Budget passed on 17th February.

On 17th February 2022, an SNP-Green Budget was passed at a Glasgow City Council Meeting held virtually.

Firstly, I wish to thank the finance officers and all staff involved in the budget process including the green policy officer. Also, I am very glad to have been part of constructive budget negotiations alongside Cllr Jon Molyneux with the City Treasurer and the SNP Administration in the lead up to the budget meeting.

Combined, our investments will support a lasting legacy for Glasgow’s communities after hosting the COP26 climate summit. We face a stormy year ahead and will continue to call for more resources for local government from Scottish and UK Governments.

Greens are supporting the cleansing workforce and action to improve recycling collections across local neighbourhoods. Far too much waste that could easily be recycled is going to landfill or not being reprocessed. That is financially wasteful and it undermines opportunities to improve on Glasgow’s shameful recycling performance. We are providing more funding to ensure that the Council maximises support for the recycling of cardboard, in particular.

Our revenue investment improves the resilience of recycling bin collections with priority given to tenement areas, strengthening environmental health enforcement, and improving conditions and development opportunities for essential workers.

There is increased public concern over the environment, and changes to services around waste are most effectively achieved through supporting community activism at a local neighbourhood level. We need to develop services which work with residents to engender a spirit of common action to recycle more.

We are developing better bulk uplifts. Scottish Greens’ proposals mitigate the impact of bulk uplift charging, with a move to a flexible per-item charging model, allowing for periodic amnesties, and further promotion of repair and reuse options.

Funds are provided to design a free public transport pilot project to get Glasgow moving. A free transport pilot has been agreed as part of the Climate Action plan, backed by a motion passed on 9th December 2021. The response to the council leader’s letter from the Scottish Government’s Minister for Transport indicates support of a pilot, but lack of any finances being available. The Green budget addresses the funding gap.

Our Green proposals restore the £10m Glasgow’s Climate Action Fund to deliver agreed investment priorities. This will maintain Council-led action tackling the climate and nature emergencies.

Investments include Rapid implementation of city-wide 20mph speed limit at £2.1m. This is the cost to help implement a 20mph speed limit on the majority of our residential roads across Glasgow in partnership with Sustrans.

Rooftop solar investment is planned for Council buildings at £2m. This is contributing to a better future by reducing our carbon footprint through developing our renewable energy capacity.

There is increased support for food growing spaces to meet the rise demand for allotment provision at a cost of £0.2m.

Wildflower Meadow and Green Connector 5 year action plan is £1.5m. We want this funding to commit to enhanced wildflower and grassland management, operational delivery to increase biodiversity, pollinator friendly planting, creation of wildlife habitat, and maximising connected green active travel routes.

There is support for traffic calming measures at schools which cannot have Car-free School Streets at £0.5m.

The back courts and lanes funding of £0.7m is extended. Green councillors continue to support efforts to encourage people’s involvement in back lanes as a community asset and our budget provides access to the resources needed for maintenance of lanes across the city. This invests in safer, cleaner back courts and lanes. We expect this will help to improve security, address littering, encourage community growing and composting, or provide secure cycle storage or tool sharing schemes.

We are supporting a City Centre Greenspace investment. This is making the Ramshorn Cemetery a permanent, publicly accessible greenspace in the city centre, following its use during COP26. We recognise the importance of supporting better access to outside spaces for physical and mental health. Permanently reopening this important green space will benefit local residents and visitors. It’s been closed for several years and requires funding to re-open since Strathclyde Uni passed over the management to the council under City Property.

We have to ensure that there are improvements in council services to support the wellbeing of Glasgow’s citizens and also, look after the environment across all communities in the Dear Green Place.