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Not only are incomes down; funeral costs are up. Scotland is the third most expensive part of the UK to die in.
In 2024, the total cost of a funeral in Scotland was ÂŁ4,345. State support for send-offs come in at an average of ÂŁ2,000 per award.
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Stigma around public health funerals abounds. But in Glasgow, their increase tells a worrying tale, writes @magstaylorish.bsky.social .
As the numbers here have ratcheted up, comparator cities like Edinburgh and Manchester have seen a reduction in publicly funded send-offs since 2020.
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If you enjoyed this read, consider supporting local independent journalism with a Bell subscription. It's currently just under ÂŁ9 and month.
We don't have billionaire owners or clickbait ads - so it's really all down to the readers.
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This is when it gets really juicy...
Read the full story of state-sanctioned disputes, outlaw fishing and TikTok embezzlers on our site.
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Negotiations began: GMF looked as if they were going to become the first ever officially designated group to get permission to fish on the canal network.
But relations soured and Scottish Canals brokered an agreement with an Edinburgh magnet fishing group instead.
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Robbie's been following the Glasgow Magnet Fishing group since 2020. He's not alone.
As soon as Scottish Canals clocked there was a bunch of lads rocking up to waterways with big magnets every week, they took note - and told the group they needed permission to fish. At first, relations were good.
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GCC leader Susan Aitken gave us a no-holds barred response.
"The person responsible cherry-picked a handful of hypotheticals and told a journalist they had been presented by officers as budget options at a meeting that never happened," she said.
Read more in today's briefing:
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Glasgow City Council has a pretty leaky reputation. “It’s terribly tribal,” says Conservative councillor John Daly, comparing Glasgow to other Scottish local authorities.
Leaks, he adds, often undermine the extensive work undertaken as a “unit” by the city's elected representatives.
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The cuts didn't happen - but fear had spread. One councillor told us of a staff member working in education who was signed off sick with anxiety for fear their income would be impacted.
At the Budget announcement, reps from Greens, the SNP and Labour all slammed the leaker.
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Accompanying Budget announcements last week of universal free primary school meals and new cleansing staff was scorching cross-party rebuke for the anonymous City Chambers figure who leaked news of potential cuts to nursery and ASN staff to The Herald on 10 Feb.
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The real prize is to create 3,000 new homes over 110 acres of adjacent land, spread across four main plots.
But critics have argued that not enough of the new canalside homes will be available for social rent.
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The smart canal has been plugged in for over a year without anyone really noticing. It manages floodwater and could be as revolutionary as the horse-drawn barges of coal dragged along the canals were to Glasgow at its industrial peak.
"Every time you get a rain event, it’s getting cleverer".
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Labour councillors are putting forward their Budget challenges in the debate portion of the meeting.
"Sorry, Cllr Aitken, is there a problem?" challenges fired up Cllr Jill Pidgeon (Shettleston), as she claims that Glasgow needs change - and that Labour can deliver it.
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There was a shoutout for Cardonald Library, which is STILL shuttered after its 2023 closure, due to RAAC in the foundations. Ricky Bell promised the situation will finally be addressed.
But no mention of Whitehill Pool in Dennistoun which is suffering from the same indefinite closure.
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Money has to come from somewhere. "It's still a Budget set against extremely challenging circumstances," says Green councillor Jon Molyneux.
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A few extra Budget announcements:
đź’°ÂŁ2m + more funding to deal with roads and pavements (potholes!)
đź’°100 new parking attendants
đź’°Reverses cuts to teacher numbers & starts to restore them to 2023 levels
BUT: council tax will reportedly increase by 7.5%.
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A bit of drama: Cllr Bell calls out people leaking "selective information" about the Budget to media last week, causing "fear and alarm" in communities.
"I hope the leaker of this information reflects on her actions and what she's done," he adds.
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Treasurer Ricky Bell says it's vital that new announced roles are filled as quickly as possible so communities can see an immediate difference.
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Glasgow's new Budget is announced tomorrow. Council tax rises have been floated - to the dismay of many - but those are funds that can be put towards fixing potholes, sorting out bins etc, in lieu of more money from central government(s).
Are councils stuck between a hole and a hard place?
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Glasgow's new Budget is announced tomorrow. Council tax rises have been floated - to the dismay of many - but those are funds that can be put towards fixing potholes, sorting out bins etc, in lieu of more money from central government(s).
Are councils stuck between a hole and a hard place?
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Potholes are a “canary in the coal mine” when it comes to the impact of austerity on local government, says Green councillor Anthony Carroll. Bins are another.
With such basics neglected, people disengage from politics full stop.
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Political parties are aware of this. 2024 research showed that every constituency that elected a Reform candidate in the general election had poor transport infrastructure and badly maintained roads.
Meanwhile, UK Labour have lasered in on 'pothole strategy' as a route to overcoming the far-right.
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Potholes might seem like just an inconvenience. But for some residents, they symbolise more - and are even influencing politics.
“I would vote for someone who actually got out there and fixed it instead of all the talk,” private hire driver Robert Mackay tells The Bell.
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How would you spend a perfect day in Glasgow?
Every week we're going to be asking someone to outline their ideal way to while away 24 hours in the city.
Up to bat today: 33 year-old art worker Kerry, who is dodging bad dates in the CCA bar. Read more: www.glasgowbell.co.uk/glasgow-mich...
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