Mr Guild was speaking just hours after his group ousted the ruling Labour/Lib Dem coalition from power at the city chambers.

He and his senior colleagues immediately set to work by holding a series of talks with Dundee City Council chief executive Alex Stephen and the heads of the major departments.

Cllr Guild said the agenda was “wide ranging” and would allow his team to be briefed on the current situation within the council and the challenges that lie ahead.

The Tele understands the topics being discussed include the economy, housing and education.

Speaking prior to those discussions this morning, Cllr Guild told the Tele the city’s economic prosperity was utmost in his mind.

He said the recent job losses at NCR and the erosion of the city’s manufacturing base was a particular concern and bringing new jobs to the city was a priority.

To that end, the new administration will have discussions with the Scottish Government and the city’s parliamentarians over the coming weeks with a view to bringing more public sector jobs to Dundee.

Mr Guild also gave his backing to the central waterfront redevelopment project — a scheme to which the Scottish Government pledged £33 million last month — and to the proposal for a branch of the Victoria and Albert museum to be established in the city.

He said today, “I made it very clear in my speech in the chamber last night that I will be contacting our parliamentarians north and south of the border in order to get the best possible deal for Dundee.

“Public sector jobs is something we have been pushing for some time.

“We will also be looking for the offices of our parliamentarians to help get the V&A into Dundee as that is something that would have a major financial, as well as cultural, impact for the city.”

He continued, “We are trying to attract jobs into the city — I think that is essential — and obviously we want to retain the jobs we have here at the moment.

“After the announcement production is going to stop (at NCR) in Dundee, we will be doing our utmost to ensure research and development remains in Dundee.”

Turning to the domestic situation, Cllr Guild said it was his intention Dundee would stick to a CoSLA agreement to freeze the council tax until at least the next election.

However, he said it was “not practical” to commit to a freeze in council house rents going forward, despite the fact tenants have just been hit by rises in their weekly charge.

He also gave assurances over a new council mortgage scheme that will see Dundee become the first local authority in Scotland to give 100% loans.

Cllr Guild said, “This (the mortgage scheme) is something we have had reservations about as somebody suggested it was the sub-prime market. We would not be lending on a mortgage unless we were certain (the applicant was) in a position to pay.

“It is something we will discuss further with the senior officers of the council.”

It also emerged today that Cllr Guild and his team will only have a short time to familiarise themselves to their surroundings prior to the council going into recess for two weeks on April 4.