Glasgow Council Exit Deals Show No Impropriety in Over £1M Payouts

Glasgow looked into big exit payouts. These payouts totaled over £1m for top staff. The probe found no official misconduct, but it looked like there was a conflict of interest.

Lawyers checked early retirement deals and said the ex-CEO’s exit wasn’t properly okayed as it didn’t follow council rules. Brodies, a law firm, did the investigation and looked at five senior official deals. Brodies suggested a council group approve future deals.

Douglas Ross KC gave his view that it looked like a conflict. He thought this should have been clear, and senior officers didn’t seem to notice it. Ross KC found no sign of a crime.

Ricky Bell, a city treasurer, called it a sobering report and wants swift process changes. He and Susan Aitken had concerns as the investigation involved five officials. These were Carole Forrest, Anne Connolly, Robert Anderson, Elaine Galletly, and Annemarie O’Donnell.

Deals included over £317,000 for the ex-CEO, and Ms. Galletly got over £280,000. Anderson’s report detailed a management change in 2021 that went to the CEO.

The probe found no councilor knowledge before July 2024, though severance terms followed council policies. The report justified savings, but Brodies thinks the CEO’s retirement lacked justification. Ross KC agreed and said the CEO’s large payout lacked solid reasoning.

Brodies also said councilors should vote on the report. This mattered since officials gained from it. The report wasn’t unlawfully approved per rules, but the CEO’s retirement wasn’t lawfully approved. Other officers’ approvals were within the rules.

Officers approved the CEO’s deal, using their authority from the council. Brodies said the authority didn’t apply, but, they found no improper conduct. The council acted unlawfully, not any officer.

Investigators found no reason to recover funds. Councilor Bell said they had questions initially and wanted to know who approved the packages. He also wanted to know why they weren’t informed.

Bell believed in an independent review and wanted to share the results. The report is a base to rebuild trust. Councilors will discuss it next week, and Bell wants process changes with future oversight by councilors.