Glasgow's Lost the Plot (4)
Some readers who have complained about Glasgow's action for expenses - see post dated 20 June 2010 - are receiving a rather strange reply to their letters and e-mails.
The response is from senior officials of the council - even though people's letters were addressed to elected members - including the new council leader, Councillor Gordon Matheson.
Now this may show a certain desire on the part of the elected members - to distance themsleves from the actions of their officials.
If so, that would be very welcome - as a sign that cracks are beginning to appear in the council's position.
But in any event the councils response is nonsense - and shows a complete ignorance of the law.
Why? Because the action for expenses names the Glasgow 'claimants' specifically - no mention whatsoever is made of Action 4 Equality Scotland - which is hardly surprising since Action 4 Equality Scotland not a party to the proceedings.
Put simply, Glasgow's officials have got it wrong.
The council is clearly rattled by the strength of protest - what must have seemed like a wizard wheeze at the time has now gone off the rails - with senior officials making things up as they go along.
The issue is now becoming something of an embarassment - probably because officials failed to get political backing from elected members - before initiating this ill-advised action in the council's name.
But the more and more people who complain the better - so let Glasgow's councillors know your views.
The response is from senior officials of the council - even though people's letters were addressed to elected members - including the new council leader, Councillor Gordon Matheson.
Now this may show a certain desire on the part of the elected members - to distance themsleves from the actions of their officials.
If so, that would be very welcome - as a sign that cracks are beginning to appear in the council's position.
But in any event the councils response is nonsense - and shows a complete ignorance of the law.
Why? Because the action for expenses names the Glasgow 'claimants' specifically - no mention whatsoever is made of Action 4 Equality Scotland - which is hardly surprising since Action 4 Equality Scotland not a party to the proceedings.
Put simply, Glasgow's officials have got it wrong.
The council is clearly rattled by the strength of protest - what must have seemed like a wizard wheeze at the time has now gone off the rails - with senior officials making things up as they go along.
The issue is now becoming something of an embarassment - probably because officials failed to get political backing from elected members - before initiating this ill-advised action in the council's name.
But the more and more people who complain the better - so let Glasgow's councillors know your views.
