City Region Deal signing is hailed

Tory election candidate Stephen Kerr has welcomed the news that the UK and Scottish Governments along with Stirling Council have agreed the details for the funding on the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.

As the Observer went to press, the council was preparing to hold a special meeting of the council, in private, to sign the deal documents.

More than £90million has been secured from both Governments that will also unlock funding from other organisations and the private sector. The bulk of this money is expected to have a direct, positive impact on Stirling with significant investment into the world leading Aquaculture centre at the University, development of the MoD site at Forthside and the building of the National Tartan Innovation Centre.

Agreement was reached in principle in May 2018 at which time there was a launch ceremony held at the Engine Shed with senior ministers from both Governments in attendance.

Since then there has been detailed negotiations between all parties on how the funding pledged will be made available, over what time frame and detailing how it can be used. There is now thought to be agreement that the funding will become available over a 10 year period.

Since he was elected as MP in 2017 Mr Kerr has been working with UK ministers, including both Phillip Hammond and Sajid Javed in their position as Chancellor of the Exchequer, to progress the details of the deal and ensure that both UK and Scottish Governments could reach a detailed agreement.

He says the benefits must be felt right across the Stirling council area given that half of the local economy is based outside the city, and that it must make a difference that people from the Eastern Villages to the north and west rural communities will notice.

Mr Kerr said: “People need to see things happening that are a direct result of this deal otherwise it will mean nothing to them.

“The City Region Deal can be a game-changer but it is imperative that everyone involved focus on delivering the opportunities and jobs promised.

“I expect all parties, political and otherwise, to work together in the best interests of our area, our residents and our businesses. I do not want to see silly political point scoring. The stakes are far too high for that nonsense.

“The momentum now needs to pick up and I want this deal to act as a catalyst to create many more, region-wide, benefits in the coming years.”