A FRESH START FOR DUNDEE – SNP SET OUT EARLY PRIORITIES.

A FRESH START FOR DUNDEE – SNP SET OUT EARLY PRIORITIES. Attracting more jobs to Dundee will be top of the agenda for the new SNP Administration on Dundee City Council. The SNP administration was formally appointed at a special meeting of Dundee Council held today (30th March). Councillor Ken Guild, SNP group leader, said today his administration would begin immediately to focus on steering the city through the economic downturn. He also said the SNP would continue the authority's no-redundancy policy. Councillor Guild said: "We will concentrate on trying to attract more jobs to the city and we will be looking long and hard at some of the performance areas in various departments of the council and hope to bring forward suggestions for improvements.” The SNP group has today issued the following statement detailing early priorities of the SNP Administration: Overall approach An SNP administration is an opportunity for a fresh start for the city with a new and open approach to politics. We have begun that process by being inclusive of those of other parties and of no party in the civic leadership and non political convenorships of the council. We intend to continue that approach by changing the culture of the council to one of openness and transparency in the way the council does its business. Key priorities Steering Dundee towards economic recovery The economic downturn has hit Dundee’s manufacturing jobs hard. We will work with local businesses, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government in taking forward an economic recovery plan for the city, building on the securing of £33m of investment from the Scottish Government towards the Waterfront development. Raising the standard of education. Concerns about educational attainment in the city are long standing. Our key priority is to re-double the efforts of the education department to improve education standards in the city. Some progress has been made but more needs to be done. We will give this our earliest attention as a new administration. Addressing the housing needs of the city Making sure that we step up efforts to increase the availability of affordable homes to rent and buy in the city is our key priority as we recognise the pressures on the existing housing stock in Dundee. Working with the Scottish Government we will identify opportunities to improve the availability and access to affordable housing for Dundee residents. The SNP administration will ensure early implementation of Brandon Muir Inquiry Recommendations Future vision Dundee – Renewables capital of Scotland We want to seize the opportunity for Dundee to become the renewables capital of Scotland in the same way that Aberdeen benefited from North Sea oil and gas. By working with Forth ports and Scottish Enterprise we will help Dundee to take advantage of its port and its ideal location for turbine manufacturing. Dundee – City of Culture We want to build on the city’s growing reputation for arts and culture by helping to secure the V&A for Dundee with an iconic waterfront building which will put the city on the international destination map.