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Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Inspections at 7 Glasgow homeless hotels find 'defects'
Environmental health inspections at a number of hotels and B&Bs used for homeless people in Glasgow have led to 'defects and issues' being identified. Last year, the Glasgow Times launched the End the Homeless Hotel Shame campaign to highlight the conditions people were enduring when in need of accommodation. One of the asks of the campaign was for the council to carry out an inspection regime to ensure owners, who are paid millions of pounds a year, comply with decent standards. In the last year, from April 2024 to March 2025, the council paid more than £45 million to private hotels and B&B owners in the city. The campaign heard firsthand from people who lived in the hotels and they reported dirty conditions with stained mattresses and bedding, rats and mice and drug taking and violence going unchecked. The council has revealed it started an inspection programme in November last year and has carried out 18 visits on seven properties up until April this year. Inspections undertaken focused on: Management of Legionella; Asbestos Management Plans; Health & Safety; Management of Hazardous substances; Inspection Checklists; Cleanliness; Pest control; Management of Falls from Height; Window Restrictors etc. Pat Togher, chief officer, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, has revealed the inspections in a report to councillors. He said: 'A summary of the seven inspections noted a number of defects and or issues that have been identified by Environmental Services staff. 'The defects and or issues were not uniformly identified across all the sites. Each site inspected, demonstrated varying degrees of compliance and understanding of requirements and legislation. 'In response to the inspections and continued dialogue with the HSCP the management of the hotels and bed & breakfast have all responded positively and constructively to the inspection reports and subsequent recommendations. 'This has resulted in no enforcement notices being served on the owners of the establishments with all owners welcoming and embracing the recommendations. 'They have reacted quickly to address any issues highlighted to them following the Inspections.' He added: 'There is now a greater understanding of what is required with regards to the management of health and safety within the hotels and bed & breakfast sites. Consequently, HSCP staff are now also better equipped to understand key areas to note when visiting establishments and engaging with hotel and bed & breakfast managers.'
The National
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Tommy Sheridan in court over case against Glasgow City Council
Lawyer Mike Dailly told judge Lord Young on Friday how the former politician was told this in a letter sent to him by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership staff. The Court of Session heard that Sheridan had applied to become a criminal justice social worker with the Glasgow City Council initiative. In his application, he disclosed to his prospective employers he had been given a three year prison sentence in 2011 for perjury - a jury at the High Court in Glasgow concluded that he had lied on oath during his successful defamation action against the News of the World newspaper. READ MORE: Holyrood toilet rule change slammed as 'exclusionary' by trans rights campaigners The court heard that social work bosses then sent him a letter in August 2024 telling him the conviction presented an 'unacceptable level of risk' to Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership. More communications to Sheridan told him that future applications for jobs with the organisation would not be 'progressed'. This has prompted Sheridan to instruct lawyers to go to Scotland's highest civil court in a bid to get Glasgow City Council to overturn its decision. On Friday, Dailly told Lord Young that the council had acted unlawfully in its decision to permanently exclude Sheridan from social work jobs with the local authority. He said that the body which regulates social work in Scotland - the Scottish Social Services Council - had assessed Sheridan as being a suitable candidate for working in the profession. Dailly said: 'It's a simple matter - the petitioner has been assessed as being a fit person for the profession by the statutory social work body. He has also been assessed as being suitable to work with children and younger people under the PVG scheme. 'The petitioner has been told he cannot be a social worker. However, the Scottish Parliament has allowed the SSSC the role and responsibility to determine who is a fit and proper person to be a social worker. 