THE ban on Orange parades and other processions playing music outside places of worship in Glasgow is among the issues under scrutiny by the city's local authority.
Glasgow City Council is preparing a review of its processions policy, which regulates the conduct of marches in the city.
Currently, processions are expected to ensure all music ceases when approaching and passing places of worship, irrespective of whether a service is in progress, as instructed by the police.
Gordon Matheson, leader of the Labour-run council, has confirmed the review will include consideration of the ban, but says no decisions have been taken.
However, Glasgow SNP MSP Humza Yousaf said the prospect of change has left him "deeply uneasy".
He said: "My concerns lie in finding the balance between protecting the rights of those who come to Glasgow to march and the rights and safety of the people who live, work, play and worship here. The code of conduct states parades should not play music while passing places of worship, be it a chapel, a synagogue, a mosque or any place of worship. Any relaxation of this would be unwelcome."
There are now about 1000 parades a year in Glasgow, more than the combined figures for Belfast and Londonderry.
As well as addressing the music ban, the review will also consider issues such as parading through the city centre and the use of public spaces, like parks, George Square and Nelson Mandela Place as well as stewarding arrangements, timing, costs and unauthorised processions.
It will be influenced by the views of Strathclyde Police and relate to processions by Loyalist and Republican organisations, trade unions and equalities groups.
Correspondence between Mr Yousaf and Mr Matheson also reveals more than 30 meetings between the Orange Order and city council since January 2011, just after the introduction of the policy.
In a letter to Mr Yousaf, Mr Matheson wrote: "While I am, of course committed to a review of our policy, let me assure you no decisions have been taken to alter the current position, nor have I ever sought to encourage an increase in the number of processions.
"The review is being worked on by council officers and will be brought to the council's executive committee, where elected members will be given the opportunity to discuss the report and any recommended amendments.
"We will also be allowing the opportunity to community councils to provide their views on the current code of conduct."
He added: "Without pre-empting the content of the annual review, it's my understanding we'll see evidence of a decrease in the overall number of processions."
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