City "ahead of the game" in community empowerment

ALMOST 12,000 people in Dundee took part in discussions about issues affecting them and their communities last year, 14% more than in the previous 12 months.

This included having a say in how more than £3.9m of public money is spent, a figure which exceeds national targets, according to a new report to go before councillors next week.

Lynne Short deputy convener of the neighbourhood, housing and communities committee said: “We were the first council in the country to allocate a proportion of our mainstream budget to participatory budgeting, and we are clearly still ahead of the game when it comes to engaging our citizens in decisions which affect them.

“To make this happen we have links and a footprint in every single community, and through them know the challenges and the scale of the issues people who live in those areas face. But ultimately this is about shared achievement and potential.”

In common with other Scottish local authorities, the council must establish partnerships which identify areas where residents are experiencing significantly poorer outcomes because of socio-economic disadvantage and take action to reduce inequalities within and between those areas.

Last year in Dundee 695 community members were involved in the direct delivery of services contributing to local community plan outcomes, an increase of 18% on 2023/24, with evidence indicating that this is resulting in more positive outcomes and reducing inequalities.

Among the projects supported through participatory budgeting were: 

Cllr Short added: “We have good existing community engagement strategies that have been built on to achieve this success, not just to spend money in communities but also initiatives addressing the cost of living, family empowerment, support for mental wellbeing and environmental improvements.” 

A collaboration between Dundee City Council and What Matters to You has resulted in new approaches to engaging and involving families and young people in developing opportunities in their own communities.

Family empowerment work developed in partnership with What Matters to You has been shortlisted for a CoSLA Excellence Award.

Other initiatives that have been recognised on the national stage include the Linlathen Fairness Initiative which was a finalist in the Scottish Public Service Awards alongside Brooksbank Centre and in two categories at the Smarter Working Lives 2024 awards. It has also been shortlisted for a CoSLA Excellence Award. The city’s approach to devolved Alcohol and Drug Partnership funding, led by local communities, was a finalist for Best Health and Wellbeing Initiative at the Association of Public Service Excellence awards.

The neighbourhood, housing and communities committee meets on Monday (October 27).