Commenting on the Dundee Community Learning and Development Strategy 2015-18

The three year strategy for Community Learning and Development in the city is a comprehensive and aspirational document. Unfortunately, it will be considered near the end of the agenda of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on Monday night which follows three other Council committee meetings. The Community Learning and Development Strategy may not therefore receive the detailed attention it deserves.

What could be more important for our Council than ensuring that work with our young people, adult literacy and numeracy including computer literacy, and community engagement are all developed over the coming years? 

The Community Learning and Development staff should be congratulated on a series of external assessments that have rated their services as 'sector leading'. The question for me is whether we are investing enough to ensure that the existing services are sustained and the unmet needs listed in the strategy are likely to be met during the next three years.

If we are serious about making Dundee a fairer city, then Community Learning and Development practitioners are part of the answer working alongside other partners and services.