Fife Council signs up to City Region Deal

ECONOMY: Cash to be made available for range of projects but critics say deal is too capital-focused

Fife has formally approved the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal despite concerns its content is too capitalfocused.

Councillors have unanimously agreed the kingdom should – together with the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian – participate in the Edinburgh City Deal.

It will see the Scottish and UK Governments jointly invest up to £600 million and regional partners commit to more than £700m over the next 15 years.

It will pay for projects covering innovation, employability and skills, transport, culture and housing.

Fife’s financial offer in the deal only amounts to £35m, which will go towards the cost of a Fife Industrial Estates Regeneration Programme, although backers say Fife will enjoy wider benefits.

With Edinburgh set to reap the rewards from the bulk of the funding, fears about Fife’s ability to make the most of opportunities remain.

Council co-leader Councillor David Ross welcomed the deal and described governance arrangements – which will see the City of Edinburgh Council act as the accountable body for the deal – as a “sound foundation” for inclusive growth.

He said: “I think there are always things we would have liked to have seen in this but at the end of the day we’ve got what amounts to a very good deal for Fife.

“We’ve got a considerable stake in employability money, we will get some out of housing, and the mechanisms being set up will be a conduit for further investment in housing.

“Superficially it talks about Edinburgh but Edinburgh is a growth centre for the whole region.

“I think we’ve been very successful getting the recognition that it can’t be Edinburgh city-centric.”

Co-leader David Alexander acknowledged the frustration of some at the start of the process but stressed Fife was going to get back far more than the £9m it will invest.

In total, around £350m will support innovation initiatives, including five data-driven innovation hubs on the south side of the Forth, an innovation park at Tweedbank, and a food and drink innovation campus near Musselburgh.

A further £65m will aim to start significant housebuilding focused on seven strategic sites, one of which is Dunfermline.

Fife will also lead on the development of an intensive family support service.

Reservations remain because £120m of £140m for transport improvements will go to a Sheriffhall Roundabout upgrade and there will be nothing for the Levenmouth rail link.

Lib Dem group leader Tim Brett said: “When I read this, it’s Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Edinburgh.”

csmith@thecourier.co.uk Superficially it talks about Edinburgh but Edinburgh is a growth centre for the whole region. FIFE COUNCIL CO-LEADER DAVID ROSS

Political figures involved in the signing of the £1.3bn South East Scotland City Region Deal.