13.11.25
On Monday 17 November, Dundee City Council’s City Governance Committee will decide if there will be, for the second year in a row, a rapid public consultation for proposed budget cuts after a projected budget shortfall of £8.4m for 2026/27. Many of the 23 potential savings listed – either reducing or removing funding entirely – include cultural and community organisations.
If our elected Councillors approve this public consultation, it will go live from the end of November for four weeks, over the Christmas period, as it did in 2024. There has been little evidence of the previous consultation having an effect on long-term strategy, transparency or meaningful engagement with the views shared by Dundee’s residents. For many of us across the city, this repeated cycle of unease and uncertainty is incredibly disappointing.
In anticipation of the weeks ahead, we reviewed Dundee City Council’s Results Report data from the 2024/25 public budget consultation, published only in February 2025. Over 3,619 residents responded (3,571 to the consultation online and 48 on paper, with further contributions outwith the consultation), detailing exactly how these cuts to services would impact their lives.
Respondents were asked to rate and detail ‘what has become more important to you over the last year’ and ‘what has become less important to you’, and then – for the listed proposed budget cuts on specific services – ‘how would this option [cut] impact on you?’. At this point, respondents were asked to rate how severely a reduction in funding would impact them and, in some instances, invited to suggest the reduction in funding the Council should consider – between 0 and 100%.
The report makes it clear that residents undoubtedly understood the immense financial situation facing the public sector. But the responses to these challenging questions also plainly express deep concern that funding cuts would harm Dundee’s economy, wellbeing and tourism, and the city’s global cultural identity – with many recognising that, whether a cut directly impacts them or not, it impacts our wider community, neighbourhoods, and sense of civic pride in our place.
Respondents were strongly opposed to cuts to culture, community and access services. Of the services that respondents felt had become more important to them in the past year, 23% selected Leisure and Culture – the highest of options presented. Of services deemed less important, Leisure and Culture was selected by just 6.2% of respondents – the option selected the least.
Cultural organisations were under threat of cuts in last year’s consultation, and will feature in this year’s if it goes ahead: Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre, Dundee Heritage Trust and UNESCO City of Design Dundee. This year, Creative Dundee is also at risk of losing its partnership support.
Given the proposed ask of residents to respond to a consultation only 12-months after last sharing their opinions, we’ve collated direct quotes from the Results Report relating to the culture and community services considered for cuts.
“Many respondents stated that the UNESCO City of Design status brings significant economic benefits to Dundee, […] supports cultural initiatives that are seen to enrich the community and provides opportunities for local artists and designers.
[…] As the council’s funding is often matched by other sources, it was felt then that cutting it could result in a larger overall loss of funding. Some respondents feel that removing the funding would send a negative message about the city’s commitment to culture and innovation.”
“Many respondents believed that reducing funding for these cultural organisations would negatively impact community services, limiting access to arts, education, and social activities. Some felt that these organisations provide a space in the city for people to feel less isolated […] It was felt that this was of particular importance to those with disabilities and mental health issues.
[…] There is a significant fear that reducing funding could lead to the closure of these cultural institutions, which it was stated would be a substantial loss for the city. […] maintaining funding is seen as essential to preserving Dundee’s cultural identity and reputation as a city of culture.”
Similar sentiments were shared for community and access organisations. Included on last year’s and now this year’s budget threat list are Dundee International Women’s Centre, Boomerang, the Under 12’s Project, the Bharatiya Ashram and more.
These groups reach and connect with people who are often unseen in policy debates – women from minority ethnic backgrounds, families living in deprivation, children who need safe play and learning spaces, older residents, and people seeking connection and belonging. The Results Report noted:
“There was an overall feeling about protecting those services which serve the vulnerable, many respondents mentioned the impact of the savings options on children and the elderly, those from minority ethnic groups particularly women and those who have disabilities and long-term health issues particularly mental health issues.”
Respondents underlined that culture and community services aren’t just nice to have – they are what make Dundee liveable, fair and distinctive.
Many responses offered constructive ideas – highlighting ways to diversify income, seek sponsorships, merge services or share spaces. They also highlighted that even small proposed savings can create significant negative impacts – recognising the substantial deficit left when space, staff and communities are gone.
“Some felt there was a need for transparent decision-making and accountability with some mentioning improving the efficiencies of council operations to cut costs without affecting essential services, including reducing staff numbers and salaries.
There were some suggestions about improving the consultation process including having better public engagement, more accessible surveys and wider community and stakeholder meetings to gather a broader range of opinions.”
As we come to the end of 2025, as far as we are aware these recommendations haven’t been taken forward from the last consultation. Again, instead, they are suggesting another short-window consultation at the busiest time of the year. Dundee City Council’s own communications state: “If approved, the consultation would start at the end of this month (November) and run for four weeks. People would be able to respond online or through paper forms available in libraries and community centres”.
The Scottish Government’s new Public Service Reform Strategy (June 2025) sets out a clear national direction: Scotland’s public services should consider the systemic barriers which prevent us from moving forward – to be preventative, collaborative and empowering – built with communities, not top-down directed. It calls for joined-up local services that invest wisely to tackle root causes, not the symptoms of crisis; for leadership that shares power with communities; and for public funding to strengthen, not shrink, the third sector’s role in supporting people where they are.
It is critical that people are given a chance to have their say, however we believe there is a different conversation we should be having about how to strategically invest in ensuring Dundee’s long-term future, centring residents and city communities as key collaborators.
As the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design, we as a city have the experience, skills and tools needed to navigate difficult times in meaningful ways. Some readers will remember the momentum behind We Dundee in 2013 which captured the imagination of residents, generating over 4,000 responses online and through local libraries. Many of these ideas were embedded into city policy and came to life through people working together to bring them into being.
There are many more examples of the city pulling together in hardships to find ways forward. We are a collaborative city, well-versed in doing things the ‘Dundee-Way’ – we just need the strategic vision, support, space and permission to enable this to happen.
Over the last decade, Dundee has built a remarkable story of culture-led regeneration, community innovation and global visibility. We still face many challenges as a city, but short-term-thinking emergency cuts will not lead to an ambitious long-term future for the residents of Dundee.
Local investment equals local buy-in, and cutting culture and community support will not solve a deficit of £8.4 million. This will, however, deepen other deficits: a wellbeing deficit, as people lose places to gather, learn and belong. A trust deficit, as residents see their voices disregarded year after year. An economic deficit, as Dundee risks losing the very creative reputation that draws visitors, students and investment to our place.
This time of the year should be about celebration and coming together – not crisis management. Yet once again, Dundee’s cultural and community workers – alongside concerned residents – must divert their energy to advocacy, petitions and lobbying, instead of delivering the programmes that make a difference every day.
We now urge Dundee’s elected Councillors and senior Dundee City Council officials to pause, consider and respond:
You can follow the progress of this decision by watching the City Governance Committee meeting (part of a series of other adjoined meetings) live on DCC’s YouTube channel on Monday 17 November 2025 from 5pm.
This feature is part of Creative Dundee’s Futures series – exploring publicly available datasets to consider culture and creativity, now and next in Dundee and Scotland. Find our previous features What our Future Needs Now? Young People Already Know and Dundee’s Creative & Digital Industries Capabilities.
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