The UK Government should be ashamed of the role it has played in bringing poverty to doors of hundreds of city homes, according to senior Dundee city councillors.
Housing convener John Alexander believes the people of the city have been treated “disgustingly” by Westminster.
He spoke out in the wake of worrying figures which show that 42% of households across Dundee are now living in fuel poverty.
Mr Alexander said welfare cuts had exacerbated fuel poverty and put incredible pressure upon hundreds of individuals and families.
“We will take action to end fuel poverty where we can and where we have the means to do so, but I cannot help but see that the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of Westminster,” he said.
“The people of Dundee have been treated disgustingly by Westminster whose policies have brought poverty to the city.”
Dundee City Council is in the midst of a programme of works to make homes more fuel efficient.
That has already seen properties across the city fitted with cladding and that programme shows no sign of stopping. Despite the investment made, however, there are still many properties in all parts of Dundee that remain fuel inefficient.
In some parts of the city, the issue is complicated by the presence of older, protected properties such as those in conservation areas which cannot be fitted with exterior cladding.
Numerous councillors have expressed concerns, with West End Labour representative Richard McCready commenting: “Some of the poorest people in this city are in some of the hardest to heat, most expensive to heat homes.”
SNP councillor Ken Lynn said there were a “large number” of private rented properties in the city that have “no heating or heating of a very poor quality”.
Director of housing Elaine Zwirlien said the council would be looking to work with landlords, together with housing associations, and would be investigating the use of internal insulation.
She added, however, that the council’s finite resources would be directed towards areas with high levels of deprivation and large numbers of elderly residents.