The row over the number of women in top jobs at Glasgow City Council has intensified after another member of Labour’s ruling administration criticised the leadership.

The vacant City Treasurer job was recently taken up by Philip Bratt, meaning the number of male Labour councillors on the executive committee remains at seven while there are three female Labour councillors.

The Labour group recently passed a motion in support of the Women 5050 campaign which calls for legislative quotas for women on public boards, in the Scottish Parliament and in local councils.

Appointing Mr Braat to replace Paul Rooney was a “missed opportunity” to move towards gender equality, according to some Labour councillors.

A split in the group emerged a private meeting of the administration when the leadership was openly criticised for failing to honour a commitment to increasing women’s representation in the council.

Two Labour councillors have already spoken out and a third said today that Labour should use the group’s upcoming Annual General Meeting to appoint more women to top jobs.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: “Our AGM falls next month. It's time for the Glasgow Labour Group to be bold and decisive and fight the cuts, not exclude many of the talented women leaders in the group from leading that charge for the benefit of old friendships and promises made to win an internal election.

“A deal on Phil (Braat) was done by Frank (McAveety) back in September in return for votes when he ran for leader.”

She added: “I think some need a lesson on the gender pay gap. Braat is on about £31,000, as are other members of the executive committee. Committee conveners earn about £24,000.

“Three out of ten Labour members of the executive are women and two out of ten are committee conveners. The rest of the women are all on basic pay.”

The councillor also criticised Labour colleague Archie Graham, the group’s deputy leader and the spokesman on equalities.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Graham said: “Just supposing we went through the Labour group membership tomorrow morning and said we’re going to put 50% of women on every single committee on the council then what we would be doing is we’d be absolutely be overloading people with work in comparison to men.

“You would then have a situation where men might be serving on three or four committees and women might be serving on seven or eight to make it up to 50%.”

The councillor said: “It is insincere for the equalities spokesman to suggest women would be overworked – he just doesn’t want to upset the old boys club too much.”

Another councillor, who also asked not to be named, said: "It's terrible how quickly morale in the council has gone downhill. Frank represents the past and he can't shake off his unfortunate reputation with women.

"He's surrounded himself with a macho boys clique - only over 50s need apply - who have no vision for the city and no campaign strategy for 2017. They give every impression that they are more focussed on promoting their own interests. Something has to change or it is curtains."

Labour group chief whip, Alistair Watson, said: “Given the structure of the Labour Group that Frank inherited the position of Labour women councillors in senior positions has been transformed. We have already trebled the positions held by women as executive spokespersons.

“Another example is the three biggest spending departments in the council, Land Services, Education, and Social Work. Two of these three are now headed by women Labour councillors, for the first time ever.

“We have made great progress on these issues and will continue to do so.”