Steven Purcell (Councillor)
Contents
Reducing Democratic Accountability
Representing the Scottish Labour Party on Glasgow City Council, Steven Purcell has been accused by Christopher Mason, leader of Glasgow council's LibDems, of being on a crusade to 'Blairise' Glasgow City Council.[1]
As Leader of the City Council, Purcell presided over changes which saw the traditional committee system replaced in summer 2006 with a policy-making cabinet, or executive, of fifteen councillors.[2]
In March 2007, Purcell presided over the devolution of the council's cultural and leisure services to a limited company with charitable status and a separate trading arm - Culture and Sport Glasgow - and became one of six invited Councillors to hold a seat on the board. His rationale for supporting the devolution from City Council control was that 'We have the biggest civic collection of art in Europe. Most of it is in storage. Why shouldn't it be used in other parts of Scotland, the UK or even America? Every penny we would raise would be reinvested in our services.'[3]
As of April 2008, Purcell looks set to repeat this pattern with the devolution of the Land and Environmental Services department into a limited liability partnership (LLP) 'which could see cemeteries and crematoria, onstreet parking, waste disposal services and transport for people with learning disabilities run by either private firms or arms-length companies.'[4] This follows the creation of several other LLPs by the council in recent years, including City Building, Community Safety Services, City Parking, a body to run its markets and a partnership with private firms to run IT.
A Business Approach to the Public Sector
In November 2007, Purcell consolidated his pro-business approach by offering rent-free premises to new business start-ups in the city.[5]
Bringing in Ernst and Young to manage the budget for the Commonwealth Games 2014, Purcell is keen to open the process up to tendering and makes Scottish businesses aware of procurement opportunities.[6] A new body - the Commonwealth Business Panel - has been set up to ensure this, which includes the city council in partnership with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Confederation of British Industry, the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, VisitScotland and EventScotland.[7]
Glasgow the Brand
In addition to his board membership of CSG, Purcell cites a non-financial interest in Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Glasgow Community Planning Ltd and Scottish Enterprise Glasgow.
As Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Stephen Purcell has been central to the re-branding of Glasgow via the Glasgow: Scotland with style campaign which claims
- 'Since the launch of the brand, in excess of 535,000 additional tourists have visited the city :generating £62 million in local economic benefit and delivering a 2% year-on-year increase in hotel occupancy.[8]
In throwing his weight behind the tourist-led regeneration of the city, Purcell is very supportive of the Commonwealth Games 2014 and the M74 motorway extension.[9]
Purcell holds a Non-Executive Directorship of SECC Ltd (which is at the heart of the city's events-led tourism strategy) and makes minor declarations of property and hospitality on the Register of Councillors' interests.
Local Role - National Ambitions
At the time of the last leadership challenge within Scottish Labour, Purcell was tipped for the top by some, with ambitions to restore the party to power as First Minister. Following Jack McConnell's example of clearing the skeletons out of his closet in advance of this, Purcell left his wife and announced that he is gay.[10]
Echoing the Party line, Purcell has been vocal in his opposition to a local income tax replacing council tax in Scotland, describing them as 'neither fair nor efficient'.[11]
Committees of Which Purcell is a Member
- Appointment of Senior Officers Committee (Convener)
- Drumchapel/Anniesland Area Committee
- Emergency Committee (Convener)
- Executive Committee (Convener)
Outside Bodies
- COSLA Convention
- Culture and Sport Glasgow Ltd
- Drumchapel/Anniesland Local Housing Forum
- Glasgow & Clyde Valley Community Planning Partnership
- Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
- Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage Partnership Board
- Scottish Enterprise Glasgow
- Western Scotland European Forum
Notes
- ↑ Gerry Braiden, 'Council’s proposal to hand over museums ‘against party policy". The Herald. 2 March 2007.
- ↑ Stephen Stewart, 'Chaos as council stopped by sit-in protest: Anger over cabinet system', The Herald, 30 June 2006, p. 9.
- ↑ David Leask, Phil Miller and Julia Belgutay, 'Council puts trust in charitable future: City's culture department may become separate body', The Herald, 2 September 2006, p. 4.
- ↑ Gerry Braiden, ‘Council accused of hiving off services: Plans to move 8000 staff to arms-length company. The Herald. 15 April 2008, p.9.
- ↑ Gerry Braiden, 'New firms in Glasgow 'will be given a free property ': Scheme to stimulate business start-ups in the city is offering free vacant units, The Herald, 23 November 2007, p.12.
- ↑ Gerry Braiden, Finance experts sign up for 2014 Games: Ernst and Young recruited to keep project on budget, The Herald, 17 March 2008, p.4.
- ↑ Gerry Braiden, 'Scots fight for bulk of Games' business: New body to ensure local firms are not squeezed out', The Herald, 6 December 2007, p.10.
- ↑ Glasgow: Scotland with Style Brand Guide Media:Glasgow_Scotland_with_style_-_The_City_Brand_SEPTE.pdf
- ↑ Magnus Gardham, 'M74 Go-ahead signals end to city snarl-ups: 60 year wait over for link road but final bill may reach £657m', Daily Record, 15 February 2008, p.2.
- ↑ 'Gay council leader splits from wife' Pink News, 11 December 2006 (accessed 14 April 2008).
- ↑ Brian Currie, Glasgow would be hard hit by proposal for local income tax, Evening Times, 12 March 2008, p.1.
