Glasgow Rules - What Rules?
On 11 October 2019 I asked Glasgow City Council (GCC) for a copy of the rules governing the expenses claims of the city's Lord Provost - see letter below.
On 30 October 2019 GCC answered my request.
On 31 October 2019 the Lord Provost decides to resign.
Now is this coincidence or are the two events connected?
More to follow - so watch this space.
11 October 2019
Annemarie O'Donnell
Chief Executive
Glasgow City Council
By email to - annemarie.odonnell@ced.glasgow.gov.uk
Dear Ms O'Donnell
FOISA Request
I refer to the recent letter published by Glasgow's Lord Provost, Eva Bolander, regarding the expenses claims of council civic heads, a key extract of which is highlighted below.
"In submitting claims, I have always tried to ask myself the question, 'would I require this if I were not Lord Provost?
"Each has been made in good faith and scrupulously accounted for, within the rules.
"Although the spending incurred was within the rules, on reflection, there are items which I should not have chosen to reclaim."
I would like to ask for a copy of Glasgow City Council rules referred to by the Lord Provost and for an explanation of the arrangements the City Council has put in place for approving expenses claims by the Lord Provost, or other councillors deputising for the Lord Provost.
SLARC (the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee) recommended all councils in Scotland (including Glasgow City Council of course) to draw up such expenses schemes back in 2008 which I well remember, as I was a serving member of SLARC at the time.
I would be pleased if the City Council would supply this information by return, but if you are unwilling to do so for any reason, please regard this letter as a formal request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
I look forward to hearing from you in due course and would be grateful if you could respond to me by e-mail at: markirvine@compuserve.com
If you require any further details or clarification, please let me know.
Kind regards
Mark Irvine
Lord Provost Eva Bolander stands down after blowing £8000 of public money on clothes and beauty products
The taxpayer-funded spending spree by Glasgow's Eva Bolander sparked an angry backlash.
Eva Bolander, whose claims included 23 pairs of shoes, decided to resign after a discussion with SNP colleagues today.
Glasgow, 'Rules' and Councillors' Expenses (10/10/19)
The newspapers and social media have had lots to say about the expenses claims of Glasgow's Lord Provost in recent days.
In my opinion, some of these comments have been 'over the top' while others have tried to 'defend the indefensible' by arguing that the criticism of Eva Bolander has been unfair, unreasonable or politically motivated.
A number of absurd excuses have emerged in an effort to explain away what has been happening with the civic head's expenses in Glasgow including the completely bogus argument that £5,000 spending limit is an 'allowance' which the Lord Provost was perfectly entitled to spend.
Nothing could be further from the truth as is shown below by the SLARC (Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee) Review and Report from 2008 which states in terms:
"We believe that it is for Councils themselves to determine what is a legitimate use of these funds."
Now since this business blew up Glasgow's Lord Provost has decided to put her hands up and apologise over her extravagant spending spree at the taxpayers' expense while adding that all her claims were 'within the rules'.
But what exactly are these rules because all Scottish councils (including Glasgow) were charged with drawing up proper arrangements for approving the expenses of civic heads?
The leader of Glasgow City Council Susan Aitken is on record as saying that, "It's part of the Lord Provost's salary in Glasgow", which sounds like the exact opposite of a robust and rigorous approval process to me, so I'm keen to understand the details of the 'rules' referred to in Eva Bolander's apology letter.
Part of the problem is, of course, that the SNP Finance Secretary, Derek Mackay, effectively disbanded SLARC back in 2013 and so there is now no independent scrutiny or oversight of what Scottish councils are doing, in this and other areas.
SLARC 2008 Report
Civic Head expenses
5.26 Currently the Allowances and Expenses Regulations allow for re-imbursement for civic expenses, restricted to Civic Heads, up to the limits set for each Council, to enable them to carry out their civic duties. These are in addition to any expenditure incurred on travel, subsistence and meals. The maximum annual sum which may be claimed is dependent on the Banding of the Council. These are:
• £2,000 for Band A Councils;
• £3,000 for Band B Councils;
• £4,000 for Band C Councils; and
• £5,000 for Band D Councils.
