Welcoming the announcement, Alison Henderson CEO of Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce said
“We look to the Chancellor to accelerate the funding process for the Tay Cities deal and to ensure that viable projects are fully supported, providing an additional shot in the arm for the world-class city. The region must receive the necessary funding without delay and Government backing to continue realising its economic potential which have been put forward in the Tay Cities Deal proposals.
"It’s vital that national and local Partners to the deal get clarity on funding commitments in order for the next stage of the process to move forward at pace - our business community needs to understand how their own investment strategies can play into the city deal programme, to drive collective impetus & ambition.”
The Scottish Government says it will pump at least £200 million into the Tay Cities Deal regardless of what the Chancellor announces in next week’s Budget.
The London and Edinburgh administrations are providing most of the cash for the huge investment package, which will fund economy-boosting projects in the region and could be worth 15,000 jobs.
Ministers at Holyrood have stolen a march on the UK Government with their pledge, with Chancellor Philip Hammond expected to reveal the Treasury’s own commitment on Monday.
Michael Matheson, Scotland’s Infrastructure Secretary, called on Tory ministers to match the SNP Government’s £200m investment, which he said will “deliver significant long-term economic benefits” over the next 10-15 years.
But the UK Government says it will allocate funding based on the worthiness of projects rather than in response to “arbitrary challenges”.
Mr Matheson said: “A Tay Cities Region Deal of this scale has the power to build on the area’s significant strengths and expertise.
“I expect city region deals to be funded on a 50:50 basis and I call on the UK Government to match our commitment and make this a £400m deal.”
Councils have indicated they would be happy with £400m in total from the governments, after originally asking them for £763m when the bid was tabled last year.
The Courier reported last month that only about £120m worth of projects had made it onto the UK Government’s approved list, which Conservatives have said is partly down to some projects not having robust business cases.
It is thought that has now risen to around the £150m mark.
Asked what the public reaction would be if they did not increase it further, Mr Matheson replied: “I would hope to be optimistic that the UK Government will step up to the level which we have committed to.
“But if they choose not to there is no doubt that people will be disappointed.”
The expectation has been the Scottish Government will match fund the sum put forward by the Westminster administration.
The bid team’s wish-list includes contributions towards Perth City Hall, Cross Tay Link Road, improvements to the A90 and a 20-hectare business park in Tayside.
They also want investment in Dundee’s airport, fledgling oil decommissioning industry, as well as a new comic centre and cruise terminal.
An eco-innovation hub at Eden Campus in Fife and a glasshouse research and production facility for the Angus area’s soft-fruit industry is also sought.
A UK Government spokesman said: “The Tay Cities deal will bring transformative change to the region.
“The UK Government’s commitment will be based on our assessment of the projects that have come forward – not on arbitrary challenges.
“We are not playing politics with the Tay Cities deal.
“We expect the Scottish Government to meet their responsibilities and support projects in areas that are devolved to Holyrood.
“We expect to announce further progress very soon and will move quickly towards signing heads of terms following discussions with the partners.”
Tay Cities Deal
The bid to secure a City Deal is led by a strategic partnership of the Leaders and Chief Executives of the four local authorities that deliver services across the Tay Cities region. Angus, Dundee City, Fife and Perth & Kinross Councils will work together with our Community Planning Partners to achieve this. We will not succeed without the support and guidance of private sector businesses and voluntary sector organisations across the region.
