7M and hires 200 staff to combat litter and improve cleanliness.
Sixty-nine new workers will tackle 23 areas, addressing fly-tipping, litter, weeds, and other issues, at a cost of £2.3 million. Forty night workers will clean the city center and local high streets with a £1.5 million funding boost.
Glasgow will spend £1.06 million on deep cleans performed by forty more people. £170,000 goes to pest control, hiring five more workers. Ricky Bell said the budget invests in cleaning, creating over two hundred jobs in the city.
Laura Doherty said night teams will clean constantly, while deep cleaning will target tough spots, and pest control staff will address the vermin issues. She believes a cleaner Glasgow is better, and the new budget covers April 2025 to March 2026, agreed upon by the SNP and Scottish Greens, and voted for by most councillors.
Plans include 100 new parking wardens, with £4 million supporting health and social care. Free school meals expand to P7 next year, and parks gain 50 more workers at a cost of £1.64 million. Families face a 7.5% council tax increase as part of Glasgow’s finance plan.
Labour proposed a 5% council tax increase, but councillors did not approve Labour’s plan. They wanted £2.27 million for special needs in schools, to restore swimming pool hours, and make full council office appointments.
Jill Brown said Glasgow suffered from SNP cuts, causing services to decline due to these cuts. Parents worry about school support, families struggle to access facilities, and roads and spaces have deteriorated, she said.
Brown said Labour puts Glasgow first, fully funding MCR Pathways. Labour plans to reinstate teachers so public services will serve everyone, with pools open longer hours and community venues extending hours too. Labour aims to clean the streets.