Labour has pledged to employ hundreds more cleansing workers and take buses into public ownership if the party wins back control of Glasgow City Council.

The party launched its Glasgow manifesto for the council election next month with ten pledges.

On cleansing It said it will create 250 extra jobs and scrap the bulk uplift charge recently introduced. The manifesto states: “The first meeting that a Glasgow Labour leader of the council will arrange will be with officials in charge of cleansing services.

“Immediate measures will be put in place to tackle the cleaning crisis from day one of a Glasgow Labour administration.”

It says it will appoint a city convenor for clean Glasgow to lead on cleansing and recycling.

Malcolm cunning, Labour group leader said: “Our streets in the city centre are filthy. Back courts are overrun with rats.

“Over the past five years 269 posts have been lost in cleansing. We need to get as many back in place to be lifting the bins and cleaning the streets.”

It promised faster and better repairs to roads and pavements stating a better system for responding to faults ensuring the highest quality of repairs are carried out is needed.

On buses Labour said it will “bring bus services back under public control”

Cunning said when First Bus was considering pulling out of Glasgow the council officers were asked to calculate the cost of a city owned bus franchise.

He added: “We will ask them to re-calculate that and what options are available for direct ownership.”

And in communities it promised to re-open and refurbish all the community centres currently closed.

It also said it supported communities taking over control of facilities under the asste transfer programme but said it can’t be about “getting rid of a funding problem” and any transfer must have community support and buildings must be maintained.

Other pledges include re-instating the Affordable Warmth payment of £100 for over 80s.

A ten year investment plan for parks and support the building of 6500 new affordable homes.

Anas Sarwar Scottish Labour leader joined Malcom Cunning at the launch

He said: ““Glasgow is not just one of the greatest cities in the world, it’s my home too.

“But over the last 5 years, our city has been failed by an out-of-touch SNP administration and an incompetent council leader.

“Bins are going unemptied, our businesses are struggling and our city centre has been decimated – the SNP cannot get the basics right.

“But it doesn’t have to be this way. Scottish Labour has a plan to support our businesses, protect public services and revitalise our city.