Councillors vote to continue cuts

A PLEA to halt street cleaning job cuts in Dundee has been rejected, despite a split among councillors on the issue.

North East Labour councillor Brian Gordon tabled an amendment to the local authority’s neighbourhood services committee seeking a moratorium on the job losses.

Dundee City Council is aiming to save more than £1.3 million by restructuring its street cleaning and open space management department, mainly through cutting 45 jobs.

Thirty posts have already been lost but a report to councillors said Dundee still outperforms other cities despite the raft of job cutbacks.

However opposition councillors claim the change has led to dirtier streets and they raised concerns about litter being dumped next to l arge, communal Eurobins, including items like mattresses and kitchen sinks.

Committee convener Kevin Cordell agreed to hold a meeting of officers and councillors about problem areas.

Seconding Mr Gordon’s amendment, Lochee Labour councillor Michael Marra said it was “sensible” to halt restructuring while the litter problem is addressed.

He said: “People in Dundee have been used to very clean, good streets and I think we want to continue that.

“As we move to having this discussion I think it’s only right to press the pause button on whether we cut more members of staff.”

But Mr Cordell said: “You can’t have the council saying ‘whoa, we don’t like the look of this, let’s stop’.”

West End Liberal Democrat councillor Fraser Macpherson said: “Dundee was always top for streetlighting and cleanliness. It’s sad to see both dropping.”

Labour West End councillor Richard McCready said: “Everybody knows how important this year is for Dundee. How many hundreds of thousands of people are going to see the V&A and come to sunny Dundee?

“We should be promoting our city but promoting a clean city.”

Administration leader John Alexander said the decision to cut jobs in the street cleaning department was “the right decision” but not “the easiest one”.

Mr Cordell added: “There are challenges but I don’t recognise the situation you are talking about.”

The 26 councillors were split 13-13 on Mr Gordon’s proposals, leaving Mr Cordell, as convener, with the casting vote. He opted to approve the report, defeating Mr Gordon’s amendment.

Street cleaners are losing their jobs.