THIS is my last column of 2017, a year like every other of highs and lows. From a personal and political perspective, and for very obvious reasons, it’s been a massively significant 12 months. So here I’ve pulled together 17 reasons why 2017 has been my momentous year.

Out on the doorsteps: Even though we’d been on the elections treadmill for years, campaigning in the run-up to May 4th was an invaluable and rewarding insight into the needs and desires of the people of our city.

Forming the new City Government: The first meaningful change in political administration in Glasgow in living memory is a remarkable piece of history to be involved with. A mixture of experience, freshness, drive and determination, I put the right team in place.

Lord Provost: What an honour for Eva Bolander, a native of Gothenburg, to be appointed First Citizen of Glasgow during these turbulent times. Have you noticed by the way that the Council Leader, Lord Provost and Chief Executive are all female?

Manchester Arena attack: Days after being appointed leader Manchester suffered the horrendous terrorist attack which left 22 people dead. No amount of party political experience can equip you for how a city like Glasgow must respond to these events.

Equal Pay: Two court cases going against the city council in my first few months is an inherited legacy which will overshadow much of what we do. I promised to resolve this. After a decade of legal wrangling though courts and tribunals we’ve brought together the unions and legal representatives of thousands of workers to negotiate a settlement to this long-standing issue.

Evening Times column: A perk of the job, it’s an honour and privilege to write fortnightly ‘For The People Of Glasgow’. I hope you enjoy my musings and all feedback is welcome.

Opening Our Doors: We promised the City Chambers would no longer be closed to all those who have felt excluded from it. We opened the doors and our summits have helped inform our City Plan.

Westminster Elections: Getting used to unforeseen events like the breakdown of the Clyde Tidal Weir is one thing. A UK-wide poll against the backdrop of Brexit is quite another.

Resolving the janitors’ dispute: One of the longest-running workforce issues of recent times, it took a fresh approach to break the deadlock. Our staff are our greatest asset.

Local Politician of the Year Nomination: A real honour to be put forward for this and recognised for the efforts of the City Government especially with us being just six months in the job. And a huge well done to Aberdeen’s Jenny Laing for winning.

Celtic Connections: As a Traddie who’s attended so many events during Celtic Connections’ two decades, it was fabulous honour to help launch the 20th anniversary festival in the company of the culture secretary Fiona Hyslop, Irish Consul General Mark Hanniffy and Scots Trad legend Donald Shaw.

State Of The City Conference: Platforms to spell out your vision for the city are quite rare, so the 20th State of the City was an opportunity to be seized with both hands. I unveiled the Connectivity Commission, which will come up with ideas to reimagine our city centre and how better to connect our citizens and neighbourhoods.

Harassment: The whole Harvey Weinstein scandal has generated one of those generational moments to change deeply-rooted behaviours. Last month I insisted processes are put in place where people can raise concerns about harassment and bullying from whatever the source in total confidence.

Cross Party Cooperation: It’s never been necessary to work across party lines in Glasgow before so previous administrations didn’t really bother. But as a minority administration we’ve worked hard to find common ground and included other parties’ good ideas in our City Plan

Team Glasgow - we believe in working with everyone in Glasgow who wants to join with us to get good things done. From the third sector and community organisations, the arts world, universities and colleges, Glasgow businesses to the Scottish Government, we’re building new partnerships for positive change across the city

Working on the frontline: I made a point of getting out of the office when I could to meet the Council staff who are delivering the services people rely on every day. Whether it was filling in a pothole, doing a business rates assessment or helping to register the birth of a brand new Glaswegian, it left me in awe of the huge range of work the Council carries out and the professionalism and commitment of those who do it.

Reflecting on being leader: I came into politics and led the SNP into the most significant local election in Glasgow in generations to improve services and challenge inequalities knowing that we could make changes. I have never and will never lose sight of this and will repay the faith the people of Glasgow have put in me and my administration.