A UK Government minister pledged yesterday that he was “absolutely committed” to lucrative City Deals for Aberdeen and Inverness – and that “real progress” should be made by the end of the year.
Lord Andrew Dunlop, the Scotland Office minister, was in the Granite City for talks with local authority chiefs about the proposed £2.9billion package.
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils believe the special status could drive major infrastructure improvements over the next 20 years, and deliver a strategy to secure the city’s status as a world energy centre.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell is due in Inverness early next month for talks with Highland Council about a £300million deal that civic chiefs hope can help pay for a proposed new regional sports centre, visitor attractions at Inverness Castle and cultural development with a museum, library and gallery.
Speaking to the Press and Journal during his visit to the north-east, Lord Dunlop said: “I wouldn’t be here unless I was absolutely committed to making it happen, but as I’ve said the important thing is to put on the table a credible, consistent and robust proposal.
“I think UK Government officials have been engaging very closely with both councils, in helping them shape those proposals.
“There’s a vast amount of expertise that has been developed because of all the deals that have been done before and we’re keen to make real progress on this by the end of the year.
“The other point I would make is that it’s very good to have the Scottish Government around the table as well, because this needs to be a partnership, and different organisations need to bring strengths to the table, that is critical.”
Asked if the Inverness and Aberdeen deals were being progressed in tandem, the Conservative peer said: “Proposals are put forward and then they are discussed and developed from there.
“I think it’s fair to say that Aberdeen probably started earlier in terms of putting its proposals together, but I think the key thing to say is that every City Deal is unique and appropriate for the circumstances that each city is dealing with.
“There’s no one size fits all deal, they have to be bespoke and appropriate.”
City council leader Jenny Laing said: “This is the latest stage in the further development of our proposals with both the UK and Scottish governments.
“Both councils are working together with our partners on detailed proposals for submission to the UK and Scottish Governments in order to progress to the negotiation stage.”