Aberdeen City Council’s co-leader has written to the House of Commons requesting extra cash to be ploughed into improving buildings and roads.
Douglas Lumsden addressed Michael Gove and Alister Jack in the letter, which seeks a “collaboration” with the UK Government “by means of infrastructure investment”.
It states: “Aberdeen is rightly known as the energy capital of Europe and our focus is now on green investments which we have identified will help the city’s transition, and also enable Aberdeen’s contribution to UK climate change targets as well as contribute to the Exchequer bank account.”
It is understood that Mr Lumsden, Co-Leader Councillor Jenny Lang and their chief executive Angela Scott will be travelling to London on March 19 to discuss the appeal.
The £250 million Aberdeen City Region Deal was said to be a prime example of how the public and private sector could work together to generate an “£850m spend, creating jobs and tax take for the region and for the whole of the UK”.
The deal is a 10-year programme aimed at boosting employment, infrastructure and housing in the area.
A draft copy of the council’s highest-priority investments was sent to London so there would be an opportunity for MPs to look through the proposals and determine “what financial help, if any” could be offered to the city.
Last October, the council leaders travelled to Edinburgh as part of their appeal for more funds to be directed to Aberdeen.
The ruling Conservative, Aberdeen Labour and independent administration has long complained about the settlement it receives from the Scottish Government.