Glasgow education boss quits over sending budget advice texts

The executive director of education at Glasgow City Council has quit over sending text messages that possibly undermined the local authority’s budget process.

Dr Douglas Hutchison responded to text messages about the 2024/2025 budget from a councillor in the spring of last year.

The city council said these messages “may have strayed into potentially undermining the council’s budget process”.

Dr Hutchison, who had been in the post since January 2022, offered his resignation after discussing the situation with the council’s chief executive Susanne Millar last week.

Glasgow City Council said while there was nothing wrong with council officers offering advice across the chamber, some of the messages had potentially breached rules.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the local authority said: “In Spring 2024 Douglas responded to text messages from a member of Glasgow City Council about the Council’s 2024/2025 budget.

“Whilst it is completely appropriate for council officers to offer advice to members from across the chamber, those messages may have strayed into potentially undermining the council’s budget process and may have breached rules on political restriction.

“Last week it became apparent to the Executive Director of Education that those messages may become public and on rereading them took the view that they should be brought to the attention of the Chief Executive.

“Accordingly, he immediately brought the matter to the attention of the Chief Executive and offered his resignation, which we have accepted.”

The spokesperson added that Dr Hutchison would not be commenting on the matter.

Dr Hutchison was previously the Director of People and Depute Chief Executive at South Ayrshire Council.

He has also worked as a teacher, and as an inspector with Education Scotland.