Dundee budget: All key changes from brown bin permit hike to council tax rise

A number of major decisions affecting locals in Dundee have now been approved by the city’s councillors for the next financial year.

Here we list everything from the 4.75% council tax rise set to hit the pockets of most to major programme cuts such as the withdrawal of funding of youth orchestra Big Noise Douglas.

Also included are areas the SNP administration has decided to increase investment in, such as foodbanks.

The 2023/24 budget was comfortably approved at a special meeting of the policy and resources committee on Thursday without changes as the majority of councillors in the city are SNP.

What is rising to tackle the council’s budget shortfall?

The main areas to see significant hikes from April 1 this year are:

• Council tax – Will rise by 4.75% from April this year. See here for our tool calculating the exact cost for each band from A-H.
• Brown bins (garden waste) – The annual charge for collections will be £45 from April 2024 — up 28% from £35 two years ago. With 20 bin pick-ups over the year, it will work out at £2.25 per collection.
• The council’s charges and fees are all being increased from April as is usual. The full list of changes is available here.

What are the main ways the council is saving money?

• Withdrawal of bus route funding – There will be a saving of £123,000 per year by the axing of five citywide subsidised bus routes.
• Removal of 30 full-time, but unfilled jobs – This will save £762k of allocated funding per year. The posts will be cut from Human Resources & Business Support and Customer Services and IT.
• End of Big Noise Douglas funding – Saving of £300k per year over the next three years equating to £900,000. It means the popular music tuition program in Dundee is at risk of folding.
• More council services delivered online – £141,000 to be saved. Face to face appointments will initially operate 9am –1pm on Tuesdays and 1pm – 5pm on Thursdays “at a central location to be confirmed.”
• Reduce community regeneration funding by 10% – £50k of funds will be saved per year. The East End and Lochee will lose out the most, £10,000 per year for each area cut.

  

• Introduction of charging for appointeeship services – Generating income of £89k per year. Council intends to issue charges for employees assigned to help people who cannot manage their own welfare and other financial affairs.The “clients” will be people with learning disabilities with a variety of needs, or in care and nursing homes.

Are there any areas receiving extra funding?

A total of £1.5m in additional expenditure was agreed. This includes the below:

• Dundee’s ‘food network’ is to get £500k in the next financial year, equating to £10,000 per week. This includes foodbanks, larders, and various food insecurity projects.
• Programmes tackling social inequality will be given a £405k boost. Included are mental health services, the effort to tackle drugs deaths and addiction, and tackling the attainment gap.
• A £300k investment will be made in setting up community activities and youth support. The council says this is in response to the lingering effect the pandemic has had on many people.
• Community environmental projects will be given £200,000 to enhance biodiversity and clean up public parks and public spaces.
• A contribution of £100k will be made to organising and promoting city events to boost the economy. Events held in 2023 include Radio 1’s Big
  Weekend, the WUKF World Karate Championships and the UCI Cycling World Championship.

It comes as it’s revealed the cost of an active travel route that will better connect Broughty Ferry and Monifieth has spiralled from £9m to £18m.

The huge rise has been blamed on inflation with the Scottish Government picking up the tab.