The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
PM Boris Johnson under pressure to deliver on Tay Cities cash pledge.
Hopes Boris Johnson will finalise agreement on visit to Scotland
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under mounting pressure to deliver on the promised Tay Cities Deal as he makes his first journey to Scotland since last year’s general election.
Mr Johnson is due to visit the north east today, when he is expected to announce funding for a growth deal for Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles to the tune of £50 million from the UK Government.
The Scottish Government will match this figure. The news follows a similar deal announced for Falkirk earlier this week.
However, 18 months on from the heads of terms being agreed for the Tay Cities growth deal, it has still to be signed off.
Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said there had been “radio silence” since the leaders of all four local councils wrote to successive ministers and No 10 urging them to get the remainder of the deal over the line.
He said: “With the prime minister’s recent call to arms to ‘build, build, build’, it is somewhat ridiculous that the Tay Cities Deal has not been signed off to do just that.
“It is now 18 months since the heads of terms were agreed and signed by the UK and Scottish governments and a month since the leaders of the four local councils wrote to the chancellor and sadly all we have is radio silence.
“With numerous statements from the prime minister on investment and support for building projects, it is time to let us get on with the job of delivering jobs and investment.
“It is in everyone’s interest, including the prime minister, to ensure that his words are not hollow, meaningless and inaccurate but that they actually lead to a tangible action like the signing of the deal.”
Councillor David Ross, chairman of the Tay Cities joint committee and co-leader of Fife Council, said: “Time is of the essence for the UK Government to commit to a 10-year programme.”
The leader of Perth and Kinross Council, Conservative Murray Lyle, said: “It is critical we get the right deal. If it is not signed on Thursday when the prime minister is in Scotland, then so be it, because in my mind it is crucial the deal is the right one.
“We have shown extraordinary patience and if it is not done now I believe it will be done soon. We will make every effort, at every level, to get the best deal for the region.”
Councillor David Fairweather, leader of Angus Council, said: “Those that have contributed and led the projects have been very patient but that patience can only go so far. Angus has many strengths and proposals in the Tay Cities Deal will help advance manufacturing, a key growth sector for our economy, as well as delivering a £26m fund specifically to develop strategic projects in Angus.
“There can be no further delays in deploying this investment.”
A UK Government source said it was getting frustrated with the SNP “trying to turn these growth deals into a political football”.