A DETAILED bid to secure a £400 million investment in Tayside is likely to be finalised by May next year, the Tele can reveal today.
Dundee City Council leader Ken Guild met with the leaders of the six other city councils in Scotland in Inverness on Tuesday to discuss the joint work that is delivering the UK City Deals across Scotland.
Also present was Lord Andrew Dunlop, Under Secretary of State for Scotland.
It came as a brochure highlighting the potential benefits of such a deal was published.
Mr Guild told the Tele: “This was a meeting of the council leaders of the seven city councils who are part of the Scottish Cities Alliance.
“The main purpose of the meeting was to agree a draft report on empowering city governments. We were going through the proposals, suggesting amendments before the final draft next month.
“We have discussed our plans for the Tay Cities Deal at four stakeholder events to get input from a range of local investors, the chamber of commerce, Dundee and Angus College and the Dundee universities, as well as charitable groups.
“Through those discussions we are identifying projects to put forward for the deal.
“All four of the councils involved have much that they have taken on board, and hope to have a detailed bid ready to put before Holyrood and Westminster by May of next year.
“The advice we have been given from other council leaders has been not to rush things, to take our time and make sure we get the right proposals in there first time around.”
The Tay Cities Deal would see £400m handed to support economic growth in Tayside, with Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Angus and Fife councils working together on proposals for how the money should be spent.
Promoting the tourism sector is a top priority and there is a plan to build on the huge tourism potential of the V&A Museum and the region’s wider assets.
The plan aims to develop regional tourism potential, such as top visitor attractions, golf, food and drink, nature and the outdoors.
Through this, the Tay Cities Deal aims to target the cruise and business tourism markets.
Improving both the transport and digital infrastructure for improved connectivity and workforce mobility across the region are also key issues.
The local authorites also want to promote life sciences, engineering, enhanced manufacturing, and low carbon technologies, such as solar energy, hydrogen power and heat pumps.
The brochure revealed the aspirations of the four councils and a series of graphics highlighted the key things the area already benefits from.
It stated: “We have a shared vision — to create a region where fair business growth, social inclusion and skills development is at the heart of everything we do.
“Our vision is to become a cohesive region of knowledge with a culture of creativity within Scotland and the UK.
“Located on the River Tay, on Scotland’s east coast, the cities of Dundee and Perth are home to half the region’s population and working together they will play a key role in driving forward economic growth.
“The strategic towns of St Andrews, in north-east Fife, alongside Arbroath, Montrose and Forfar in the county of Angus are also vitally important to our economy. Beyond the cities and large towns our landscape is spectacular, punctuated with historic towns and villages, estates and farms, all contributing to our economic productivity.”
Ian Miller, leader of Perth City Council, said: “This is going to be a big deal for the whole of the region.
“We will be looking at the expansion of Perth Museum and Art Gallery, and a new exhibition centre, as well as refurbishment of Perth City Hall.”