A dramatic council turnaround was complete last night as elected members spoke with one voice to oppose boundary change.
In the wake of an unprecedented campaign of opposition by the people of Broughty Ferry they united to resist proposals that would split the community.
Council Leader Ken Guild, who once championed the changes suggested by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, put forward a motion that gained universal support.
It saw Dundee City Council agree to advise the commission that the local authority “does not wish any changes to be made to the current number of elected members on Dundee City Council or the current ward boundaries”.
Recommendations have been made by the commission and will be considered by Scottish ministers following the election, but the council believes there is now no decision to be made.
Mr Guild said: “Some months ago the LGBCS presented proposals for an increase in elected members in Dundee.
“The reason given was that the increase would be made in areas where they could address areas of multiple deprivation and we agreed, with a degree of scepticism at that time.
“Since then SOLACE and COSLA have been scathing in their criticism and I have already written to the local government minister to suggest that we ask the commission to think again.
“The original assumptions about the proposals have been called into serious question by these public bodies and in light of a budget that has resulted in us having to pay-off staff members.
“Questions have been asked by politicians of all parties about how, in that climate, anyone can justify proposals that would result in councils taking on additional elected members.”
Brian Cunningham, from the West Ferry Residents Action Group said he had never seen Broughty Ferry so active in its opposition to any matter and so united in “complete incomprehension” about “expensive” proposals in which no-one could see the value.
He said: “There should be no change to the number of councillors and no change to ward boundaries anywhere in Dundee.
“This option has the support of Broughty Ferry Community Council, the West Ferry Residents Action Group, SOLACE, COSLA, all four ward eight residents and the more than 1,000 residents who wrote to the Commission in such unprecedented fashion.”