By Alan Richardson and Graham Brown

THE FALL-OUT from Finance Minister Tom McCabe’s announcement on Thursday that he was prepared to look at the vexed question of Dundee’s boundaries continued to bring angry responses in Perth and Kinross and Angus yesterday.

Perth and Kinross Council leader Jimmy Doig said there would be “strong opposition” to the creation of a “Greater Dundee” which extends into their current area.

Mr McCabe said he was prepared to consider redrawing the boundaries of local authorities, such as Dundee, where the area is unsustainable because service users are living and paying council tax in an adjacent area.

It is thought the eastern bounds of Perth and Kinross and communities such as Invergowrie and Longforgan would be affected.

Announcing his authority’s budget this week, Mr Doig had already blasted the Executive for failing to provide the funds to keep council tax rises to a minimum and was equally angry about the latest suggestions.

He said yesterday morning, “The people of Perth and Kinross will be extremely angry at any suggestion that parts of our area should be absorbed into a ‘Greater Dundee’ to help address financial problems caused by the failure of the Scottish Executive to effectively fund local government.

“Perth and Kinross is a distinct geographical area with a strong identity and a thriving local economy.

“People choose to live in Perth and Kinross because it is a fantastic place to live and work,” Mr Doig added.

“Local residents work in cities and towns across Scotland including Stirling, Edinburgh and Glasgow, not just Dundee.

“Since reorganisation we have worked extremely hard to develop and deliver quality services that meet the needs of local communities.

“Any move to transfer parts of our area to Dundee would only have a negative impact on the services delivered to local communities.

“I can give the people of Perth and Kinross an assurance that the council will strongly oppose any proposal to alter the existing boundaries.”

In Angus senior SNP councillor Frank Ellis said he was “appalled” by Mr McCabe’s announcement.

The Sidlaw West councillor said, “The rural hinterland that surrounds Dundee had better sit up and take stock—this is a new threat.

“It used to be the case that the Boundary Commission for Scotland considered the effectiveness and quality of each local authority’s services to its residents and report its findings and recommendations to the First Minister for his approval.

“I have grave concerns that the minister has been got at and lobbied by the city’s Labour politicians and will do a deal to get the city fathers off his back.

“I would publicly ask Mrs Shimi, the leader of the city’s Labour group, to come clean on her group’s expansion vision.

“Does it include Sidlaw, Monifieth, Invergowrie and part of Fife, or more, to make the city financially viable?

“Until we know what is being pursued by Dundee Labour we are unable to analyse the potential impact to the affected authorities.”