Councillors rejected an initial bid to declare a local housing emergency last month, just days before the Scottish Government declared a nationwide housing emergency.

The council’s opposition group called on the administration to reverse the decision, which they say has put it “at odds” with its own government.

Labour group leader Kevin Keenan asked for standing orders to be suspended so his motion to declare a housing crisis could be reconsidered.

It is the council rule that there must be a gap of six months before a motion can be brought back before elected members to be reconsidered.

However, The Courier reports that the SNP administration has now thrown out the bid for a second time.

At a neighbourhood regeneration, housing and estate management committee this week it refused to suspend standing orders.

Councillor Keenan slammed the decision as “single-minded politics”.

“The SNP administration, despite their own government accepting that there is a housing emergency, refused to suspend standing orders which would have allowed councillors to debate this subject at committee,” said Mr Keenan. “Myself and colleagues in the Labour group see housing as the biggest issue in the city and the majority of correspondence between ourselves and our constituents predominantly relates to housing.

“The Scottish Government accept that Scotland is facing a housing emergency, why is the SNP administration in Dundee continuing to say move along, nothing to see here?

“Surely, our citizens in Dundee, when in need, deserve a council that will act in their best interests?”