Calls for more maintenance at City Chambers

A fire in Glasgow’s city chambers has sparked a call for more maintenance to protect the landmark building.

The city’s Labour group’s built heritage spokesman, councillor Stephen Docherty, has claimed there is a “cavalier attitude” towards the A-listed council headquarters.

And he suggested film crews using the building for productions should pay a levy to help fund its upkeep.

A council spokesman said a “huge amount” is spent on the maintenance of the local authority’s built heritage estate, including the city chambers.

Vegetation growing on Glasgow's city chambers. — Vegetation growing on Glasgow’s city chambers. LDRS

Fire crews spent three hours on Wednesday night battling a blaze in a canteen, which caused smoke damage.

Councillor Docherty, who has raised concerns over the “major erosion of built heritage” in the city, said the building, which was ‘remortgaged’ to help fund the settlement of equal pay claims, needs a “proper maintenance regime” in place.

The equal pay deal involved selling council-owned properties, including the city chambers, to an arms-length body and leasing them back. An audit report revealed that the council is paying £32m per year on rent for the buildings.

Fire crews spent three hours on Wednesday night battling a blaze in a canteen, which caused smoke damage. LDRS

Councillor Docherty also voiced concerns over the age of the wiring in the municipal building, adding: “There is vegetation growing out of the sandstone on the Cochrane Street elevation and John Street, with no action to remove it.

“Is Glasgow City Council’s HQ going to meet the same fate as the Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh building?”

Councillors were informed last month that they couldn’t park their cars at the city chambers for a period due to filming.

It has been reported that JJ Abrams’ new movie was taking over the building and Cochrane Street, and actors Glen Powell and Jenna Ortega were spotted in the city. Cllr Docherty believes productions should be asked to make a small contribution towards maintaining the building.

The council spokesman said the local authority invests “a huge amount in maintaining its built heritage estate, and the city chambers is no exception — well over £280m has been invested in this estate over the past dozen years”.

He added that the fire was understood to be electrical, and investigations were ongoing.