NHS and Police Scotland urged to attend local community meetings
The NHS and Police Scotland have been criticised after representatives failed to attend a local community meeting.
The chairman of Shettleston’s area partnership committee has expressed his disappointment after the no-show by representative of the two services last week.
Councillor Thomas Kerr has now asked officers to write to the respective organisations to raise concerns about the lack of attendance from both of them after community representatives turned up the hear what they had to say.
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A report on an adult health and well-being survey detailing the results for the North East of Glasgow was on the agenda but no one there to explain the findings.
Councillor Kerr also requested that Police provide a written report so that members could look at crime statistics for their area.
Speaking on the NHS update, councillor Kerr said: “I am happy to continue this item to the next meeting but can I make a request that we express our disappointment that they are not here today and they have not engaged with us at all because I don’t think that’s fair.
“I know last week the meeting had to be cancelled but they weren’t there last week so that’s two weeks that's happened. I am happy to continue it to the next one but I think we should express our disappointment to the NHS that we have not had them here today.”
Police Scotland were then due to give an update but no one from the service was in attendance.
Councillor Kerr went on: “I know it’s a bit different with the Police because they have not given us a report but I would be keen that we go back to them to say that these are important meetings, we’ve got community representatives who want to ask about safety and issues that are happening here in the ward and I do think that it’s really important that they are here.
“I totally get there may be something going on in the city where they have to get pulled away so it’s different for them from the NHS but I think just to reiterate that point, even if they are not able to come, if they can give some sort of written report like Scottish Fire and Rescue - I think it would be helpful for members to have that information.
“I don’t want to feel as if we are forcing the police to come, they may be too busy doing other things and I totally get that. I would much rather they were out solving a crime or something that is going on in the city rather than coming to speak to councillors.
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“But if they can provide us with a written update on what is going on in the ward, that would be good information for the community to take away.”
A council officer confirmed she would request that.