• £3,000 for Band B Councils;
• £4,000 for Band C Councils; and
• £5,000 for Band D Councils.
5.27 It is clear from discussion with a number of authorities that they have not used these funds because there is a lack of clarity as to the types of use which may be made of them. There is also concern that the sums are restricted to Civic Heads even though on occasions his/her depute or others would undertake civic duties on his/her behalf.
5.28 We believe that it is for Councils themselves to determine what is a legitimate use of these funds. For guidance such funds may be used, for example, for:
• any additional necessary purchase or hire of clothes to attend civic functions; or
• any visits where the Civic Head would like to return hospitality to his/her host by purchasing a meal for them. Such visits may, for example, be twinning arrangements or other international events attended by the Civic Head; or
• personal hospitality.
5.29 We feel it is too early to say whether or not these sums are reasonable, given the slow uptake by authorities, and as such we do not propose any change to the maximum annual sums available at this time.
5.30 However, we believe that the sums should not be restricted to the Provosts and Lord Provosts (Civic Head) but (within the limits specified within each Council band) should also be able to be claimed by his/her deputes or others who undertake civic duties on behalf of the Provost or Lord Provost. This arrangement should be managed by the Council.
Glasgow - Spending Public Money (10/10/19)
The Daily Record follows up Paul Hutcheon's scoop with the news that Glasgow's Lord Provost, Eva Bolander, has finally seen the light and apologised over her civic head spending spree at taxpayers' expense.
Disappointingly, the Lord Provost says that her claims were all made 'within the rules' which is, of course, exactly the same defence used by Members of Parliament caught up in the great Westminster MPs' expenses scandal back in 2009.
Now I'll be interested to find out what these council rules are because if they exist (which I doubt), they are clearly not based on common sense and are not working too well - otherwise the Lord Provost would not have proceeded to buy 23 pairs of shoes, 5 coats, underwear, designer hats, expensive spectacles and so on.
I suspect this might require another FoI request to get to the bottom of what has been going on even though the City Council leaders keep saying that Glasgow is aspiring to become a 'world leader' for openness and transparency.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/glasgows-lord-provost-apologises-over-20546544
Glasgow's Lord Provost apologises over £8000 expenses and vows to pay back cash
Eva Bolander faced calls to quit after claiming £1150 for 23 pairs of shoes and £152 for underwear among other items.
By Nicholas Keyden - Daily Record
Glasgow's Lord Provost billed taxpayer for 23 pairs of shoes during £8000 spending spree (Image: Daily Record/PA)
Glasgow's Lord Provost has apologised after spending more than £8000 of public money on clothes and beauty products.
Eva Bolander has also pledged to pay back some of the cash after it was revealed by the Daily Record that she claimed £1150 for 23 pairs of shoes and £152 for underwear.
The SNP councillor, also claimed for six jackets, five coats, underwear and a £200 hat made by a designer used by supermodel Kate Moss.
She handed in receipts for make-up, £751 of haircuts, glasses worth £358 and pampering that included getting her toenails painted.
In a letter to councillors reported by the Evening Times, Bolander said: " In submitting claims, I have always tried to ask myself the question, ‘would I require this if I were not Lord Provost?’ Each has been made in good faith and scrupulously accounted for, within the rules.
Glasgow's Lord Provost has apologised after spending more than £8000 of public money on clothes and beauty products.
Eva Bolander has also pledged to pay back some of the cash after it was revealed by the Daily Record that she claimed £1150 for 23 pairs of shoes and £152 for underwear.
The SNP councillor, also claimed for six jackets, five coats, underwear and a £200 hat made by a designer used by supermodel Kate Moss.
She handed in receipts for make-up, £751 of haircuts, glasses worth £358 and pampering that included getting her toenails painted.
