The impact of achieving official city status for Perth should not be underestimated, Perth and Kinross Council leader Ian Miller has told fellow councillors.
“It is one of the most important steps for the economic and social wellbeing of Perth we have taken for many years,” he said.
Mr Miller added that they had many allies in their quest for city status notably the First Minister Alex Salmond across the political divide. He said they “knew” Perth was a city and regarded it as a mistake that it lost the title during reorganisation in 1974.
On Wednesday he asked councillors to rubber-stamp the area selected by a steering group to form the basis for the town’s application for city status in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee competition.
Eyebrows were raised that for this purpose Perth included Scone, Almondbank, Pitcairngreen, Kinfauns and Walnut Grove. Mr Miller said he could “categorically” say this definition of Perth would not be used for planning purposes and the expanded area had been drawn up to include historic areas which would enhance their bid.
Councillor Lewis Simpson said he fully supported the bid but was delighted he would be able to reassure people that the map as drawn was purely for the purposes of the city competition.
The councillors unanimously endorsed the Perth boundaries which will now be submitted as part of the bid process.
Moves have been ongoing to have one new city declared in each of the home countries, rather than just one city for the entire UK. Mr Salmond has already raised the issue with Prime Minister David Cameron.
However, as things stand at the moment, Perth has to compete with another 15 towns, with fears English competition will dominate and win out in the contest.