Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘I’m proud of what
Departing city leader defiant on his record
DUNDEE’S long-standing council leader Ken Guild is now enjoying his retirement — and is defiant about his record in public office.
Mr Guild bowed out after more than 30 years as a councillor in the city — the last eight spent as head of the administration.
And he insists he’s left a legacy of scores of new jobs and better housing for the city, and believes his SNP group successor John Alexander can keep that ball rolling.
But his time on the city council had its controversies — from the V&A’s budget almost doubling to £80 million to claims of a “culture of secrecy” around decision-making.
His council was also criticised in some communities over its allocation of funds to the Waterfront while thousands still lived in poverty.
However, Mr Guild told the Tele: “I am very happy with what we’ve achieved. I have mixed emotions about leaving.
“There are things I would have liked to have finished but I am happy to be leaving things in the very capable hands of John Alexander.
“He’s the youngest member of the group but he’s an outstanding councillor and I have absolute faith in his abilities.”
Mr Guild conceded that the V&A’s initial estimated cost of £45m had been “wildly unrealistic” but added: “The Waterfront is a £1 billion project and I don’t buy this idea that people in the city won’t benefit.
“We’ve created jobs that weren’t here before. It’s really grabbed the imagination not just of Dundonians but people much wider afield.”
Mr Guild was elected into office in 1984, serving Broughty Ferry. On top of major investment, he believes he made a difference in other areas too.
He said: “We have been very active in tackling poverty. Drugs are a problem in any city but we have a very active anti-drugs team in the council.
“We’ve worked with various charities and we’ve been very active in helping to change things for the better.
“I’m particularly proud of what we’ve done on housing. All of our council houses now meet the Scottish standard. We’ve also built a number of first-class new schools that are not under public private partnership.”
Mr Guild once headed up a group aimed at bringing offshore turbine manufacturing to Dundee, with the promise of thousands of jobs.
That work has yet to come to fruition but Mr Guild insists it’s still on the cards several years on, claiming that an objection from the RSPB to a number of offshore projects is the only thing holding it up.
Mr Guild also moved to address claims by fellow SNP member Jimmy Black that too many key decisions were taken by councillors in private. He said: “Jimmy Black has a bee in his bonnet. The council is more open that it’s ever been.
“Our budget proposals now come out a month in advance so all councillors and individuals have a chance to scrutinise the budget and make their own proposals. We had a complaint from Audit Scotland that there was not enough scrutiny on the council.