Aberdeen has joined other Scottish cities in calling for increased tax powers to be granted to local authorities.
The move comes after a new report recommended each of Scotland’s seven cities should have a bigger say on tax, spending, and major infrastructure projects.
The report, “Empowering City Government”, was commissioned by the cities, and urges Holyrood to drastically overhaul the current system or face local authorities falling behind their English counterparts.
Last night, city council leader, Jenny Laing, claimed the new powers were needed to allow projects such as the city centre masterplan to move forward.
She said: “Aberdeen benefits hugely from being part of the cities alliance, particularly as we try and secure new tax and spending powers which will usher in a fundamental sea-change to the way we operate.
“The new research we have commissioned confirms what we have always known – that we can only reach our full economic potential if we have the levers and collaborative working arrangements that allow us to compete with other cities at home and abroad.”
Among the changes the local authorities are asking for is a new cross-city partnership with national bodies such as Transport Scotland.
The report also calls for closer working ties with infrastructure organisations, including Scottish Water and Zero Waste Scotland.
Council leaders are also demanding a bigger role in developing welfare powers, and health and social care policies.
The group is now urging both the Scottish and UK Governments to meet with them to discuss the proposals.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “We agree with civic leaders that Scotland’s cities are hugely important in driving economic growth and prosperity for the whole country, and we want to work closely with them to ensure they are properly equipped to compete internationally.
“We have already committed more than three-quarters of a billion pounds on city region deals, and are working on delivering more.
“Ministers are firmly committed to delivering more powers for local communities, and have also indicated that assigning a share of income tax to councils can be an incentive to grow their local economies.”
