Steve Finan

4 days ago | thecourier.co.uk | Steve Finan

Imagine being a homeowner and a firm rolled up at your door and declared they were to attempt repairs on your home – whether you like it or not. The firm hadn’t given an estimate, hadn’t asked if the timing was convenient, hadn’t said what guarantees were in place for a job that might not even be the best thing in the long run. And you might have to pay the bill for it. A bill you don’t know the size of. Or the terms and conditions of. Or when you have to pay it by.

4 days ago | thecourier.co.uk | Steve Finan

Mr Gregory Colgan, Dundee City Council chief executive, has left the Scottish Information Commissioner’s office “puzzled”. Jennifer Ross, deputy head of enforcement, said the authority “appeared to be deliberately misconstruing the description of works” with your attempt to claim there weren’t repairs but refurbishments at the Olympia. Let’s have a look at the ramifications of that. “Deliberately” failed to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) 2002.

4 days ago | thecourier.co.uk | Steve Finan

There’s something wrong about the lack of progress of Dundee FC’s new stadium at Camperdown. Why the delay? We’re told the council needs time to compile a report on the submissions from Dark Blue Property Holdings, the company set up by Dundee owners Tim Keyes and John Nelms for the project. The planning committee could have had the report drawn up before now. They knew this would come before them at some point. There is nothing to stop the council discussing a plan they’ve had since February 2024.

1 month ago | thecourier.co.uk | Steve Finan

The last big traffic infrastructure project in Dundee was the construction of the Tay Road Bridge and creation of the inner ring road. The bridge was completed in August 1966, the last dualled section of the inner ring (linking Lochee Road and Victoria Road) opened in September 1975. There’s been nothing that could be termed a major investment in the half century since. The city needs an energetic, forceful character to change that.

1 month ago | thecourier.co.uk | Steve Finan

I’ve been observing the electoral gains of Reform UK down south, and the rash of district councillor defections to Reform in Scotland. I don’t tell people how to vote. I think they’re quite capable of making their own mistakes. Indeed, I hold all parties in equal disdain. They all have egregious failings. So whether you think Reform’s rise is a good thing, or not, is up to you. However, there are other factors to take into account with Reform.