Council passes emergency motion on hundreds of fire safety 'failures' in Clydebank

Councillors called for called for assurances on the safety issues within days before schools return next week.

The motion was on the back of exclusive reporting by the Post last week after a whistleblower leaked previously unseen reports from within the council.

After highlighting just two reports, the whistleblower leaked another 31 reports outlining more than 800 failures to meet British safety standards.

This week, the Post publishes details of all 17 Clydebank reports, news of which has prompted top-level meetings between senior staff and councillors, MSPs and MPs.

The council insisted its buildings were safe and the reports, prepared between September and December last year came from a "procurement exercise".

Councillor Lawrence O'Neill lodged the emergency motion, which won universal backing from councillors, asking for a report or briefing note from Chief Executive Joyce White on the "failures" and "actions taken to date to mitigate the risks to health and safety of staff, pupils and visitors to public buildings such as schools and community centres".

The motion twice called it "a matter of urgency" and wanted assurances before schools return next week.

Councillors also praised the Post for raising the issue.

Councillor John Mooney, who chairs the audit committee, said: "I agree we need a briefing on this as soon as possible. I think we have to audit this whole process. I was assured at committee there were no safety concerns.

"I asked for a briefing last week and nobody has come back to me. The whole process of how this was dealt with has to be looked at seriously."

Ms White told the councillors: "I had asked for assurances last week myself."

She said she hoped to get assurances that day, Monday, and would provide it to councillors.

Pick up this week's Clydebank Post for full details on what the reports reveal about area schools and public buildings.