GLASGOW City Council's new leader has turned down a request to meet carers fighting plans which could jeopardise their support services.

Frank McAveety, who took over from Gordon Matheson last month, was asked to hear the concerns of those worried about moves to put contracts for six carers centres across the city out to competitive tender.

The meeting request - from councillor David McDonald, deputy leader of the SNP group - came after a motion on the issue was not discussed at a full council meeting, despite being scheduled, because members ran out of time.

Prior to this, a petition from desperate carers calling for a rethink of the tender plans was rejected by the local authority because it was “at odds with European procurement law”.

Six centres supporting thousands of carers across the city must now bid for the funding they currently get from the council.

The contracts were never previously subject to the tendering process.

The decision to change the procedure was taken by a senior official on the back of legal advice, the council says.

But carers across Glasgow - who have been given support from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon - say their vital services could be in jeopardy.

Around 50 per cent of the funding for the centres comes from the council contracts and the rest is raised by and bidding for grants and fundraising.

Councillor McDonald wrote to councillor McAveety on September 16.

He said: "I would like to invite you to meet with local carers from across the city and hear their concerns.

"It appears that no elected member has actually taken or approved the decision to tender for this contract and so I feel this would allow you to make an informed decision should you wish to continue with the tendering process."

Councillor McAveety's reply, dated October 7, states that he is "fully aware of the issues" and has "worked closely with East End Carers over a number of years".

He adds that the decision to tender the contracts was taken following an "internal audit review" and to bring them in line with the council's "Standing Orders and Rules of Procedure".

Mr McAveety adds: "I do not think it would be necessary for me to arrange to meet with the organisations at this time but I would be happy to arrange for further briefing with the appropriate officers if this would be helpful for you to ensure that you are kept up to date with this process over the weeks and months ahead."

Councillor McDonald told the Evening Times: "When Councillor McAveety returned as council leader a few weeks ago he promised to act as a 'shield for the vulnerable' we hoped that following his decision to reverse Labour's damaging cuts to school transport that we would take a new approach to issues like the threats facing the cities network of carers centres.

"Sadly Councillor McAveety has refused my invitation to meet with carers who are worried about the tender process and the possibilities it creates for cuts and reductions in services.

"This refusal won't come as a surprise to carers in the city who have now become used to having their views ignored by the council.

"The council should look to recent examples of when it tried to tender for similar services, like advice and financial services, that process was a shambles and has now been scrapped.

"They should learn that lesson and take action now to stop this needless tendering process and work with carers and carers centres across the city to reach a deal."

During a visit to the South West Carers Centre in July, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticised the tender process and urged carers to fight the plans.

She said: "This is a decision that has been taken by unelected officers in a council without any democratic decision making by the council.

"Glasgow City Council are legally responsible and entitled to make this decision but don't let them tell you they have no choice.

"There is nobody forcing the council to do this."