Glasgow Councillors - Register of Interests

Here's a post from the blog archive which details the entries made by  SNP councillors in Glasgow City Council's 'Register of Interests'.

Very little detail is provided about the time commitment involved and the earnings councillors' receive working for  friendly SNP MSPs and MPs.

Although Cllr Christine Cannon, for example, appears to have worked for no less than four Glasgow MSPs and MPs during the period from October 2019 to January 2021.

Sounds to me like a system crying out for greater openness and transparency. 

 

Glasgow - Transparent, My Arse! (May 03, 2021)

Here's a list of the entries for SNP councillors on Glasgow city council's Register of Interests.

The register is intended to aid 'transparency' and should explain councillors' salaries, as well as details of any other paid employment, but the information provided by Scotland's biggest council is a joke.  

Most of the SNP councillors don't bother to register their basic councillor's salary - everyone receives a minimum of £17,845 which was set as a part-time 'two thirds' salary.

Senior councillors are paid significantly more as these are regarded as full-time roles which carry significant additional responsibilities in some cases - up to a maximum salary in Glasgow of £53,567 for the Council Leader.     

So a 'basic' or backbench councillor is paid an hourly rate of around £15.00 an hour (£17,845) with senior councillors being paid anywhere between £15.00 and £30 an hour.

Until 2013 councillors' salaries and expenses were overseen by an independent watchdog (SLARC) which reported directly to Scottish Ministers, but the committee was stood down by the SNP's finance secretary, Derek Mackay.  

As readers can see for themselves the amount of information supplied by Glasgow's Register of Interests is very sparse - no details ate all are provided to explain the level of commitment or remuneration involved when it comes to outside work. 

12 SNP councillors have (or had) second jobs with SNP MSPs or MPs - some have outside employment even though they are paid for carrying out a full-time councillor role. 

Glasgow's Registers of Interests (for individual councillors) can be viewed via the link below, but this does not specify the salaries assigned to backbench and senior councillors - this information is held in a separate document.

More details and comment will follow.

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=22506

Susan Aitken (Langside - 7)

Remuneration 

1) Leader of Glasgow City Council - £50,783

Ken Andrew (Hillhead - 11)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

Malcolm Balfour (Drumchapel/Anniesland - 14) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

Elaine Ballantyne (Baillieston - 20) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared

2) University of Glasgow (ended 31 March 2020 none listed; Kensington Taxis (one black Hackney taxi)

Alexander Belic (Southside Central - 8) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) I am employed by Alison Thewliss MP in her Glasgow Central constituency office as a caseworker on a part-time basis.

Richard Bell (Govan - 5) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Bell & Felix, Cafe Bistro, Owner/Managing Director

Eva Bolander (Anderson/City/Yorkhill - 10)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared

2) Bestla Design, self employed: Web design and related services 

3) Aloe 4 Ever Scotland, self employed: independent distributor

4) Carol Monaghan MP: MP's constituency office:Office Manager, employed up to 17 May 2017.

5) Employed part time by Sandra White MSP, 1274 Argyle Street, G3 8AA

Graham Campbell (Springburn/Robroyston - 17)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) The office of Anne McLaughlin MP, Communities and Fundraising Officer - Constituency & House of Commons - ended August 2017

Christina Cannon (Springburn/Robroyston - 17) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Caseworker at the office of Humza Yousaf MSP - £24,000 pro rata - October 2019 - December 2020

3) Office of Anne McLaughlin - £8,800 PA - 17 January 2020 - 31 December 2020

4) Caseworker at Ivan McKee, MSP's office, 15 January 2021

5) Caseworker at Kirsten Oswald, MP's office (temporary), 15 January 2021

Allan Casey (Dennistoun - 22)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Employed part time by Ivan McKee MSP - 12 Hillfoot Street, G31 2LF - Constituency Assistant

3) Employed part time by Anne McLaughlin MP - Constituency Assistant

Annette Christie (East Centre - 18)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Office & Communications Manager for Anne McLaughlin MP (employment ended September 2017)

3) Working part time as a constituency officer for Ivan McKee MSP

4) Working in a research role on a temporary basis (until March 2020) for Anne McLaughlin MP

Chris Cunningham (Garscadden/Scotstounhill - 13)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

Feargal Dalton ( Victoria Park - 12) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) SQA

2) Glasgow caledonian University 

3) Jordanhill School

4) Registered Landlord

5) World Productions Ltd - Consultant 

Josephine Docherty (Newlands/Auldburn - 2)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

Laura Doherty (Shettleston - 19) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Commenced employment for Margaret Ferrier MP on 20 January 2020

Stephen Dornan (Govan - 5) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

Michelle Ferns (Shettleston - 19) (SNP to Alba) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Natalie McGarry (former MP for Glasgow East) Constituency Office Manager - employment ceased 6.8.17

3) David Linden MP for Glasgow East - Constituency Caseworker (approx 16 hrs per week) - employment ceased 2 February 2018

Allan Gow (Canal - 16) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Stormhaven Intelligent Solutions: Director (company is dormant)

Greg Hepburn (Calton - 9)

Remuneration

1) No councillor's salary declared 

Mhairi Hunter (Southside Central - 8)

Remuneration

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) P/T Constituency Assistant to Nicola Sturgeon MSP

3)  Co-chair Glasgow City Integration Joint Board

4) Board Member NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board

Ruari Kelly (North East - 21)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor salary declared 

2) Communications Officer Office of Anne McLaughlin MP

Elspeth Kerr (Drumchapel/Anniesland - 14)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Kerr's Community Consultancy - Community Development Worker

Jennifer Layden (Calton - 9)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared as City Convenor 

2) Part time caseworker for Margaret Ferrier MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, January until October 2020

3) Part-time caseworker at the office of Humza Yousaf MSP, December 2020

John Letford (Maryhill - 15) (SNP to Alba)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared

David McDonald (Greater Pollok - 3)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared as GCC deputy leader

Jacqueline McLaren (Canal - 16)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Ian C McCarthy Solicitors, Legal Practise Office Admin

Kenny McLean (Patrick East/Kelvindale - 23)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

Norman McLeod (Pollokshields - 6)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) For the 12 months to 03/05/12 - the Scottish Qualifications Authority - Invigilating at Highers 8 days 

3) Jordanhill School - Invigilating at Prelims 2 days

4) The Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow - Invigilating 7 days

5) Kudos Ltd - Film Production Company "Extra" for 1 day

Elaine McSporran (Cardonald - 4) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) River Island Sales Advisor

Anne McTaggart (Drumchapel/Anniesland - 14)

Remuneration 

1) Councillor's salary declared as £16,927 (out of date)

2) Celebrating Civil Ceremony - Self Employed Civil Celebrant (Caring and Creative, Religious and Non-Religious Services)

Angus Millar (Anderston/City/Yorkhill - 10)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

Mandy Morgan (North East - 21) 

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

Anna Richardson (Langside - 7)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Self employed antenatal teacher on behalf of NCT

Franny Scally (Maryhill - 15)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

Rhiannon Spear (Greater Pollok - 3)

Remuneration 

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Air BnB: irregular income from spare bedroom

David Turner (Baillieston - 20)

Remuneration

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Support Officer for David Linden MP and Stewart McDonald MP

Alex Wilson (Cardonald - 4)

Remuneration

1) No councillor's salary declared 

2) Department for Work and Pensions Appeals Officer

3) South West Arts and Music Project