Despite all-party support in Dundee City Chambers for The Courier’s Fight For Fairer Fuel campaign, there was division among councillors over wording of the city council’s response to the fuel crisis.
Councillors on all sides of the room, from all political persuasions among members of the policy and resources committee, praised The Courier’s stance and expressed the hope a unified message could be sent to the UK government.
But what was hoped would be a happily-agreed item on Monday’s agenda, placed at the request of committee convener and administration leader Councillor Ken Guild, became a contentious debate after the convener added a motion including two paragraphs condemning Westminster’s “continued dithering” and “failure” to prioritise implementation of a fuel duty regulator.
Labour councillor Kevin Keenan proposed an amendment which noted Dundonians’ concerns over the cost of fuel, highlighted by The Courier, but urged the convener to simply include it in his own motion in the interests of committee unity.
Mr Guild agreed to include the last paragraph of Mr Keenan’s motion, which stated the city council, “calls upon the UK government to take action to limit rises in the cost of living and instructs the chief executive to write to the Prime Minister expressing the concerns of the city council.”
But Conservative Councillor Derek Scott said while he and his party were “wholeheartedly behind” The Courier campaign that “due to the wording of this motion I can’t support it.”
Depute lord provost and independent councillor Ian Borthwick urged the convener to simply resort to the agenda note, which stated, “Ask the committee to consider if it wishes to support the ‘Fight For Fairer Fuel’ campaign being led by The Courier and Advertiser. This includes a call to the UK government to take urgent action to address the rising price of fuel by postponing the scheduled duty increase in April, in order to relieve pressure on households and businesses.”
Mr Keenan then said he agreed with Mr Borthwick and asked to withdraw his amendment, urging the convener “for once” to unite the chamber and go with the agenda note.
Lib Dem councillor Fraser Macpherson said The Courier had run “a valiant campaign that we can all sign up to” but asked Mr Guild if he was seriously going to write to the Prime Minister condemning the government, which was hardly an exercise in “how to win friends.”
However the convener restated his position that he thought it important that the city council “apportions blame where it is due.”
Labour councillor Richard McReady said, “I think The Courier has done particularly well over the past few weeks in highlighting the problems,” and added the government “might make some movement” in coming weeks. However, he added that the UK government, the Scottish Government and local authorities must all be aware of the various recent rises in the cost of living, and also urged committee members to be united.
Mr Borthwick condemned the division, saying, “It is regrettable that this debate has deteriorated, not quite into a slanging match, but has become party political.”
The full motion proposed by Mr Guild, seconded by Councillor Bob Duncan, stated that Dundee City Council: Notes that the oil price had reached $100 a barrel and that diesel in the UK is the most expensive in Europe. Further notes that the combination of the January 1 duty rise and the VAT rise is estimated to have added 3.4p to the cost of a litre of fuel. Acknowledges the sharp rise in fuel prices over the past year and the resulting impact on headline figures. Recognises the financial pressure this places on hard-pressed families and businesses already struggling with high inflation and the impact of the recent rise in VAT. Condemns the government’s continued dithering over implementation of a fuel duty regulator (or stabiliser) as neither a sustainable or stable way to make a tax policy. Further recognises the specific additional fuel costs for those in remote and rural areas. Is concerned diesel in such places is approaching £7 per gallon. Condemns the government for its failure to prioritise the implementation of a fuel duty derogation. And calls for the introduction of a fuel duty derogation to the most remote areas at the earliest opportunity.
The amendment by Councillor Rod Wallace to stick with the agenda note was seconded by Mr Macpherson but the motion was carried by 20 votes to five.How are high fuel prices affecting you? Tell us in our special online survey.