Dundee City Council criticised for axing City Centre Ambassador posts

Dundee City Council’s Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Fraser Macpherson has hit out at SNP and Labour councillors for scrapping the city’s City Centre Ambassador posts in the council’s recent revenue budget. The decision brings to an end a long-running initiative that helped visitors, supported businesses and provided a visible presence in the city centre for decades.  
The Liberal Democrats presented the only budget that opposed axing these posts. 

Cllr Macpherson said the move risks further damaging confidence in Dundee city centre, stating:

“City Centre Ambassadors have been a well-kent and valued presence in Dundee city centre – helping visitors, supporting local businesses and acting as the eyes and ears of the council. At a time when people are concerned about the future of city centres, scrapping one of the few initiatives that actually improves the welcome and reassurance people feel is completely the wrong priority.”

“Over many months the LibDem group highlighted the failure of the SNP council to fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of the two remaining postholders and now the axe has fallen on the jobs completely.  It is a very sad outcome and a truly bad decision for the City Centre.”

The concept of “ambassadors” helping promote and guide people into Dundee dates back decades, with council strategies around ambassador routes and welcoming visitors stretching back to the late 1980s. 

Cllr Macpherson said the decision shows Dundee moving in the opposite direction from other cities. He added:
“The irony is that while Dundee is axing its ambassadors, Aberdeen City Council has just created new ambassador posts to welcome people, improve visibility and enhance safety in its city centre.”
“Across the UK many cities operate ambassador schemes because they are seen as invaluable in helping visitors, supporting businesses and deterring antisocial behaviour.”
“These roles are recognised elsewhere as an investment in the success of city centres.  In Dundee the SNP administration and the Labour Party have decided they are expendable.”

He warned the decision sends entirely the wrong message about the city :
“Saving just £56,000 out of a council budget which is now more than £½ billion by scrapping a scheme that helps make the city centre safer, friendlier and more welcoming is false economy.  If we want people to visit Dundee, shop here and spend time here, we should be strengthening our city centre — not stripping away the very roles that help make it welcoming.”
“This decision risks taking Dundee backwards just when other cities are investing in exactly these kinds of initiatives.”