The leader of Perth and Kinross Council has appealed for unity after his administration was pressed to take action to protect city centre businesses.
Anxious shopkeepers attended heated local authority talks aimed at forging a way forward for Perth following the devastating loss of McEwens department store.
The meeting centred on a motion raised by Conservative councillor Alexander Stewart, urging the council to produce an action plan to halt an apparent spate of shop closures.
In his strongly worded motion, Mr Stewart called on the council to note increasing concerns of local businesses about “the inability of the current SNP administration to show any meaningful leadership in developing an effective strategy to support businesses”.
However, the motion was defeated by 21-14 votes, in favour of an amendment which called for the setting up of a cross-party city centre progress board – a suggestion by the local Labour group – to look at possible improvements.
Mr Miller pointed out that a report on the state of the city centre was already due to come before the council next month.
Mr Stewart’s motion followed a business seminar, hosted by Conservative members, which was attended by about 50 members of the business community.
Mr Stewart, now an MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: “What we now face is a city on the brink. I want to do all that I possibly can to play my part in ensuring the future of this once-great city for years to come.”
He added: “Perth was once seen as a jewel in the crown of independent retailing in Scotland. Whilst many independent shops still remain in our fair city, our offering has greatly diminished over the years as a result of the lack of clear leadership from council administration.”
Mr Stewart suggested looking at thriving cities like Chester and York for inspiration.
“The business community want change and they want it now,” he said. “It is vital that we taken on board their views, their ideas and most importantly of all their experience and expertise of how to actually run a business before it is too late.”
Mr Miller said he read over Mr Stewart’s motion with “some sadness” as he had strived to keep national politics out the council chamber.
He said: “What is needed to support local business is for this council to work together with them as a united group with a united aim, not political opportunism.
“Modern city centres are now just as much about social activity as retail and we need to work together with existing and new businesses in Perth to reflect that change. If we don’t modernise, then we will only fall behind and that means losing out to our competitors in Dundee, Stirling and further afield.”
Mr Miller added: “I want to underline the fact that our council is listening and is willing to hear any further views about how we can improve our city centre.
“It’s only by working together that we can create a set of actions that will strengthen the city.”
Opposition motion causes a stir
The idea to table a motion calling for extra city centre support was first raised at a meeting of business owners last month.
The talks were organised by Conservative group members, including Alexander Stewart, but it was Lib Dem councillor Lewis Simpson who came up with the suggestion to “put the SNP on the spot”.
Seconding Mr Stewart’s motion, he said: “While I recognise the excellent work of the city development board, we must all realise that the big picture stuff is all in the future, and what we need is some action now.
“The many traders and business people who have taken the trouble to come along here today can judge for themselves how serious we are about tackling their concerns here and now.”
Backing the motion, Conservative councillor Alan Livingstone said: “A local parliamentarian has said that Perth is not in terminal decline. He has chosen his words carefully and he is right.
“But make no mistake, the city centre is in decline and it is a shadow of what it once was.”
Opposing the motion, SNP councillor Dave Doogan said he had “no desire” to add to the politics of the debate, before criticising Mr Stewart for putting his own political career ahead of the interests of the city.
Comment: A worthwhile accident
If Alexander Stewart intended his motion to be a political hand grenade, then he was partly successful, writes Jamie Buchan.
It forced an exhaustive debate on the issues raised by shopkeepers at a business seminar he hosted three weeks ago.
Retailers have been understandably shaken by the collapse of McEwens and have been crying out for action, support and a show of compassion from the council.
After Wednesday’s talks, many traders welcomed calls to set up a city centre progress board (working title) that will feature business owners and councillors of all parties.
During the debate, Mr Stewart was accused of politicising the very important city centre issue and causing divisions.
But the message from almost everyone at the meeting, including Mr Stewart, was one of unity and moving forward together with local businesses.
That’s not to say the hearing ended with councillors holding hands and skipping around in a big circle, but it was certainly evident that they were all, broadly speaking, singing from the same hymn sheet.
For or against the motion, each councillor accepted there were challenges to conquer and said, in their own words, how they want to work closer with local businesses and move forward to build a better Perth.