In a letter to councillors reported by the Evening Times, Bolander said: " In submitting claims, I have always tried to ask myself the question, ‘would I require this if I were not Lord Provost?’ Each has been made in good faith and scrupulously accounted for, within the rules.
Glasgow City Council Lord Provost Eva Bolander has come under fire for buying 23 pairs of shoes(Image: PA)
"Although the spending incurred was within the rules, on reflection there are items which I should not have chosen to reclaim.
"I am sorry about that and I am in discussion with financial services to come to an arrangement to repay the relevant expenditure."
It comes as she was urged to quit over the whopping spending spree.
Labour MSP James Kelly accused Bolander of going on a “grotesque spending spree at the taxpayers’ expense”.
And Tory MSP Annie Wells blasted: “She must now do the right thing and stand down – there’s simply no way she can continue after these reports. She also owes the people of Glasgow an almighty apology.”
However, council leader Susan Aitken defended Bolander and denied the underwear claims were for pants.
"Although the spending incurred was within the rules, on reflection there are items which I should not have chosen to reclaim.
"I am sorry about that and I am in discussion with financial services to come to an arrangement to repay the relevant expenditure."
It comes as she was urged to quit over the whopping spending spree.
Labour MSP James Kelly accused Bolander of going on a “grotesque spending spree at the taxpayers’ expense”.
And Tory MSP Annie Wells blasted: “She must now do the right thing and stand down – there’s simply no way she can continue after these reports. She also owes the people of Glasgow an almighty apology.”
However, council leader Susan Aitken defended Bolander and denied the underwear claims were for pants.
Glasgow - Spending Public Money (09/10/19)
Glasgow City Council is making the news headlines again with a great scoop by Paul Hutcheon in the Daily Record focusing on the extravagant expenses claims of the Lord Provost, Eva Bolander, whose council salary in 2018/19 was reported as £41,545.96.
Now the first thing to say is that 'civic heads' (including provosts) are entitled to claim legitimate expenses which help them to carry out their civic duties.
But it's also fair to say that Glasgow's SNP Lord Provost has gone too far in submitting claims for things that have surely nothing to do with her role as a civic head.
Why would she claim for designer spectacles at £358, for example, or 23 pairs of shoes, or five coats, especially as the Lord Provost is chauffeur driven everywhere - sometimes in the City Council's nearly new Rolls Royce, of course.
So while everyone has had a great laugh at the news of the Lord Provost claiming her knickers on council expenses, the serious side to this whole affair is that the Scottish Government abolished the independent body (SLARC) which used to monitor and oversee councillors salaries and expenses.
SLARC (Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee) no longer exists and was effectively disbanded by the SNP's Finance Secretary, Derek Mackay, in 2013 so the following quote in the Daily Record article from a Glasgow City Council spokesperson is just plain wrong.
“The national committee that oversees councillors’ pay recognises that the requirement to represent their city at hundreds of events means Lord Provosts often incur personal expenses."
I know this because I was a serving member of SLARC for several years and there is absolutely no way this kind of abuse and extravagance would be taking place in 2019, if the SLARC Committee was still in place with its advisory, monitoring and oversight role.
The real problem, if you ask me, is the lack of common sense and independent scrutiny because the SLARC scheme is and always has been an expenses scheme - it is not an 'allowance' which civic heads are entitled to spend.
More to follow tomorrow.
Glasgow's Lord Provost billed taxpayer for 23 pairs of shoes during £8000 spending spree
Eva Bolander also claimed for six jackets, five coats, underwear and a £200 hat with critics branding the SNP councillor 'Imelda Marcos'.
Glasgow's Lord Provost billed taxpayer for 23 pairs of shoes during £8000 spending spree (Image: Daily Record/PA)
By Paul Hutcheon - The Daily Record
Glasgow's Lord Provost billed the taxpayer for 23 pairs of shoes as part of an £8000 spending spree on clothing and beauty products.
Eva Bolander, an SNP councillor, also claimed for six jackets, five coats, underwear and a £200 hat made by a designer used by supermodel Kate Moss.
