City Plan for Dundee launched

The Dundee Partnership today (Thursday 12^th January) launched their vision for Dundee’s future as set out in the City Plan 2022-2032.

The new City Plan is built on engagement with local communities and incorporates the findings of the Engage Dundee initiatives and a range of other surveys conducted over the last two years.

The Plan’s three strategic priorities can be summarised as; reduce child poverty and inequalities in incomes, education and health, deliver inclusive economic growth including community wealth building, and tackle climate change and reaching Net Zero emissions by 2045.

Some of the actions outlined in the report include supporting the gap in positive destinations for 16 to 19-year olds, ensuring the maximum take-up of all UK and Scottish welfare benefits, deliver on the Tay Cities Region Deal, attract more skilled green jobs, develop a city energy masterplan, and engage with Dundee’s communities, green networks and infrastructure to ensure they are adaptable to a changing climate.

A series of targets are set out in the City Plan and will be used to measure success of its implementation. It has been set out that by 2030 the number of children living in poverty should realistically be halved from 22.5% in the latest figures to 11% by the end of the decade.

Other key metrics include boosting the percentage of 16 to 19-year olds in education, employment or training from 90% currently to 100% by 2030, to increase the number of living wage accredited employers based or headquartered in Dundee from 100 to 163 over the same period, while also grow the number of Business Gateway start-ups per 10,000 population from 17 currently to over 27.69 by 2030, and reduce the city-wide CO2 emissions (Kt CO2) from the latest 583 figure to 300 by the end of the decade also.

The City Plan builds on the work that has already been undertaken through the collective efforts of our communities, private, public and third sector partners.

Local Community Plans recently published focus in on the community priorities highlighted in the City Plan and sets out key actions to be delivered in each of the eight ward areas in Dundee to improve outcomes for citizens.

Council Leader, and Chair of the Dundee Partnership Forum, John Alexander said: “The Dundee Partnership has achieved significant progress over the last five years in delivering the outcomes contained in the previous City Plan for Dundee 2017-2026.

“Dundee has transformed itself into a growing city on a journey of major economic, social and cultural development, including the world renowned £1bn Waterfront development.

“Further opportunities lie ahead, such as the £300 million Tay Cities Deal, the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, a Life Sciences Innovation District and the Eden Project – all key examples of our city’s bold and creative ambition.

“As a Partnership, we recognise the challenges of the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and now the cost of living crisis. All partners are focused on ensuring that all our children, citizens and communities have the best opportunities and lives, free from poverty and inequality.

“We are committed to improving outcomes for all our citizens but particularly for those living in our most deprived communities and for our most vulnerable residents.

“Partnership working is more important now than it has ever been, with the need to deliver better, more targeted services together, using shared resources where possible.”

Dundee City Council Chief Executive Greg Colgan said: “I’m delighted to help launch Dundee’s new City Plan for 2022 to 2032. What this document contains matters to, and impacts on, every single person who lives and works in Dundee.

“It sets out how we as the Dundee Partnership will work together to ensure that all our children, citizens and communities have the best opportunities and lives, free from poverty and inequality.

“That means delivering economic growth, including community wealth building. It means reducing child poverty and inequalities in income, education and health. And it means doing more to tackle climate change.

“The Council is an important partner in this, and has its own plan for how it contributes to delivering on these outcomes. But real change means everyone buying into the vision and doing their bit – from the biggest organisations to small community groups and even individual citizens.

“The Partnership has again set itself challenging targets to achieve over the coming years.

“But we are clear that each of these targets makes a real difference, and we are committed to improving outcomes for everyone, especially the most vulnerable in our communities.”

NHS Tayside Chief Executive Grant Archibald said: “As key members of the Dundee Partnership, we see our role as absolutely linked to the success of creating a vibrant, caring, healthier Dundee.

“We’re doing that in several ways working with our colleagues. As the biggest employer in the Dundee area, we already pay the living wage and we’re committed to giving opportunities to our young people. We also offer full-time employment and permanent contracts, which are a key part of people’s economic wellbeing. 

“We’re also very committed to addressing the very large issue of inequalities in our city. That there should be a difference in people’s life expectancy of several years between different parts of our city, is not acceptable to any of us. We are all committed to working together, with public health and our council colleagues to improve that.”

Chief Superintendent Phil Davison, Tayside’s Divisional Commander, said: “On behalf of Tayside Division, I am proud to confirm our support of the City Plan for Dundee for the next ten years. 

“As a member of the Dundee Partnership, Police have a key role in supporting the delivery of outcomes for the people of Dundee and towards making it a stronger, safer city. The past couple of years have presented us all with challenges never faced before but, in response to these challenges, our partnership has strengthened further and is well placed to help and support our local communities as we move into the next phase of the City Plan.

“During engagement on its development, you told us that feeling safe and supported is key to ensuring Dundee is a caring city with strong communities. We will continue to listen and act in this regard, alongside our partners, and remain committed to improving outcomes across the city and particularly for our most vulnerable residents.”

Christina Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action said: “The key priorities of the City Plan are one in the same of DVVA. We’re all striving towards the same key outcomes including reducing social isolation, increasing employability, providing volunteering opportunities across the city, and improving health & wellbeing of our community.

“DVVA as a third sector interface provides the representation of the third sector in that whole agenda. We host a range of programmes so that we can understand, through our engagement, how all services and supports can help meet the needs of people across the city.”

Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Alison Henderson said: “We are very proud to be involved in the Dundee Partnership. The City Plan for Dundee is really important for the future and having that vision which is about delivering inclusive economic growth is hugely important. We’re proud to be involved.”

The City Plan for Dundee 2022-2032 can be viewed in full on the Dundee City Council website. A one-page summary document of the City Plan can also be found on the council’s website.

• Share this page:
• Share On Twitter
• Share On Facebook
• Share On LinkedIn