Future of City Building is a ‘matter for city council not government’

Following local newspaper reports that the organisation, which employs more than 2000 people including 300 apprentices could be broken up, MSPs have raised concerns about the jobs, apprenticeships and work for disabled people.

Bill Kidd, Anniesland SNP MSP, asked if the Scottish Government could see “any mileage” in dismantling what he described as a “successful organisation”.

Mr Kidd said he was concerned City Building is the largest apprentice employer in Scotland and includes Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries, a manufacturing division of City Building contributing £5 million to the local economy.

He said he was concerned about the impact on employment in Glasgow if there are plans to break up the organisation.

Roseanna Cunningham, cabinet secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training said it supported firms which employ apprentices, but it was not for the Scottish Government to determine the future of City Building.

She said: “Councils are separate entities, independent of the Scottish Government. It is for Glasgow City Council and City Building to make the business case for any change to current arrangements.”

Patricia Ferguson, Maryhill and Springburn Labour MSP where the firm is based, said a reduction in the council’s budget meant City Building was limited in its ambitions.

She said: “If Glasgow’s funding settlement was as it should be, Glasgow City Council would be able to do even more with City Building and make sure that organisation employed even more apprentices in future.”

Ms Cunningham denied the council’s budget was reduced.

She said: “Patricia Ferguson must be aware the outcome of the spending review 2011 and budget review 2013 confirmed local government revenue funding and capital share would be maintained on a like-with-like basis, with extra money for new duties. That has meant the total settlement has increased to more than £10.85 billion in 2015-16. The decisions Glasgow City Council makes are for it to make itself.”

She urged the council and City Building to “communicate clearly with interested parties about their workforce plans, and to engage with unions during any process of change”.