COUNCIL chiefs have come under fire over plans to hand over the running of a prestigious new car park to a controversial parking firm.
Glasgow City Council wants to sub-let the facility at Buchanan Galleries to arm's-length organisation City Parking on a 25-year lease.
Opposition councillors have hit out at the move. Susan Aitken, leader of the opposition on the council, said councillors had pushed through the deal with a firm facing "serious financial problems". She added: "No reputable company would make a major decision without being fully informed of the financial consequences, but that's what councillors were expected to do."
The council-owned firm has lost £28 million in value since it started trading in 2007, and received a £2m loan from the local authority.
Patrick Flynn, head of housing regeneration services, said: "The lease gives a base rent and equity rent and reduces the risk to City Parking."
However, he declined to reveal the details of the deal.
Completion of the five-storey complex is scheduled for the end of 2017.
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