City Deal go-ahead looks likely

Stirling looks to be on the brink of clinching a City Deal bid – but it may be different to what has been expected up to now.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond is due to give his verdict on Stirling’s £500million City application when he makes his autumn statement in the House of Commons today (Wednesday).

Council leader Johanna Boyd and deputy council leader Neil Benny are cautiously optimistic that they will get the thumbs-up from Mr Hammond.

However, council sources have told the Observer it’s “in the bag” although the Chancellor is more likely to approve a “regional deal” for Stirling and surrounding area, including Clackmannanshire.

That is likely to be followed by an announcement from the Scottish Government, probably at a reception for councillors and business at Holyrood on Tuesday, to match funding provided by Westminster.

The reception is being hosted by Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford “to promote and attract investment to Stirling’s City Deal bid”.

One source said: “My understanding is that it’s a done deal. Although the final sum of money to be allocated will not be mentioned, Stirling will be identified as an area to benefit from a City Deal. Heads of agreement will then be quickly drawn up.”

The source added, however, that the area to be covered by the agreement was likely to extend to Clacks, as previous deals have usually included areas around the cities who have made the applications.

“My understanding is that what is being presented is a regional deal,” added the source. “Our (Stirling Council) officials have been brand new with this.

“They have spotted an opportunity and worked their socks off to put forward a really robust proposal and, by making the application more attractive with the inclusion of a wider area, they have put themselves at the front of the queue.”

There has been crossparty calls for Mr Hammond to agree the deal which includes proposals for new council offices at Forthside, the creation of a digital hub, a new City Park, and a project to bring the River Forth back into the heart of the community as a key leisure and tourism resource.

Councillor Boyd has also written to Prime Minister Theresa May to underline how important a City Deal would be for communities in the area.

“Our aim is to be a worldclass destination of choice, with excellent opportunities both in business and education, whilst ensuring that the health, wellbeing and employment needs of all our communities are met,” she explained to the Prime Minister.

Council source

“Significant investment from Government will enable us to develop our existing local economy, attract new national and international investment, and in turn, retain talent and create more jobs for local people.”

Councillor Boyd has also written to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to seek additional investment and support from the Scottish Government.

Councillor Benny, said: “While we welcome the support from council leaders, MSPs and our MP, we should recognise that it is the hard work from our business community, the negotiating team of council officers and the community groups that is the basis of our fantastic bid to governments both in Westminster and Edinburgh.

“They have produced a robust deal that is ambitious but grounded in reality.”

SNP Group leader Scott Farmer added: “The City Deal bid is of gold standard in terms of being a comprehensive business plan that seeks to attract investment into our local communities and it is down to the hard work of Stirling Council officers that such a highly commendable application has been made. I’m joining colleagues of all parties in calling on the UK Chancellor to commit to investing in Stirling.”