Improvements to council services that have been made through listening to people across Dundee are set to be highlighted.
The policy and resources committee on Monday June 13 will consider a detailed report showing how the local authority has responded to suggestions from the public that have been taken forward by service areas.
Engagement with people who use council services is undertaken in a number of ways, including focus groups, surveys and consultations.
The report outlines how the council has looked at suggestions and comments to enhance the ways in which it interacts with people.
Examples include providing deliveries for the supply of free period products, and making the website for the National Entitlement Card more user-friendly.
The timing of the Fuel Well scheme was brought forward from the year before because feedback indicated the provision of money in January was, in some cases, too late to have the best impact. Over 3,500 payments were made prior to Christmas 2021. Revised criteria were also co-produced with the Fairness Commissioners.
Meanwhile, people’s input is helping to shape services for the future. Parents and young people have had the opportunity to make their voices heard about the new £60 million East End Campus. Their ideas were considered within the design process in partnership with V&A Dundee, in advance of the wider public consultation.
A new policy was developed to support those affected by domestic abuse in council housing, reflecting the views of those with lived experience.
The council also launched a corporate TikTok account in response to feedback about the best ways to interact with younger online audiences.
Convener of the policy and resources committee Councillor John Alexander said: “We are a listening council and it is important that the view and experience of people can be taken on board to improve services for everyone.
“This annual report shows that while the pandemic gave us less chances to engage with people on a face-to-face basis, we have used a variety of methods to let them continue to get in touch with us.
“Our staff have used flexible and innovative ways to keep up this important dialogue.
“We are never complacent about these issues because the voices of those in our city like foster carers, families, children and young people are vital in letting us know how to make improvements.”
The full list of improvements is available on the report here
The council details the process every year on a special webpage here
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
