What is being proposed?
Dundee City Council currently holds some of its committee meetings on Monday evenings from 5pm onwards. The meetings are timetabled in advance and published on this website - 2025 Meetings Timetable.
Following consideration of a report by the City Governance Committee at its meeting on Monday 22 September 2025, officers were remitted to undertake a consultation regarding changing the timing of Committee meetings held on Monday evenings to weekdays during daytime hours.
The meetings that are held on Monday evenings are grouped with those that take place on the same evening. Please note some names changes are also to be implemented.
| Name in 2025 Timetable | New Name |
| City Council | No Change |
| Climate, Environment and Biodiversity Committee | Climate, Net Zero and Environment Committee |
| Fair Work, Economic Growth & Infrastructure | City Growth & Infrastructure |
| City Governance | No Change |
| Children, Families and Communities Committee | Neighbourhood, Housing and Communities Committee (This committee will include Police and Fire and Rescue Service Performance Reports on a six monthly basis) |
| Planning | No Change |
What is being consulted on?
The purpose of this consultation is to identify general preferences and any impacts of changing the day and/or time of those Committee meetings and consider any measures that can be taken to address these impacts.
Before any final decision is taken, it is essential that we understand what implementing changes would mean for elected members, committee members and the wider public.
This is particularly the case for anyone who has characteristics protected by law: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
This is a legal requirement for the consultation, so part of the survey asks a series of specific questions to identify if respondents have any of these protected characteristics. However, please note that each of the questions is optional.
Why is this being proposed?
The proposer, the Leader of the Council Councillor Mark Flynn, set out that Dundee City Council is one of only a few councils in Scotland that now operate evening meetings and that by considering changes to daytime meetings this would:
- Make meetings more accessible
- Be more family friendly by avoiding evening meetings
- Be a positive step to encourage more people to take up a role as a Councillor
- Improve the work life balance for elected members
Who is being consulted?
The consultation is with all elected members, external members of the Children, Families and Communities committee and the wider public.
It is essential that the Council understands the impact any changes would have on stakeholders and the wider community.
This is particularly the case for those who have characteristics protected by law: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
All interested parties are invited to have their say on the proposal.
How long does the consultation last for?
The consultation will run for three weeks from November 7, 2025 to November 30, 2025.
How can I take part in the consultation?
The survey can be completed online. Free internet access is available in all libraries, with IT support from staff, and at community centres.
Anyone needing further assistance completing the form can also contact Dundee City Council customer services on 01382 434000.
How will the consultation be promoted?
The consultation will be promoted through a press release, social media, printed information posters, word of mouth, and the Dundee City Council website.
How will you ensure the consultation is accessible to all?
Questions have been framed using appropriate language and will be offered digitally via the Council’s Consultation Hub. Support is available to anyone requiring assistance filling out the survey.
The website offers accessibility options which support users with conditions like visual impairments and dyslexia. The site also offers features to translate information into many different languages.
How will I be able to find out the results of the consultation?
A report will be considered by the City Governance Committee following the consultation. This report will be published on the Council website.
What are Protected Characteristic Groups?
We will gather information to allow us to assess the positive or negative impacts of any final decision, particularly on those with protected characteristics. The nine protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010 are detailed below:
- Age
People can be unfairly treated based on assumptions and stereotypes related to their age. Both younger and older people can share similar issues such as unemployment, reduced or low income, not being listened to and not being valued.
- Disability
Disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Disability includes mobility, dexterity, hearing, speech or vision impairments along with "hidden" conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, dyslexia, mental health problems and mental illness. Cancer, HIV infection and Multiple Sclerosis are deemed disabilities under the Act from the time of diagnosis.
- Gender Re-assignment
Gender refers to socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes, denoted by terms such as ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ and can be different from biological sex. The term ‘gender reassignment’ applies to the process of transitioning from one gender to another. The term used in the Equality Act to describe people who intend to transition, are transitioning or have transitioned is ‘transsexual’.
- Marriage and Civil Partnership
Service providers cannot treat customers less favourably, or refuse to provide them with services, on the basis that they are married to a person of the same sex or in a civil partnership, as opposed to being married to a person of the opposite sex.
- Pregnancy and Maternity
It is unlawful to subject a woman to unfavourable treatment during the ‘protected period' defined by the Act. Protection from discrimination starts when a woman becomes pregnant.
- Race/Ethnicity
The Equality Act says you must not be discriminated against because of your race. Race can mean your colour or your nationality (including your citizenship). It can also mean your ethnic or national origins, which may not be the same as your current nationality. Race also covers ethnic and racial groups.
- Religion or Belief
The meaning of religion or belief in the Equality Act is broad and is consistent with Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Religion means any religion and includes a lack of religion. A religion need not be mainstream or well known to gain protection. However, it must have a clear structure and belief system.
Belief means any religious or philosophical belief (including, for example, Humanism and Atheism) and includes a lack of belief. To be protected under the Equality Act, a philosophical belief must:
- Be genuinely held.
- Be a belief and not an opinion or viewpoint, based on the present state of information available.
- Be a belief as to a weighty and substantial aspect of human life and behaviour.
- Attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance.
- Be worthy of respect in a democratic society, compatible with human dignity and not conflict with the fundamental rights of others
- Sex
A person's sex refers to whether they are biologically male or female. In relation to a group of people it refers to either men and /or boys, or women and / or girls. A comparator for the purposes of unlawful sex discrimination will be a person of the opposite sex.
- Sexual Orientation
The Equality Act says you must not be discriminated against because:
- You are heterosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual.
- Someone thinks you have a particular sexual orientation - discrimination by perception.
- You are connected to someone who has a particular sexual orientation - discrimination by association.
Sexual orientation includes how you choose to express your sexual orientation, such as through your appearance or the places you visit. Discrimination occurs when you are treated differently because of your sexual orientation.
Find out more about the Equality Act 2010, which provides the legal framework to tackle disadvantage and discrimination.