Who is Mr. Gleaves from The Acid House and what is their importance?

Mr. Gleaves gives Brian a job with the parks service. After learning Brian was under the influence of drugs while on the job, Gleaves suspends him with pay. When Brian goes to London and later returns to Edinburgh, Mr. Gleaves rehires him. Gleaves is descrived as a hopeful, kind liberal, who either cannot see or will not look at hard truths.