Apprentices in Glasgow should help the city council earn more money by revamping the former homes of school janitors.

That claim comes from Graeme Hendry, leader of the SNP on Glasgow City Council, and was reported in the Glasgow Evening Times.

About a dozen disused janitor's houses are to be sold off, a legacy of school closures.

But Mr Hendry wrote to council leader Gordon Mathieson questioning plans to sell off the properties at low prices on the open market.

He proposed instead that some of the 450 apprentices at City Building, the council’s arms length construction firm, could renovate the houses so they got a better price for the council.

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That would also give the apprentices valuable training, he said, and make them more employable.

Mr Hendry, councillor for Garscadden and Scotstounhill, said: "Renovating the houses is a way to maximise council resources.

"Times are tight for the council and it is selling off what are potentially good properties for low prices. I think it can do more.

"The city has a number of apprentices who would benefit from the experience of working on houses and, should they need to seek employment in the private sector, they will have the experience and transferable skills.

"At the moment City Building lets go a number of apprentices at the end of their training. With this, it could create the opportunity to keep some of them on."

A council spokesman said Mr Matheson had received the letter and would reply "in due course."

(NE)