Second attempt to declare Dundee housing emergency.

Dundee City Council’s attempt to declare a housing emergency is back on the table for reconsideration this week, following its previous rejection by the council administration. This development comes in the wake of the Scottish Government’s decision to declare a nationwide housing emergency, setting the tone for urgent action to address housing challenges across the country.

Opposition councillors are calling on the local SNP administration to reverse their initial decision, citing a stark contradiction with the government’s proactive stance on the matter. Labour group leader Councillor Kevin Keenan is gearing up to reintroduce the proposal at a crucial committee meeting scheduled for today, aiming to reignite the conversation around addressing housing needs in Dundee.

Councillor Keenan had publicly expressed his dismay over the rejection, labelling it as “astonishing and out of touch” with the reality on the ground. With close to 8,000 individuals languishing on Dundee’s housing waiting list, the council’s argument that many of them are already housed has been met with scepticism, as reported by The Courier.

However, the bid to declare a housing emergency faces staunch opposition from the SNP’s housing and estate management convener, Councillor Mark Flynn. He remains steadfast in his position, asserting that “nothing’s changed” since the initial rejection and highlighting existing plans in place to tackle housing challenges within Dundee itself.