Glasgow City Council Officially Elects New Leader
Councillor Frank McAveety has been elected as the new Leader of Glasgow City Council.
The appointment was made at a meeting of the full council.
It follows Councillor Gordon Matheson’s decision to stand down as Leader.
Councillor McAveety said: “It’s an immense honour and privilege, as a son of Glasgow, to lead my city and I am determined to deliver for its citizens.
“At all times, I will be pressing the case for what’s best for Glasgow.
“The city has given me everything in life and I will work tirelessly for the benefit of its people. The council’s focus will continue to be on education and job creation. We will attempt to be a shield for the vulnerable and the creator of opportunity for all.
“I’ll work in partnership with anyone - the UK Government, the Scottish Government and the business community – as long as they are prepared to do the right thing for the people of Glasgow, because I will always put our citizens first.”
Councillor McAveety was a member of Glasgow District Council from 1988 until 1996 and served as Convenor of the Arts and Culture Committee, which developed the Gallery of Modern Art and initiated plans for the large scale redevelopment of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
From 1997 until 1999, Councillor McAveety served as Leader of Glasgow City Council and during this time he established the first Local Authority Standards Committee.
After being elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, Councillor McAveety became Deputy Minister for Local Government in the Scottish Executive until 2000 and returned to office in 2002 as Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care. In 2003, he became Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, during which tenure he established the National Theatre of Scotland. As Sports Minister, he conducted a successful campaign to bring the headquarters of sportscotland, the national sports agency, to the east end of Glasgow.
Councillor McAveety was re-elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2007 and until June 2010 served as Convener of the Public Petitions Committee and was Scottish Labour’s Shadow Minister for Sport.
In 2012, he was elected onto Glasgow City Council as a councillor for Shettleston and became convener of the Policy Committee for Sustainability and the Environment.
He has served as a board member for the Arches Theatre Company, Enterprise Scotland and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. He serves on the boards of the Scottish Youth Theatre and Glasgow Humane Society as well as the Barra Enterprise Trust.