Steven Purcell (Councillor)
Contents
A Business Approach to the Public Sector
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 is to be 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.
Glasgow the Brand
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.[5]
In addition to his board membership of CSG, Purcell cites a Non-Executive Directorship of SECC Ltd and lists a non-financial interest in Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Glasgow Community Planning Ltd and Scottish Enterprise Glasgow. He also makes minor declarations of property and hospitality on the Register of Councillors' interests.
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.
- ↑ Glasgow: Scotland with style, The City Brand
