UK Gov ‘ready to sign’on Tay deal
SNP politicians frustrated by Westminster delay
The UK Government is “ready” to sign the Tay Cities Deal, it has been claimed this week.
A spokesperson for the government said it had written to the heads of the four councils involved, informing them of its intention to push ahead with the agreement on Monday.
The claim came after prime minister Boris Johnson faced increasing pressure from Perthshire politicians to sign off on the deal.
Launched in 2016, the Tay Cities Deal is a partnership between public, private and voluntary organisations across Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth and Kinross through negotiation with the UK and Scottish governments.
The terms were agreed to much fanfare early in 2019, but since then the UK Government has failed to sign off on its financial commitment.
But, responding to criticism from SNP politicians, a spokesperson told the PA the UK Government is “ready to sign the full deal on the basis agreed at the heads of terms.”
They added: “All partners are working to progress the deal, which will bring a huge, long-term boost to the area’s economy.”
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart said he was growing increasingly frustrated at the delay in getting the Tay Cities Deal signed off by Westminster.
Mr Wishart said: “The prime minister swooped in and out of Scotland last week, but there is still no sign-off on the Tay Cities Deal. This delay is really starting to worry those who have projects as part of the deal.
“The prime minister must deliver the Tay Cities Deal now. So far, not one single
UK Government minister has been able to give me a competent excuse as to why the sign-off has not yet gone ahead.
“You know it is bad when even the leader of Perth and Kinross Council is having to write to his Conservative friends in Westminster to ask them to move it along.
“I am concerned that Westminster is going into recess for the summer and that civil servants will be encouraged to take annual leave. We really need action on this now.”
And Perth and Kinross Council’s SNP group leader believes the delay is having an impact on the decisions that can be made by the council.
Cllr Grant Laing said: “The longer the UK Government stalls on delivery of the Tay Cities Deal the longer Perth and Kinross Council must carry risk for the City Hall, but also the harder it will be to go into budget discussions with a full picture of all the facts.
“Perhaps the Tory administration in Perth can find out from Mr Johnson what the hold-up is, so that those of us working hard for the social and economic recovery of Perth and Kinross will no longer be working with one hand tied behind our backs.”
PKC council leader Murray Lyle said last week it was “more important to get it right than to just get it over the line, adding: “Getting it done is important, but equally, these are longterm projects, not projects over the next few months and it’s critical we get it right for the people of Tayside.”