IN an ideal world councillors would only ever make decisions which are universally welcomed and have the populace patting them on the back.

After all, our elected representatives not only want to be liked - they need to be liked if they are to be re-elected and returned to their offices in the City Chambers.

However, we do not live in an ideal world as they will find out next year when they will be faced with making decisions on two controversial planning applications.

In the first few weeks of 2015, members of the planning committee are likely to have to decide on an application to build a £400million extension to Buchanan Galleries.

The move will result in 1.2million sq ft of retail space housing more than 100 shops, 25 restaurants and a 10 screen cinema.

The extension will create 1500 jobs and - it is hoped - attract new visitors and boost the city's economy.

So far, so good but the fly in the ointment is that the scheme involves demolishing the stairs leading to the Royal Concert Hall and moving the statue of Donald Dewar to a new location a few feet away.

And so far, more than 12,200 people have said they don't want that to happen.

They want the stairs to remain where they are so office workers and shoppers can have somewhere to sit in the sun as they enjoy their lunchtime sandwich.

Most councils would be ecstatic if a developer suggested investing £400m in their main shopping area.

But Glasgow councillors have had their fingers burned before over controversial plans to redevelop George Square.

The council wanted to spend £15m on a transformation of the historic heart of the city - but the public wanted it left as it was.

In the end, the 79 men and women who make up the city council took cold feet and decided not to take on an enraged electorate.

Their excuse for scrapping the revamp of the Square was that they had listened to what the people of the city had told them - not something they can always be accused of.

Buchanan Galleries will present our councillors with a similar problem.

Will they jump at the chance of securing a massive investment in the city or will they reject the plan because of the growing discontent over losing a flight of stairs.

Their decision is anybody's guess.

Next year, they will also find themselves having to decide on how George Square will look in the future.

A £500,000 spruce-up of the area was carried out in time for the Commonwealth Games but city council leader Gordon Matheson has said repeatedly that the £15m earmarked for the redesign will still be spent, altbeit on a less ambitious plan.

So far, there has been a deafening silence from the council on what the upgrade will involve or when work is likely to start.

But one thing is certain - not everybody will be happy with the plan, whatever they are.

Some will want the area to be unchanged while others will be happy to see at least some of the statues removed and relocated elsewhere in the city.

In other words, councillors are facing a certain backlash regardless of what they do which is not idea for a body of people who want to be liked.