'The SSSC says the petitioner is a fit and proper person. I say the decision made by the council is irrational - it cannot say the petitioner cannot be a social worker.' Dailly was speaking during a judicial review brought by Sheridan to the Court of Session. He wants Lord Young to pass legal orders stating that Glasgow City Council's decision was 'unlawful' as it 'permanently excluded' him from working in social work at the local authority. The lawyer also wants the decision made by Glasgow City Council in relation to Sheridan's job application to be overturned. (Image: Picture: Colin Mearns) The former MSP posted online last summer about graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University after undertaking a two-year master's degree in social work. Sources say he has applied for jobs in the profession but is unable to secure a position. Sheridan used to lead the Scottish Socialist Party which won a number of seats at Holyrood in 1999 and 2003 before collapsing following his high-profile court case where he was accused of being a swinger. Since then he has remained involved in politics as a supporter of Scottish independence group Hope over Fear., Sheridan served as an MSP for Glasgow between 1999 and 2007. He took the News of the World to court in 2006, alleging it defamed him after reporting he was an adulterer who visited swingers' clubs. He netted £200,000 but he was later convicted of lying in court during this civil action, and was sentenced to three years in jail. He has attempted to appeal his conviction but judges have upheld it. On social media last summer he revealed his future plans in response to a suggestion that he should stand again as an MSP in 2026. He posted: "I just graduated as a professional social worker from Glasgow Caledonian University after a two-year masters degree so I am applying for jobs in that profession just now but who knows what will come to pass by 2026.' On Friday, Sheridan turned up to the court to observe proceedings with his wife Gail and daughter Gabrielle. They heard Glasgow City Council's lawyer Paul Reid KC tell the court that Glasgow City Council acted lawfully and were legally entitled to refuse employment to Sheridan. Speaking about the assessment made by the SSSC about Sheridan, he said: 'It is a registration. It does not confer an entitlement to employment. 'Registration with the Law Society of Scotland does not confer an entitlement to employment as a solicitor - and registration with the General Medical Council doesn't confer an entitlement to work as a doctor.' Reid said the decision made by Glasgow City Council was an 'employment decision' and couldn't be challenged by judicial review. Lord Young told the court that he wanted time to consider the legal issues which lawyers had highlighted. He said he'd issue his decision sometime in the near future. He added: 'Clearly, this is an important matter.'
Glasgow Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Tommy Sheridan in court over case against Glasgow City Council
Lawyer Mike Dailly told judge Lord Young on Friday how the former politician was told this in a letter sent to him by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership staff. The Court of Session heard that Mr Sheridan had applied to become a criminal justice social worker with the Glasgow City Council initiative. READ NEXT: 'Disgusting': Parents of tragic Kory McCrimmon fuming over sentence for son's killer READ NEXT: 'Beloved' founder of popular restaurant sadly dies In his application, he disclosed to his prospective employers he had been given a three year prison sentence in 2011 for perjury - a jury at the High Court in Glasgow concluded that he had lied on oath during his successful defamation action against the News of the World newspaper. The court heard that social work bosses then sent him a letter in August 2024 telling him the conviction presented an 'unacceptable level of risk' to Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership. More communications to Mr Sheridan told him that future applications for jobs with the organisation would not be 'progressed'. This has prompted Mr Sheridan to instruct lawyers to go to Scotland's highest civil court in a bid to get Glasgow City Council to overturn its decision. On Friday, Mr Dailly told Lord Young that the council had acted unlawfully in its decision to permanently exclude Mr Sheridan from social work jobs with the local authority. He said that the body which regulates social work in Scotland - the Scottish Social Services Council - had assessed Mr Sheridan as being a suitable candidate for working in the profession. Mr Dailly said: 'It's a simple matter - the petitioner has been assessed as being a fit person for the profession by the statutory social work body. He has also been assessed as being suitable to work with children and younger people under the PVG scheme. 'The petitioner has been told he cannot be a social worker. However, the Scottish Parliament has allowed the SSSC the role and responsibility to determine who is a fit and proper person to be a social worker. 