Latest news with #CommonGoodFund
Glasgow Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Return of Glasgow's fireworks display being explored
There has been no display at Glasgow Green since 2019 and Glasgow Life, which organised the event, had previously said there were no plans for it to be brought back. However, it has now emerged that officials are looking at a smaller event at reduced cost but still a public display free to the public. READ NEXT: Glasgow Labour clash with SNP and Greens over Kneecap in Palestine debate Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life told a meeting of Glasgow City Council that a report on the discussions would be produced int eh next two weeks. She said the budget is smaller and security and safety costs are high. Christie said: 'Currently Glasgow Life is exploring the feasibility of a similar event within a reduced budget of approximately £100,000 potentially through the Common Good Fund. 'The event would still be free to attend, take place around Bonfire Night and aim to deliver meaningful impact and quality. 'This work is nearing completion but does remain challenging. 'Safety and security costs are still substantial and may leave limited funding for a display of adequate scale.' She was asked by Jon Molyneux, Greens councillor about using the Common Good Fund for a display. Any new event would not be the same as before when tens of thousands were in Glasgow Green for a spectacular show and the associated costs could rule out Glasgow Green. READ NEXT: Council tells Celtic fans 'Do not attend' title party in Trongate on Saturday Christie, said: 'Glasgow Life previously estimated that reinstating the traditional free civic Bonfire Night fireworks display would cost around £330,000. 'This figure reflects the scale of the event accommodating 25,00 people and the need for a high quality display. 'Safety and security requirements are also a major factor in these costs.' She said that closing off a section of the park, and providing full police, security and medical support was 'challenging'. The organisation's chair said: 'We have to install hostile vehicle mitigation in the surrounding streets. We also have full security and medical deployment, complete with ambulance provision and Police Scotland provide anti-social disorder officers as well as the regular deployment of officers, which requires payment also.' She said she was 'happy to look at other areas of the city, not necessarily Glasgow Green' and suggested 'smaller neighbourhood displays' She invited councillors to come forward with any suggestions. Molyneux said a return to a free civic display would be welcome. He added: 'I'm pleased to hear that work is progressing and will progress at pace. 'I think it's clear that this is something that would be popular with most Glaswegians. "It would certainly be welcomed by the fire service and I think it's important that we extend the areas in the city that may be subject to fireworks controls.'
The Courier
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Council clearing out 1-5 High Street offices ahead of Perth hotel bid
Council bosses want to sell off furniture from their former offices in Perth amid plans for a controversial hotel redevelopment. The tables and chairs have been stored at 1-5 High Street for nearly 30 years. But the building is poised to become a new 'boutique hotel' after Perth and Kinross Council agreed to sell it to a developer for £1. And with nowhere else to store the items, officers suggest sending them to auction. They say the proceeds can then be reinvested in the city's Common Good Fund. Councillors will be asked to approve the proposal next week. It comes after The Courier revealed concerns about the status of the 1-5 High Street development. Henley Homes, the council's original preferred bidder, collapsed with debts of £67 million. The council went on to sign a development lease with Rogue City Hotels, part of the Henley group. But a spokesperson for Rogue City told us it 'no longer exists' after another of its venues, the Dunalastair Hotel Suites at Kinloch Rannoch, went into administration with debts of £4m. And it's another company, fronted by two former Henley Homes officers, that has since submitted a planning application to turn the former council offices into a 74-bed hotel. The fate of the furniture will be decided by the council's Perth Common Good Fund committee on Monday. Some of the items are said to have cultural significance, while others have either limited or no value. And a report to councillors explains: 'Neither the council nor Culture Perth and Kinross have sufficient room to continue to store this furniture, most of which has been stored in the present location since 1996.' By law the council has to consult the public first if it wants to sell Common Good property. It outlined the plans on its consultation hub website for eight weeks at the end of last year. One member of the public said they wanted the council to retain 10 Baillies' chairs. The only other response was from a councillor, who said at least one of the crested chairs should be kept. Council officers suggest keeping two of the best examples and sending the others to auction. 'It is recommended that the two crested chairs are retained as these hold a particular value to the history of the former Burgh Council,' says the report. 'These chairs were former Baillie chairs, and they are of civic value, which was noted in the consultation responses.' The deal for 1-5 High Street, Perth, has been controversial from the outset. Perth and Kinross Council came under fire for the decision to sell the B-listed landmark to Henley Homes for £1, while renting office space at Pullar House. It is also supposed to be footing the bill for £1.9m in heritage funding. At the time it was said the £7m project would create around 200 jobs and pump £1.12m into the local economy each year. The development lease means the £1 sale would go through after work is completed.
