We call on the Scottish Government to:

- Recognise that some cultural and sports venues and facilities run by Glasgow City Council are of national or international importance; contribute to cultural life, sporting events and economic activity beyond Glasgow; and are used and enjoyed by many from out with Glasgow.

- Provide additional funding to Glasgow City Council in recognition of the above.

Background

The misalignment between Glasgow's cultural and sporting importance to Scotland, and the funding of those major venues and facilities is becoming increasingly obvious.  

The trade unions have been putting this case for many years as part of the need to recognise the city's metropolitan status and mitigate the misalignment of Glasgow's council tax base vis-a-via those who use and enjoy Glasgow Life venues and facilities.

Scottish Government funding to local councils for culture and sport is allocated across the country based on population, and therefore does not reflect the national and international role of many venues in Glasgow and the associated costs to the city. The nationally run museums in Edinburgh are funded on a more generous basis than the council ones in Glasgow. 

There are around fifteen such venues in the city including the Emirates Arena / Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Royal Concert Hall, Mitchell Library, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Burrell Collection, Riverside Museum, Tollcross International Swimming Centre and Scotstoun Campus. The cost of running these venues is around £40M per year.  Initial financial work makes a case for over half of this coming in additional funding from the Scottish Government.