Thousands respond to Budget Consultation

Members of the public are being urged to take part in Dundee City Council’s 2026-27 budget consultation before it closes.

Over 2000 people have already had their say in the ongoing budget consultation, which will close to new submissions on Friday (19^th December).

Citizens and organisations can give their feedback on a spending priorities and a range of specific options to address the Council’s potential budget gap.

Free internet access is available in all libraries, with IT support from staff. Citizens can also take part via paper forms available in libraries and community centres.

The budget consultation is taking place after elected members previously considered the Council's budget strategy and financial outlook which identified a funding deficit of £8.4m for next year. It is noted this deficit may increase if the Council is unable to reduce the level of overspend in the current financial year on a recurring basis or further cost pressures emerge before next year.

Any final gap will require to be made up from efficiencies, additional income including government grants or an increase in local Council Tax. The estimated gap is before any agreed increase in Council tax, where for each 1% added to the current charge, the Council would expect to generate additional income of £700,000 each year. 

In the event that the deficit cannot be fully met by those items, the Council may also consider removing certain services and details of any options to do so are included in the consultation survey.

Councillor Mark Flynn, Leader of Dundee City Council, said: “The response to the public consultation so far has been very encouraging, however we know how important it is that everyone who lives and works in Dundee is given the opportunity to influence how the Council spends its budget.

“The Council is responsible for a wide range of services which affect people’s lives, such as Education, providing social care, maintaining roads and pavements, collecting household waste, and so much more.

“We are faced with an increasing need to prioritise our finite resources on the services that make the most difference to people’s lives.

“We therefore need as many people as possible to participate in this budget consultation exercise before it ends on Friday 19^th December and tell us what matters to them.”

Detailed savings options are included in the consultation with officers and elected members keen to understand the impact that each of the proposals would have on members of the public.

Cllr Flynn added: “There is a considerable amount of information which needs to be factored into drawing up the Council’s budget, with the consultation process playing a big part in making those informed financial decisions.

“The feedback which was received last year helped elected members decide what savings options to take forward, and has also shaped some of the options under consultation this year.

“Council services are used by everyone who lives and works in Dundee and our decisions directly affect them, so it is vital that as many people as possible take part in the consultation.”

More information, including frequently asked questions, can be found on the Dundee City Council website.

A number of Budget Consultation Support Sessions have been organised where Council Communities staff will be on hand to provide assistance for anyone who may require it and wants to fill in the survey:

• Douglas Community Centre between 11am and 1pm on Wednesday 10th December.

• Hilltown Community Centre between 1pm and 3pm on Wednesday 10th December.

• Arthurstone Library between 11am and 1pm on Friday 12th December.

• Broughty Ferry Library between 10am and 12 Noon on Monday 15th December.

• Blackness Library between 10am and 12 Noon on Tuesday 16th December.

• Charleston Community Centre between 11am and 1pm on Tuesday 16th December.

• Ardler Complex between 1pm and 3pm on Wednesday 17th December.