Council looking to make savings of £3.6m

Dundee City Council hopes to push through almost £4 million in cuts to various projects including park upgrades, road safety and dog waste bins.

A briefing note to councillors revealed to The Courier shows a planned £3.1m reduction in spend in parks and open spaces and a further £580,000 reduction in road and footpath spend.

If agreed it would also mean smaller investments in play parks and community sports provision over the next year.

The capital plan proposals have sparked a row between the SNP administration leader John Alexander and opposition councillors.

Lib Dem leader Fraser Macpherson says he has concerns the proposed budget reductions would have a “real and negative impact”.

However, council leader Mr Alexander says the authority is increasing investment in some areas and has highlighted a commitment to build a new £65m secondary school in the east of the city.

West End councillor Mr Macpherson said: “I have real concerns that the capital plan that councillors are being asked to agree to next Monday has big cuts to parks, open spaces, keeping our streets clean and roads and road safety that are totally unacceptable.”

The row comes as the council is facing a huge financial black hole with a deficit of more than £10m.

Labour group leader Kevin Keenan said cutting bins is “just asking for parks to be left in very poor condition” and said he “cannot believe” the council is thinking about cutting anything from road safety.

The proposals are to be voted on at a council committee meeting on Monday.