Council leader plays down sign-off delay
General election disruption
new parliament is sitting.
But Cllr Lyle told the PA yesterday: “In an ideal world we would not have this delay, but I am not expecting the hold up in signing the deal off to have any critical impact for Perth and the wider investment promises already established.
“We have had the level of investment from the UK and Scottish governments agreed for a year.
“I do not foresee that a two and a half-month delay will have any direct impact, given that these projects will be realised over more than a decade.
“I have had no information from officers that there’s reason for concern.
“The joint committee which I chair will be meeting at the end of this week to discuss what the election will mean for us.
“I am not anticipating any significant change.”
Despite his public assurances, the election announcement will result in a frustrating wait for Perth and Kinross Council to see the Tay Cities Deal signed off and funding streams opened.
With Perth and Dundee at the centre, the region is anxious to benefit from the major deal awaiting final sign-off.
It is a year this month since the initial terms of the £700 million cash injection were signed.
Tay Cities Deal funding will go towards projects such as the revamped city hall and the Cross Tay Link Road.
Purdah rules ban the UK Government from making any announcement until after the election on December 12, more than a month from now.
Without parliament sitting, there can be no final signing of the heads of terms and the benefits of the long-awaited deal in driving economic growth will be delayed again.
A spokesperson for the Tay Cities Deal said: “We are continuing to work closely with the UK and Scottish governments to deliver the Tay Cities Deal.”
Delay in signing-off leads to rising construction costs on any major project like the Cross Tay Link Road, so potentially less money would be left over to go towards supporting the overall project.
A rule of thumb is that the cost of building inflates by around 3.5 per cent each year that there is inaction.
To prevent costs moving up a level again, it’s vital the funding is agreed through the deal’s sign-off by the end of the financial year in 2020.
Luke Graham, MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, said: “I’ve asked that the UK Government accelerate the investment so we can get to work and deliver for my constituents.”