Activists campaigning to protect the young mums’ unit (YMU) at Menzieshill High School have said they will not go away despite “detrimental changes” being approved by councillors.
Dundee mother Clare McGraw who launched a petition, signed by more than 1,000 people, to protect the unit from a restructuring under council cuts says she does not intend to drop the matter.
Her comments came after the local authority’s budget meeting, at which members agreed to go ahead with the proposal.
Dr McGraw said: “The YMU is a great service and looks after the mums and babies so well it’s difficult to see how cutting staff will help. I don’t intend to leave things at that. This issue isn’t going to go away.”
Conservative councillor Derek Scott had proposed slashing food and refreshment for councillors, alcohol purchases and hospitality budgets to fund the YMU.
He said that, by saving £44,000 in the entertainment allowance, the council could afford to keep the principal teacher at the unit while balancing the books but his motion was defeated by SNP members.
Lib Dem councillor Fraser Macpherson said the council had to consider the consequences of the decision to move the YMU and scrap the senior teaching post.
“The main issue is the detrimental change to the YMU but I hope that even now they will consider a transitional arrangement,” he added.
The council agreed to a total of £3.3 million in savings in order to set a revenue budget of £349.944m.