Glasgow has reacted to a list of trips abroad that councillors booked with taxpayers cash.
Senior members of all parties travelled to events held in Japan, Paris, and Romania to represent the city.
Now we have asked people on Sauchiehall Street if they thought the spending was justified and found many didn’t mind, but wanted to see direct proof of results from the trips.
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Allan Casey, convenor for workforce homelessness and addictions, attended the Social Innovation Lab in Torino, Italy from September 18 to 20 costing £455.
Casey also went to Paris for the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless from June 19 to 22, costing £890.
Meanwhile Council leader Susan Aitken attended a single-day Connected Places Summit in London in March at a cost of £352.
The leader also attended the UKREiiF in Leeds which cost £140; the World Cities Summit in Japan in June which cost the council £185, and the Conference with Economic Development in London costing £354 which deputy leader Richard Bell also attended also costing £354.
SEE FULL LIST: Glasgow councillors trips abroad revealed from France to Japan
Joslyn Donnelly, 22, said: “If they are going for business then it depends on the outcoming of the meeting.
“Do I think we need to spend hundreds on accommodation, no that could be downsized.
“If the work that comes out of it is valid then I can see how it is necessary.”
“All this business online is obviously necessary but it is still important that they meet.
“When it comes to costs it is difficult to know where the money is going at the moment.
“Scotland is in a bit of a muddle right now.”
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Gerry Thomas, 66, said: “If the outcomes are good then yes these trips are justified, but only if they can show results.
“I have not seen these results but maybe in the long term we might see these. Only then can I say it would be justified to be spending money to go abroad.”
“When I look at the state of Sauchiehall Street I find it depressing.
“I can see why it is worthwhile to do certain trips because you don’t want to become too introverted, but we need to look at the priorities here.
“The city looks sad now with the graffiti and works, but I know the council has been starved a bit by the Tory Government.”
“The money should go towards services like care. I used to volunteer in the East End and the charity premises had to give up the space because of huge fee’s which the council was involved in.
"They couldn’t afford the rent increase. The city has no money.”
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Santiago Parra-Whitehead, 21, said: “I can see why people will think it is excessive.
“Holidays away using taxpayers money is obviously frowned upon. I think the Tory Government has sent a new standard for corruption.
“Homelessness in Glasgow has been a massive problem for years, we do need to find solutions. I am not sure trips abroad are possibly the way of doing that.”
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