The Menzieshill close lights saga that unfolded last week provides an object lesson in what is wrong at Dundee City Council.
Residents had lights fitted, with no choice in the matter.
They queried the price – amid claims of £1,260 per light.
They asked for a breakdown of costs but were told it is against council policy to show how they came to their figures.
An email to a resident confirmed there were no other quotes sought; further information was refused as being “commercially sensitive”.
They got no real answers.
It is a stark example of the culture of secrecy and arrogance that runs all the way through the administration.
Silence when explanations needed
Then there was a squirmingly patronising claim from depute provost Kevin Cordell that the lights were “enhancing people’s quality of life”.
Look at the two sides of this.
Mr Cordell preens and poses with that “enhancing” nonsense during a photo opportunity with a high-vis vest – as if he’d done the enhancing himself.
But then, when explanations are needed – silence.
If you’re taking credit, Kevin, you can hardly be surprised if questions are directed towards you when difficulties arise.
Mr Cordell should have immediately got to work finding out why this was so expensive, why alternative quotes weren’t sought – then provided fulsome explanations.
I wonder if he can see the irony of giving people lights but leaving them in the dark?
Councillor Jimmy Black recently accused me of “lobbing insults at councillors”.
He’s right. Frustration leads me to that.
What else can I do, Jimmy, when this is the performance of the council and councillors?
Or do you think this lights fiasco deserves praise?
‘Worst councillors Dundee ever had’
I’m on record as calling this the worst set of councillors Dundee has ever had.
Let me explain why I said that.
I’m close to entering my 48th year in the newspaper industry in this city.
I learned the trade in the 1980s and ’90s from Alan Proctor, Sandy McGregor, Gordon Wishart and Arliss Rhind.
Their names might not be familiar but, believe me, they were giants of journalism in this town.
I soaked in their knowledge of local politics going back to the 1950s and ’60s.
My father, the most fair-minded man I ever knew, was born in Dundee in 1920.
He gave me his thoughts and passed on Dundee history learned from his own father – from the days of Churchill, Neddy Scrimgeour and John Sime.
It is with this background, this experience, that I judge the current council.
They are the quietest, least characterful, and worst communicators there has ever been.
The job is not to protect the civil service
We shouldn’t need FOIs to winkle out information about matters like these lights, it should be volunteered.
If it isn’t, councillors should provide visible leadership to investigate and explain.
Representatives of all parties should fight for their constituents, not close ranks to protect the civil service.
They are terrified of upsetting council officers.
Councillors, you simply have to do better than this.
Lastly, I am amazed there are sycophants who defend such weak performance, and criticise anyone who points it out.
I don’t understand.
Even if you are a party fanatic, you surely still expect the individual you voted for to do the job properly?
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