The leaders of each council administration allied towards delivering the Tay Cities deal to the region have requested Westminster and Holyrood ministers attend all future meetings.
Council leaders in Fife, Perth, Dundee and Angus have written to parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Scotland Office Lord Duncan and Keith Brown MSP, cabinet secretary for the economy, jobs and fair work, inviting them to all future Tay Cities alliance meetings.
Dundee SNP administration leader Councillor John Alexander said getting both ministers around the table was important, not least because he favours a “face-to-face” interaction when negotiating.
He said: “Having both Lord Duncan and Keith Brown MSP around the table will be a positive, it allows for an immediate reaction and conversation.
“It also makes sure that both ministers are part of our Tay Cities deal. It is a partnership and we need them round the table. It can’t just be the four council leaders, it has to be all of us as one.
“So far both have been very keen on coming to these meetings.
“All of our regions MPs and MSPs are working to the same end, to have the Tay Cities deal delivered.
“Chris Law MP bringing up the Tay Cities deal during Prime Minister’s questions keeps it in the public eye.
“Lord Duncan is a local Perthshire man, who knows fundamentally where the benefits of this deal will be allocated.
“Everyone has a part to play in delivering the Tay Cities deal and we have to make sure that questions are being asked, in a positive way, about the bid and keep up the pressure and the focus.”
The Tay Cities Deal is thought to be worth more than £1.8 billion to the local economies of the partners.
Ian Campbell, leader of Perth and Kinross Council’s Conservative-led administration, said: “The strong working relationship in Tayside means that we are all pulling together to deliver something that has a truly regional benefit, not just for our respective councils.
“Our region is uniquely positioned to take full advantage of the Tay Cities Deal and to deliver real growth, real jobs and real investment.”
Bob Myles, leader of Angus Council, said: “There are projects that cover every area within Tayside and many that link together across different council boundaries.
“Projects such as a Montrose to A90 investment corridor would enable delivery infrastructure to support a major growth opportunity in North Angus and would also have a wider benefit.”
Karen Marjoram, Fife Council’s Cities Deal lead said: “We appreciate that the ask is large in terms of finance but we also know that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to completely transform and reinvigorate our regional economy. The impacts of a successful Tay Cities Deal will be felt for decades to come.”
It is understood that an implementation date for the Cities Deal is likely to fall early in the new year.
