School crossing wardens to stay

COM M U N I T Y g roups have hailed the “fantastic” decision by Dundee City Council’s administration to back down from scrapping school crossing patrols as it passed a budget to save £6.2 million.

The SNP administration’s proposal to remove up to 40 patrols as part of its budget for 2020/21 was binned at the last minute following an outcry from opposition councillors and locals.

Melanie Kiyani, secretary of the Kirkton Community Partnership, had launched a petition urging councillors to rethink the plans, which attracted over 500 signatures.

She said: “They have actually listened to us for once, which is not something they usually do. It could be seen as victory for community groups.”

Council leader John Alexander proposed dropping the patrollers hours after being given a petition by Ms Kiyani comprising hundreds of signatures.

He told the budget meeting: “I’m happy to hold my hand up and say we’ve listened and taken that out the mix.”

An additional £100,000 to address the recommendations of the city’s Fairness Commission was also passed.

The SNP budget will see teachers and support staff at primary schools cut to save £234k now and £750k in a year’s time, and £150k slashed from funding for local charity groups and cash cut from regeneration forums.

It also includes a 4.8% council tax rise that will cost the average household £2 a month more, according to the administration’s finance spokesman Willie Sawers.

Opposition groups failed to attract enough votes for their alternative budgets.

Labour proposed a 4.8% tax hike, binning education cuts and providing extra money to health and social care, while cutting hospitality and staff training.

The Liberal Democrats proposed a 3.3% rise and cancelling a move to three-weekly waste collections, while the Tories suggested a 3% rise and £1m of cuts across departments.

Juggling act as the council meets yesterday to deliberate on service cutbacks that would shave £6.2 million off its budget.