IT was once the city of "jute, jam, and journalism", but Dundee's reliance on those industries has coincided with a population decline from 200,000 in the early 1970s to around 143,000.

However, it has now established itself as a centre of excellence in the biomedical and technology industries, and there are now said to be more scientists in Dundee than in any UK city other than Cambridge.

It was for many years a Labour bastion, but the party lost overall control in 2003. Although the SNP secured 11 seats with 34.1% of the vote and Labour only 10 with 31.%, the Nationalists could not form an administration.

The Conservatives took five seats with 15.9%, the Liberal Democrats two with 11.5%, and one independent was elected.

Just as in Holyrood, Labour and the Liberal Democrats combined and have had the strength to secure most of their aims.

One of the main election issues will be council tax which this year was frozen, ensuring Dundee fell from Scotland's second highest to fourth in the league. However, the council insists it has the facts to show that Dundee is being unfairly treated by the Scottish Executive.

That might change if council leader Jill Shimi is successful in being elected for Dundee West in the parliamentary election but, to do so, she will have to overcome SNP councillor Joe Fitzpatrick who is standing against her for Holyrood, and with whom she has been engaged in a bitter war of words.

Also departing the council is Charles Farquhar, Labour's Mr Lochee, who has represented the area for more than 40 years. The 29 wards will be reduced to eight.

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