'The SSSC says the petitioner is a fit and proper person. I say the decision made by the council is irrational - it cannot say the petitioner cannot be a social worker.' Mr Dailly was speaking during a judicial review brought by Mr Sheridan to the Court of Session. He wants Lord Young to pass legal orders stating that Glasgow City Council's decision was 'unlawful' as it 'permanently excluded' him from working in social work at the local authority. The lawyer also wants the decision made by Glasgow City Council in relation to Mr Sheridan's job application to be overturned. (Image: Picture: Colin Mearns) The former MSP posted online last summer about graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University after undertaking a two-year master's degree in social work. Sources say he has applied for jobs in the profession but is unable to secure a position. Mr Sheridan used to lead the Scottish Socialist Party which won a number of seats at Holyrood in 1999 and 2003 before collapsing following his high-profile court case where he was accused of being a swinger. Since then he has remained involved in politics as a supporter of Scottish independence group Hope over Fear., Mr Sheridan served as an MSP for Glasgow between 1999 and 2007. He took the News of the World to court in 2006, alleging it defamed him after reporting he was an adulterer who visited swingers' clubs. He netted £200,000 but he was later convicted of lying in court during this civil action, and was sentenced to three years in jail. He has attempted to appeal his conviction but judges have upheld it. On social media last summer he revealed his future plans in response to a suggestion that he should stand again as an MSP in 2026. He posted: "I just graduated as a professional social worker from Glasgow Caledonian University after a two-year masters degree so I am applying for jobs in that profession just now but who knows what will come to pass by 2026.' On Friday, Mr Sheridan turned up to the court to observe proceedings with his wife Gail and daughter Gabrielle. They heard Glasgow City Council's lawyer Paul Reid KC tell the court that Glasgow City Council acted lawfully and were legally entitled to refuse employment to Mr Sheridan. Speaking about the assessment made by the SSSC about Mr Sheridan, he said: 'It is a registration. It does not confer an entitlement to employment. 'Registration with the Law Society of Scotland does not confer an entitlement to employment as a solicitor - and registration with the General Medical Council doesn't confer an entitlement to work as a doctor.' Mr Reid said the decision made by Glasgow City Council was an 'employment decision' and couldn't be challenged by judicial review. Lord Young told the court that he wanted time to consider the legal issues which lawyers had highlighted. He said he'd issue his decision sometime in the near future. He added: 'Clearly, this is an important matter.'
The Herald Scotland
03-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Why is Glasgow struggling to handle the homeless?
There are also concerns that things could get even worse with the closure of a homeless shelter and support hub in Glasgow which supporters say are placing 33 vulnerable people back onto the streets every single night. Why did Glasgow declare a housing emergency? Glasgow City council declared the emergency in November 2023, in response to escalating homelessness rates, pressure from the asylum system, a shortage of affordable housing, and mounting pressures on housing services. The motion passed with cross-party support, recognising that existing housing and homelessness services were under unsustainable pressure. At the time Glasgow had recorded 6742 homelessness applications an 11% increase from before the Covid pandemic when there were 6075 official calls for help. At that point, the numbers reporting that they had slept rough at some point in the three months before seeking help had actually been dropped from before the pandemic from 515 in 2019/20 to 335 in 2022/23. But it has risen since then. Increasing numbers of homeless people seeking help were unable to be placed in settled accommodation so have been housed in temporary homes, like hotels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses. The number of households having to be placed in temporary accommodation at that point had risen from 2,557 as at March 31, 2020, to 3560 three years later before the emergency was announced. But the council says there is not enough temporary accommodation to deal with the homeless numbers. On top of that, the Home Office's plan to expedite asylum decisions across the UK saw extra pressures in Glasgow which has become the number one UK hotspot for welcoming refugees. It has led to an influx of individuals requiring housing support, straining existing resources. What is being done to address this? The council approved a five year post-emergency plan in December in a bid to deliver an increasing supply of affordable settled housing. Read more: 'Disaster': Swinney urged to act as rough sleeping in Scotland's biggest city triples in a year 'Boils the blood': 30,000 demand women-only Scots homeless refuge as deaths rise 'Can't cope': Two thirds of homeless children in housing emergency digs are refugees 'Heads should roll': Economist group indicates FM's homeless crisis action not enough 'Wake up call': New report offers damning findings on children in homeless system It was expected that it would deliver investment of over £1.139bn over five years that will see almost 7,200 new affordable homes built. The plans also include supporting registered social landlords to acquire 550 properties that could be used to provide housing for homeless households. The Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (GCHSCP) - which administers social care, addiction, homelessness support, child