Dundee’s new Lord Provost and other top council posts revealed

BILL Campbell has been named as the new Lord Provost of Dundee.

The West End SNP councillor served as a deputy to Ian Borthwick in the five years running up to this month’s elections.

Mr Campbell’s appointment comes after the SNP won a majority on Dundee City Council – the only council in Scotland to achieve that.

The party’s leader, John Alexander, has also unveiled several other key roles on his new administration.

Mr Alexander said: “The SNP gained one seat in the West End, taking their group to fifteen and a majority – the only SNP majority in Scotland.

“With nearly double the first preference votes of Labour, the SNP received a mandate to take control of the council without requiring the support of any other political party.”

He said the council’s five service committees – those that lead the policy creation and decisionmaking – will be led by five female and five male councillors for the first time.

Other key appointments on nearly 50 external organisations and bodies, such as Dundee International Women’s Centre and Dundee Science Centre, will be confirmed next week.

Mr Alexander said: “Our team are energised and focused.

“From Monday, our SNP administration will be getting to grips with a diverse and challenging agenda, which includes the current cost-of-living crisis.

“I am delighted that our team’s hard work was recognised at the ballot box but now we must prove that people’s faith was well placed and that is exactly what we plan to do.

“Unveiling these positions marks an important milestone and allows the diverse range of skills within our group to be deployed across the council, including our very welcome new colleagues.”

Councillor Nadia El-Nakla, one of the newlyelected members, said: “It’s such an honour to be elected to represent the West End and it’s an even greater honour to be taking up the role of deputy convener of neighbourhood services.

“It’s also fantastic to see a more diverse council, with female representation increasing in both the SNP and Labour groups, which can only be a good thing for the city.”

The key appointments are as follows:

Lord Provost: Campbell

Deputy Lord Provost: Kevin Cordell

Neighbourhood services: Convener – Heather Anderson; deputy convener Nadia El-Nakla

City development: Convener – Mark Flynn; deputy convener – Steven Rome

Community safety and public protection: Convener – Christina Roberts; deputy convener – Lynne Short

Children and families service: Convener – Stewart Hunter; deputy convener – Roisin Smith

Policy and resources: Convener – John Alexander; deputy convener – Willie Sawers.

Bill

The SNP group celebrates its success at the election.