Dundee City Council braces for 'unprecedented' cuts

By Brian Allison
Published in the Courier : 24.08.10
Published online : 24.08.10 @ 12.13pm

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The chief executive's suggestion that the board should meet in private led to division among the elected members. His recommendation was backed by the SNP but opposed by the Labour and Liberal Democrats, who wanted it to meet in public and have a wider representation. Meanwhile, the Tories were for scrapping the idea and having savings proposals put straight to the committees in public.

Moving approval of the chief executive's report, administration leader Ken Guild said it spelled out the "massive challenges" ahead.

On the issue of the board meeting in private, Mr Guild said, "I can guarantee that any savings proposals made by the officers will be put to the appropriate council committee where full discussions and decisions will be made in the public domain."

Labour group leader Kevin Keenan moved an amendment which would have seen the board meeting in sessions which were open to the public and press. He also called for it to be chaired by the administration leader and to include five representatives of the trade unions.

Mr Keenan said it would be appalling to have secret meetings that the public are not allowed into, saying, "I think the public and press have the right to know what is happening."

Seconding him, Lib Dem leader Fraser Macpherson said there was a need for openness and transparency in the process to arrive at the savings and therefore the board should meet in public.

Mr Guild's motion was carried by 15 votes to 10, with the Conservatives abstaining.

Thereafter, Tory group leader Rod Wallace moved a counter amendment rejecting the establishment of the board altogether. Instead, all reports on the savings process should be brought back to the relevant service committee. He said that would allow all councillors to take a full part in the process rather than limiting it to the few on the board.

Although Mr Wallace's amendment attracted the support of the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups, Mr Guild's motion was again successful albeit by the narrower majority of 15-13.