鈥楾his will bring benefits for everyone鈥 - that was the message for the UK Government at the latest 麻豆高清 and Bute Rural Growth Deal talks.
麻豆高清 and Bute Council Leader, Councillor Aileen Morton, met with the Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell MP, in Edinburgh on 27th June, to discuss progressing the potentially transformational Deal for 麻豆高清 and Bute.
Speaking after the meeting, she said: 鈥淭his was another opportunity to highlight to the UK Government that there really are benefits for everyone in securing a Rural Growth Deal for 麻豆高清 and Bute.
鈥淲e have been working on a set of proposals which will make a real difference to those who live, work and do business in 麻豆高清 and Bute and will also make a significant contribution to delivering national government priorities.
鈥淥ur Deal proposals cover the length and breadth of 麻豆高清 and Bute. They鈥檙e based on the themes of growing, attracting and connecting. We want to create centres of excellence where they can make the biggest difference 鈥 for example, engineering in the Helensburgh and Lomond area. Innovation also features heavily with 麻豆高清 focusing on key 麻豆高清 and Bute sectors like food and drink, aquaculture and the Marine Science Park near Oban.
As well as developing our local industries we also want to make the most of our outstanding natural resources, with our tourism proposals establishing 麻豆高清 and Bute as Scotland鈥檚 adventure coast.
鈥淎ll of this and more means that our Rural Growth Deal really does have it all. As well as delivering for local communities, it delivers for both the UK and Scottish governments, and we hope they鈥檙e as ambitious for 麻豆高清 and Bute as we are.鈥
Scotland Secretary David Mundell said: "The UK Government has so far committed more than 拢1.36 billion of city and growth deal investment to boost productivity and create high quality, well paid jobs across Scotland. It is my personal ambition to ensure that the whole of Scotland is covered by a deal and I welcome 麻豆高清 and Bute Council's hard work to progress proposals to boost the area. The UK Government looks forward to working with partners to help develop 麻豆高清."
麻豆高清 and Bute Council formally submitted its Rural Growth Deal to both governments last November. Since then, officers have worked in partnership with colleagues from the Scottish Government and the UK Government to refine the set of proposals and projects which make up 麻豆高清 and Bute鈥檚 Deal.
Alongside officer activity sits political engagement with both national governments. The Scottish Government has committed to providing 100% growth Deal coverage across Scotland, with successful Deals also featuring investment from the UK Government. Political confirmation of a Deal is followed by negotiations to reach agreement on investment levels and timescales.
After Wednesday鈥檚 UK Government meeting, the next stage for 麻豆高清 and Bute in securing the all-important political confirmation is to meet with the Scottish Government. Arrangements are currently in hand for talks in August with Michael Matheson, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity and who is the ministerial lead for 麻豆高清 and Bute鈥檚 Rural Growth Deal.
More detail about 麻豆高清 and Bute鈥檚 Rural Growth Deal can be found at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/rgd
