Richard Leonard The website of Richard Leonard MSP, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
16 January 2020
Commenting on Audit Scotland’s report ‘ Scotland’s City Region and Growth Deals’ , Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson on Infrastructure Colin Smyth said,
“This report reinforces many concerns raised two years ago by the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government committee.
“ While investment from growth deals is welcome and badly needed, the process for developing deals is ad-hoc, negotiated in secret, with little input from local communities.
“Where responsibility lies if something goes wrong with a growth deal is far from clear.”
“As a result, why certain projects are chosen over others can be a mystery.
" It’s also clear that the level of investment in growth deals does not compensate for the Scottish Government’s cuts in council budgets, leading to badly needed local infrastructure projects being axed”.
Commenting on Audit Scotland’s report ‘ Scotland’s City Region and Growth Deals’ , Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson on Infrastructure Colin Smyth said,
“This report reinforces many concerns raised two years ago by the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government committee.
“ While investment from growth deals is welcome and badly needed, the process for developing deals is ad-hoc, negotiated in secret, with little input from local communities.
“Where responsibility lies if something goes wrong with a growth deal is far from clear.”
“As a result, why certain projects are chosen over others can be a mystery.
" It’s also clear that the level of investment in growth deals does not compensate for the Scottish Government’s cuts in council budgets, leading to badly needed local infrastructure projects being axed”.