protection and criminal justice services - has set out a plan to make greater use of empty properties in the Glasgow area. How is the housing emergency (Image: PA) And the council has sent letters to the owners of empty homes in the city to sell or rent out their properties in an attempt to end the crisis. They say that more than 2,500 homes were lying empty. What challenges persist despite these actions? Campaigners say changes proposed are not coming online quickly enough while the crisis appears to have deepened. Shelter Scotland has been calling for set targets for cutting the number of children stuck in temporary accommodation. And they say that the council cannot do it on their own saying that the Scottish Government has to support and invest in housing so that more homes can be built. But across Scotland, in the year to the end of December, the number of affordable homes completed had dropped by 18% (-1,736 homes) in a year. With seven years of the target to go, there has been some scepticism that a Scottish Government target to build 110,000 homes to end the homelessness scandal by 2032 will be met.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Heroin shooting gallery neighbours warn streets are now littered with needles
Scotland's first heroin 'shooting gallery' has been blamed for a rise in crime and drugs paraphernalia littering the streets. The Thistle opened in January with the aim of allowing addicts to inject their own drugs under medical supervision. It was also hoped that it would lead to fewer discarded syringes in public areas - but furious residents living nearby claim it has had the opposite effect. Statistics for its first nine weeks revealed 168 individuals had used the service and that 17 medical emergencies had been 'managed and resolved'. Residents in the Calton area of Glasgow said the clinic had led to a growing number of needles left in the streets and an influx of users travelling in from other parts of the city. Dozens spoke about their experiences at a community-organised meeting about its impact. One pensioner who did not want to be named told LBC: 'Around our pensioner clubs, nobody is coming out at night. 'And if they do, they're back at 9pm because that place shuts at 9pm and then they (drug-users) are all coming out here. 'It's not just a wee crowd, it is a lot - they come up the street, up the lane and along the square and we are getting more and more.' Another resident, Vanessa Paton, said there were 'needles galore' and that she had 'seen the difference in the last couple of months', adding: 'There's been at least four needles with blood in them dumped under my partner's window. 'Users trying to get into the area at night. 'You feel as if you're living in a ghetto. 'That was not happening (before); it's getting beyond a joke - the volume of them (needles) is just getting out of hand. 'You're scared to walk your dog in case they step on one.' Another woman told the group: 'There's people on the streets who get aggressive to you - I've had to start keeping a baseball bat behind my door.' Linda Watson said: 'We have had more drug-dealers and users in the areas and, on the number of needles, we never particularly noticed them before, we knew they were around, but now everywhere you walk on the pavements and in the bushes (you see them). 'And actually a lot of people are just standing hitting up in front of you - not trying to hide it. 'There were drug-dealers and users here before, but it's all strange faces here now and more (of them) in the area now. 'They're not keeping their promise of cleaning up the place… it has actually made it quite impossible to live here now'. Angela Scott agreed: 'You used to see the odd needle but not on this level. 'I've been here for three years and yes this place could have its issues but you tended to know people and it was all right. 'You knew the users - but now they're coming from all over the city because of the room and coming out (on the streets).' Proposals discussed included a march through the streets, a demonstration where needles would be dumped at the Scottish parliament, and creating a panel of local residents. A spokesman for Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership said: 'We have a community forum set up and running specifically for residents and businesses to discuss with officers any concerns and allow us an opportunity to address them. 'It is well-known that public injecting has been taking place in close proximity to the Thistle and within the Calton area for many years - well before the service opened. It is one of the reasons for the facility being where it is.' Health Secretary Neil Gray said: 'I recognise local people's concerns and we are addressing them through ongoing needle uplift operations, with plans to expand public needle disposal bins beyond the city centre to other affected areas. 'As part of its harm-reduction service, the Thistle provides the same kits as all city-wide needle exchange services. 'Research and evaluation from similar facilities around the world has found consistent evidence that they can help save and improve lives, reduce harms associated with drug use and levels of public drug consumption and publicly discarded drug-related litter.'
