Key Points

• Outgoing Leadership Transition: Susan Aitken, Glasgow City Council’s longest-serving leader, is preparing to step down in September 2026 after nine years in charge.
• Succession Handover: Deputy Leader Councillor Ricky Bell has taken over as Scottish National Party (SNP) group leader with immediate effect, whilst Aitken remains council leader until 10 September 2026.
• Milestone Completion: Aitken will remain in office through the summer to oversee the delivery of the Commonwealth Games and the finalisation of the £20 million George Square redevelopment.
• Climate Strategy Model: Under Aitken’s leadership, Glasgow declared a climate emergency in 2019 and hosted the UN Climate Summit (COP26) in 2021, shifting climate action from a standalone policy to an integrated urban redevelopment model.
• Public and Youth Engagement: Annual household surveys and international partnerships, such as the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund, demonstrate broad civic and youth backing for Glasgow’s environmental initiatives.
• Political and Public Friction: Critics have highlighted lingering issues, including urban maintenance problems, controversial active travel measures penalising motorists, business disruptions, and historic administration inquiries.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) August 1, 2026 – In a detailed account of her tenure ahead of her departure, Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, has outlined how leadership, courage, and community involvement transformed Glasgow into a global hub for local climate action. Aitken, who has served at the helm for nine years as the city’s longest-serving leader since the 1996 local government reorganization, confirmed she will formally relinquish her role on September 10, 2026, following the completion of major summer milestones, including the £20 million revamp of George Square and the Commonwealth Games.

As reported by SmartCitiesWorld, Susan Aitken stated that climate action must not be treated as an isolated cost center, but rather as an operational framework underpinning urban regeneration. Aitken stated,

“The way to approach it is not to think of investment in climate action as something separate, but as something that underpins the kind of place-based transformation we want to deliver for our city and our residents.”

She emphasized that delivering warm, energy-efficient homes via retrofits, repurposing vacant and derelict post-industrial land, and integrating green infrastructure like rain gardens serve a dual purpose: building climate resilience while creating conditions to attract private sector investment into local communities.

As detailed by Keiran Fleming of STV News, Aitken announced her departure at the SNP annual general meeting following electoral performances, noting that with a talent pool across the group,

“it’s time to start passing the reins.”

Following the meeting, Councillor Ricky Bell assumed the position of SNP group leader, with a formal council vote scheduled for September 10 to elect Aitken’s successor as council leader. In statements provided to local outlets, Bell noted that Aitken had accomplished an “outstanding job since 2017,” referencing her work resolving the long-standing equal pay dispute, implementing housing programs, and establishing net-zero targets.

The leadership transition follows a decade-long municipal effort to re-industrialize Glasgow along sustainable lines. Reflecting on Glasgow’s progression since declaring a climate emergency in 2019, Aitken observed that public sentiment remains strongly aligned with environmental investment.

As highlighted in SmartCitiesWorld, Aitken pointed to the city’s annual survey of 1,000 residents, which shows sustained cross-demographic support for green initiatives, alongside direct youth engagement supported by international schemes such as the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund.

However, as reported by the Daily Business Group, Aitken’s tenure has also faced sustained criticism from political opponents, business owners, and local residents. Critics have pointed to persistent civic issues, including street cleanliness, litter, potholes, and maintenance backlogs across the uk/local/city-centre/">city centre.

Furthermore, members of the retail and hospitality sectors have expressed frustration over extensive roadworks, active travel schemes, and vehicular restrictions, arguing that these measures have disrupted footfall and hampered commercial activity.

What Is the Background to Glasgow’s Climate and Political Development?

Glasgow’s journey toward international climate prominence began in earnest following the 2017 local council elections, when the Scottish National Party (SNP) took control of Glasgow City Council, ending decades of Labour Party governance.

Under Aitken’s administration, Glasgow became the first Scottish local authority to declare a climate emergency in May 2019, committing the city to reach carbon neutrality.

This momentum culminated in November 2021, when Glasgow hosted the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

The summit placed the city under global scrutiny, providing a platform to launch localized initiatives such as the “People Make Glasgow Greener” campaign and the “Avenues” urban redesign project.

Over the course of Aitken’s nine-year tenure, the city council secured more than £140 million in city centre regeneration funding, prioritizing active travel routes, public transport links, and sustainable housing projects built on former industrial land.

Despite these international milestones, the internal administration faced political challenges. Aitken navigated significant domestic events, including managing municipal services during the COVID-19 pandemic and settling a historic £500 million equal pay dispute for thousands of female council employees. Critics repeatedly focused on urban decay, budgetary shortfalls, and controversial transport restrictions aimed at reducing motor traffic in the city centre.

The decision to step down in September 2026 comes after nine consecutive years in power, making Aitken the longest-serving council leader since the 1996 administrative restructuring of Scottish local government.

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What Does This Leadership Transition Mean for Glasgow’s Residents and Businesses?

The departure of Susan Aitken and the transition to new leadership under Ricky Bell will directly impact local residents, business owners, and regional investors across Glasgow.

For everyday Glaswegians, the immediate focus remains on municipal service delivery and urban living conditions.

The leadership change may offer an opportunity to address long-standing community grievances regarding street maintenance, litter collection, and road infrastructure, which have been points of public friction during recent years.

At the same time, residents in former industrial zones are likely to see continued long-term benefits from ongoing energy-efficiency retrofits, flood mitigation projects, and expanded green spaces established under the city’s climate adaptation plan.

The local commercial community—particularly retail, leisure, and hospitality operators in the city centre—stands at a critical juncture. The incoming leadership will face immediate pressure to evaluate pedestrianization schemes and active travel corridors that business owners claim have restricted accessibility and customer traffic.

The completion of the £20 million George Square redevelopment in late 2026 is expected to restore a central gathering point, but traders will be watching closely to see if the new administration adopts a more commercial-friendly approach to access and parking policies.

International investors and environmental stakeholders can expect structural continuity in Glasgow’s long-term green agenda. Because the climate action framework has been embedded into Glasgow’s wider economic development strategy, the core net-zero targets and active travel projects are likely to persist regardless of cabinet adjustments.

However, the new leadership team will need to manage strict municipal budgets carefully, balancing the demands of ambitious green infrastructure projects against fundamental statutory services.