Labour’s leader on Glasgow council has claimed there is a plot to “silence” him over the scandal of massive early retirement packages for senior staff. George Redmond said he and Labour colleague Paul Carey received a “chilling” whistleblower letter alleging a “target” is on their back for asking questions.
As revealed by the Record, the SNP-led council is hiring a KC to investigate six figure exit packages for former bosses on the cash-strapped local authority.
Redmond said he and Carey had been asking questions for some time but hit out at a letter they received on Monday from a “concerned employee”.
The letter stated: “I believe you should be aware that it is being made known among senior officers that if they have dealings with either of you and anyone thinks you have over stepped the line or bounds of your authority we are to notify our line managers immediately.
“It is quite clear that you have a target on your backs particularly Councillor Carey as they are very uncomfortable about the scrutiny he puts into everything and the FOI that has been put in it is very clear that they are worried about the questions that are being asked. I think that it is absolutely disgusting that they are targeting elected members for doing their job.”
Redmond said: “Getting a letter like this was shocking. It’s an attempt to silence and stop questions around what appears to be a disregard of rules and the people of Glasgow’s money. Regardless of the level of government, no politician should face threats and receiving a letter that says there is a target on my back was chilling.
“All I am trying to do is understand what these payments are about and who sanctioned them and why and now I am receiving these sorts of threats. Openness and transparency should be part of any democracy – Glasgow City Council should be no different.”
Four deals are being examined, including former chief executive Annemarie O’Donnell receiving a £357,845 contribution to her pension. Elaine Galletly, former Director of Legal and Administration, also benefited from a £223,065 pension contribution and £59,971 for “compensation for loss of office”.
Council leader Susan Aitken and Treasurer Ricky Bell did not know about the deals and were angry when they heard.
A council spokesperson said of the letter: “Nothing in this is true. The Chief Executive would welcome the opportunity to reassure the members of this if they are happy to share the letter with her.”
John Slaven, organiser for the GMB trade union on the council, said: “In recent years, services have been savaged, our members had to threaten industrial action to get a fair pay offer and low-paid colleagues forced to retire because of ill-health were refused extra financial help. The suggestion that, as councillors insisted there was not a penny to protect services and staff, executives were quitting with massive but unjustifiable cheques is obscene.
“The people of Glasgow will be rightly appalled and will stay appalled until they know exactly what has happened here, who has benefited and what will be done about it.”
The payments were made amid a huge row over huge budget cuts at the SNP-run council. Signature buildings like the city chambers were sold off to other parts of the council, waves of redundancies have been pushed through and services cut.
The council reported earlier this year that a £107m funding gap would have to be closed over three years. One of the ways the council is trying to cut costs is getting rid of 450 teacher posts in the city.
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