She handed in receipts for make-up, £751 of haircuts, glasses worth £358 and pampering that included getting her toenails painted.
He said: “These expenses claims are an absolute disgrace. We need an urgent review of the Lord Provost’s spending and maximum
transparency.
“At a time when services are being cut, Glaswegians will not understand why their Lord Provost believes it is appropriate to charge the taxpayer for kitting herself out with a new wardrobe.
“Claiming for more than 20 pairs of shoes is frankly incredible. Does she think she is Imelda Marcos?”
The Lord Provost chairs council meetings, represents the local authority on ceremonial occasions and receives ambassadors to the city. A civic allowance helps her fulfil public duties.
Swedish-born Bolander – who represents a council ward that includes Anderston and Yorkhill – became the first EU national to be chosen as the city’s first citizen.
Her predecessor, Sadie Docherty, made no charge on the public purse between May 2015 and May 2017 but Bolander has claimed for more than 150 items.
Hundreds of local authority staff have been laid off in recent years and the council is facing court action after being accused of illegally denying temporary accommodation to homeless applicants.
Between May 2017 and August 2019, Bolander claimed £1150 for 23 pairs of shoes, £665 for five coats, up to £374 for six jackets and nearly £415 for eight pairs of trousers.
The taxpayer was also charged £389 for two sets of fabric – expensive Harris Tweed – and about £992 for 14 dresses and £435 for seven blazers. Four skirts cost the public purse about £143, a blouse came in at £55 and unidentifiable items cost £824.
23 pairs of shoes - £1150
5 coats - £665
6 jackets – up to £374.50
8 trousers - up to £415
14 dresses - up to £992
7 blazers - £435
Underwear - £152
Make-up - £66
10 haircuts – £751
20 nail treatments – £479
Jacket fabric – £389
Hosiery – £145
4 skirts – £143
1 blouse – £55
5 shirts– £103
Misc – £824
Watch – £16.99
Spectacles – £358
2 hats – £240
Sunglasses – £29.99
3 bags – up to £147.17
Gloves- £11.98
Scarf - £17.50
Jewellery - £14.98
Suitcase – £65
Bolander also got her nails done 20 times in two years and treated herself to 10 taxpayer-funded haircuts to the tune of over £751. Make-up cost £66.75.
Other items included a pair of sunglasses at £29.99, a £16.99 watch, three bags worth about £147, gloves, a £65 suitcase and a scarf.
Judy Murray also commissioned a Chambers hat to wear at her tennis star son Andy’s wedding.
Another big-ticket item was £200 for a “bespoke” coat, which had an “art panel” on the back.
She also claimed £308 for two pairs of shoes – navy suede and black leather – from Watford-based Sole Bliss on the same day. By contrast, the school clothing grant is £110 for a child from a low-income family.
Glasgow's Lord Provost Eva Bolander has claimed for more than 150 items (Image: DAILY RECORD)Bolander’s favourite shop for a retail splurge was John Lewis, where she spent more than £500 in one day on shoes, a blazer, trousers, a top and a dress. Her claims for hosiery added £145 to a bill that totalled £8224 over two years.
The council deducted £7.70 from one claim due to “budgetary restrictions”.
Some of the information in the receipts was withheld on the grounds that the individual concerned would not “expect their personal details to be released”.
The Lord Provost was embroiled in controversy last year after it emerged that a Rolls-Royce had been gifted to the council by an unnamed benefactor, later revealed as businessman Boyd Tunnock.
After receiving the gift on behalf of the council, Bolander said at the time: “I want Glasgow to show its best face to the world and this gift will help us do that. It’s a show-stopping car and a tremendous asset.”
A council spokesman said: “The national committee that oversees councillors’ pay recognises that the requirement to represent their city at hundreds of events means Lord Provosts often incur personal expenses.
“For that reason, the Scottish Government allocates a civic allowance to each council. For Glasgow City Council, this is subject to a yearly maximum of £5000.”
