NEW measures are to be put in place to ensure city council staff and councillors can raise concerns about bullying and harassment.

The move follows complaints about inappropriate conduct levelled at American movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and politicians at both Westminster and Holyrood.

The council already has a detailed bullying and harassment policy in place allowing staff to report any concerns they may have.

That includes having trained people who will listen in confidence to an employee's complaints.

But, at a recent meeting, councillors agreed unanimously that a review should be carried out to ensure the scheme is appropriate and working.

Chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell has also been asked to look at putting in place additional measures to ensure women in particular but all council staff and politicians are confident about reporting harassment and bullying and that appropriate action is taken.

City council leader Susan Aitken said: "The allegations of sexual misconduct surrounding film producer Harvey Weinstein, while familiar to far too many women, had seemed a scandal limited to shining a light on the dark underbelly of Hollywood.

"Instead, in just a couple of weeks it has triggered admissions of sexual harassment and exposed deep-rooted and long-standing behaviours towards women in almost every aspect of public life.

"Far from being immune, politics at all levels has been a breeding ground for misogyny, sexism and misconduct towards women, its exposure the biggest crisis politics has faced since the MPs expenses scandal several years ago."

Ms Aitken said the city council employs tens of thousands of people and should set a standard of zero tolerance of sexual harassment.

She added: "The city council has not been immune to allegations of harassment and bullying of women with, it has too often seemed, the same kind of shrug of the shoulders non-response that has pervaded other political organisations.

"Not any more. We will ensure our staff or politicians are comfortable and confident about reporting harassment and bullying and that appropriate action will be taken.

"We must also ensure our systems are equally robust if allegations are made against either a member of staff or a politician.

"These revelations have been a wake-up call to everyone in politics and beyond."

Ms Aitken added: “We cannot and will not assume that Glasgow is immune from men who hold positions of power over others targeting and attacking the dignity and equality of women.

“I want a system where any member of staff or councillor, or for that matter members of the public who come into contact with them, can report harassment and bullying safe in the knowledge that appropriate action will be taken.

“Glasgow City Council will face up to, once and for all, a culture which exists in every workplace in Scotland and the UK.”