A £20,000 report commissioned by Fife Council “told us what we already knew”, councillors were told.
However, the work to prepare a draft Mid-Fife Economic Action Plan was said to be necessary to take forward a credible business case for regenerating some of the region’s poorest areas.
The report by consultants Context Economics outlined the stark challenges facing the Kirkcaldy, Cowdenbeath and Levenmouth areas.
Glenrothes was said to be faring better, albeit against a projected decline in the manufacturing sector.
Across mid-Fife, the number of jobs compared to population is 25% lower than the Scottish average.
Those working full time in mid-Fife earn between £2,700 and £4,100 less than the Scottish average wage.
In addition, with the exception of Glenrothes, fewer women are in employment than the rest of Scotland and skills levels are below the Scottish average.
When the report was discussed by Cowdenbeath Area Committee, Labour councillor Linda Erskine, the committee’s convener, said: “The report didn’t say enough for me and the vast majority we knew about before.
“I was at a loss to know why we paid consultants to tell us what we already knew but I agree that we absolutely needed this.”
Council lead officer Peter Corbett told the committee: “A lot of the analysis told us what we already knew but in taking forward a credible business case we have to have really solid evidence behind that.”
Local councillors will take part in a workshop to discuss the issues raised in the report, with the process still in the very early stages.
The report said the area’s ageing industrial units were not attracting investors and there was a need for modern premises.
However, the Levenmouth Rail Link project, for which a major contractor is expected to be appointed this year, was said to provide a “massive opportunity to improve connectivity and increase investment”.
Projects mooted to regenerate the Cowdenbeath area include bringing the former CommScope property in Lochgelly back into use, creating a trade hub in Cowdenbeath and developing tourism by promoting Lochore Meadows Country Park and attractions including the Rockgelly indoor climbing centre.
Mr Corbett said Fife was one of just two regions in the UK of comparable size without a major city.
But he said “overcrowding” in Edinburgh was leading to companies looking elsewhere.
“People are struggling to live and work within a reasonable distance of that centre,” he said.
“We’re right on the doorstep and it’s possible that the overcrowding in Edinburgh is starting to make Fife and the areas around the peripheral areas of Edinburgh more attractive.”
Local Conservative councillor Darren Watt said: “I’m fed up of Fife being treated like a bypass to other areas. We need to encourage people into the kingdom.”
He said flaring at the Mossmorran chemical plant was not a good advertisement for Fife.
He added: “We have to have a better working environment.
“Coming across the bridge and seeing that flaring, it’s not a good sight.”
Gordon Mole, head of business and employability at the council, said: “This action plan sets out a range of recommendations that prioritise better jobs, raising incomes and delivering economic growth for an area that is struggling to do as well as it could and has great potential regionally.”
