Proceedings for judicial review of a policy by City Property Glasgow (Investments) LLP (City Property) and Glasgow City Council (GCC) to impose commercial rent and lease terms for one of Scotland leading drug and alcohol charities, Turning Point Scotland (TPS), have been raised in the Court of Session. Govan Law Centre (GLC) acts for a service-user of TPS crisis services in Glasgow.
First orders were granted on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, for service of the petition for judicial review against two respondents: (1) GCC and (2) City Property. Proceedings were served on both respondents last week, with service on TPS as an interested party.
GCC and City Property are inextricably linked, with City Property being wholly owned and controlled by Scotland’s largest local authority, GCC.
In May 2026, City Property adopted a provision, criterion or practice to change its rental policies to be on a more commercial basis for charities, seeking to maximise income by inflicting vastly increased rents and substantial sums via dilapidations clauses.
TPS is a registered Scottish charity, providing essential free-at-the-point-of-delivery crisis services for vulnerable people in Glasgow with drug and alcohol issues. Like most Scottish charities, TPS is unable to agree to commercial lets on the basis now demanded and is at risk of winding down services from early August 2026.
Because of City Property’s policy, health, welfare and social care crisis services for people with drug and alcohol issues are at risk of imminent closure in Glasgow. For our client, this will have a grave impact; crisis services have been vital over the years and have quite literally saved her life on a number of occasions.
It is our client’s position that this change in policy was unlawful and discriminated against her and other disabled people in the city. There was no equality impact assessment and no consultation before policy changes were decided. The fact that City Property is an arm’s length external organisation (ALEO) of GCC does not exempt it from public law duties. It exercises public functions and is therefore subject to the 2010 Equality Act and 1998 Human Rights Act.
GLC believe this case to be hugely significant for our client and drug and alcohol services in a city where Scotland has declared an emergency with respect to drug related deaths. We believe it is a case of great strategic importance.
Many charities have faced similar commercial practices from GCC and City Property and are now sadly threatened with closure in Scotland. The case also raises an important legal point that ALEOs cannot be beyond the scope of legal scrutiny and public accountability.
The instructing solicitor in these proceedings is GLC’s Partner and Head of Govanhill Law Centre, Rachel Moon; GLC’s Solicitor Advocate, Mike Dailly appears for the petitioner; and Laura McDonagh, Partner and Megan O’Donnell, Solicitor, of Drummond Miller LLP act as Edinburgh agents.
