Highland Council officials and Convener meet with Chief Secretary to the Treasury to discuss potential City Deal

14th February 2015

Highland Council Director of Development and Infrastructure Stuart Black and Convener Jimmy Gray have met with Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to discuss the potential of a City Deal for Inverness.

The meeting comes a result of recent correspondence between Chair of the Development and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Thomas Prag and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Council officers have been working with the Scottish Futures Trust to develop a Growth Accelerator Model (GAM) for Inverness. This will provide an estimate of the potential economic outputs derived from major infrastructure investments in and around the city and importantly this work could form the basis of a potential City Deal.

Convener, Jimmy Gray said: "This was a very useful meeting and helps us to establish a basis to take forward proposals on a City Deal for Inverness. We will be working with both the UK Government and the Scottish Government to develop this exciting opportunity over the coming weeks."

Highland MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: “A City Deal has the potential to develop the Inverness economy and create real opportunities to boost growth and investment. It was good to hear Highland Council ideas for how this could work. The next step is for the Council to hold more detailed conversations with the Cities Unit and as the local MP I will continue do all I can to help.”

The Scottish Government's Cities Secretary Keith Brown, said: “The Scottish Government is determined to deliver the best deal possible for Inverness, and I look forward to further constructive detailed discussions about how we can create a city deal that delivers tangible results for those who live and visit our Highland capital. Only yesterday I wrote to Highland Council outlining our commitment to exploring how best to deliver the infrastructure investments outlined in both the Council’s city investment plans and the associated Scottish Cities Alliance investment prospectus.”

 

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