Councils team up to make the most of £1.8bn Tay Cities bid

A new group is being formed to look after the ambitious £1.8 billion Tay Cities Deal.

Perth and Kinross Council has teamed up with Fife, Angus and Dundee councils for a “once in a lifetime” application for the investment.

If successful, the bid could mean thousands of jobs and provide crucial funding for projects including the Cross Tay Link Road and Perth City Hall.

The councils’ application was submitted to the UK and Scottish Governments in February.

Last month, UK minister Lord Duncan confirmed the deal will not be done and dusted until the start of 2018 at the earliest.

Now, a joint committee is being formed to look after the bid’s small print.

On Wednesday, Perth and Kinross councillors will be asked to establish the new committee, an agreement which will also need to be signed off by counterparts in Dundee, Angus and Fife.

In a report to members, the council’s head of legal and governance Lisa Simpson said: “As the bid is now in the formal stages of consideration, it is now necessary to formalise the governance arrangements.

“It has been determined that the establishment of a joint committee is the most appropriate governance mechanism to ensure the progression and implementation of the Tay Cities Deal.”

This proposal will allow the committee to set out its initial powers and duties.

At next week’s meeting, three elected members will be appointed to it.

A follow-up report on the deal’s progress will be brought to councillors later this year.