Edinburgh and neighbouring councils could get new powers to co-operate more closely
Edinburgh and its neighbouring local authorities could be in line for more powers to operate as regional partnerships under new plans proposed by the SNP.
First Minister John Swinney wants to see more cross-border co-operation between councils of the kind seen in the South East Scotland City Region Deal, where funding from both the UK and Scottish governments was channelled into projects agreed by a partnership covering Edinburgh, the other three Lothian councils, Fife and the Borders.
And Edinburgh council leader Jane Meagher said such a move would be “extremely welcome”.
Mr Swinney told a conference in Glasgow last month that if the SNP wins next year's Scottish Parliament elections, he will introduce "enabling legislation" to give regional partnerships formal legal status and allow them to take on new responsibilities.
He praised the work of Glasgow and its seven surrounding authorities, saying they had shown what was possible through joint working and said he wanted them to be able to "expand their strategic capacities and role".
Asked if he would like to see a similar move for Edinburgh and its neighbours, he told the Evening News: "I would. I think the experience of collaboration across local authority boundaries has been impressive under the City Deal projects.
"Issues that affect Edinburgh are not just about the boundaries of Edinburgh council, they also affect East, Mid and West Lothian, the Borders and and Fife, so we've got to operate in that more regional climate.
"What I signalled in my speech is the importance I attach to that regional collaboration and the Scottish Government will legislate for such provision to enable partnerships to operate with stronger foundations."
The new powers are expected to include skills, economic development, planning and transport.
Mr Swinney continued: "Partnerships are working very well just now. This is to enable them to do a bit more across boundaries and that will be a significant strengthening of the regional economic footprint of Scotland."
He said he would not be prescriptive about the boundaries of the partnerships. But he said: "When we look at the issues of interaction between Lothian and Borders,for instance, there's a lot of common ground, a lot of shared interest.
“So I think the opportunity is there to create a stronger regional powerhouse centre within Scotland and that's what I intend to legislate for."
Councillor Meagher said such an arrangement would be “extremely welcome”. She said: “It would build on the really good work that the existing South East Scotland City Region Deal has already been able to achieve and allow us to focus any funding directly where it's needed.”
She said the City Region Deal had helped finance, among other things, the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt, a global centre for robotics and AI research; the Edinburgh Futures Institute; the Blindwells new town being built in East Lothian; and would help fund the proposed new Winchburgh railway station.
And she argued any new or strengthened partnership should still include the Borders and Fife rather than just reverting to the boundaries of the old Lothian Regional Council.
“A lot of people who live in Fife work in Edinburgh or West Lothian or elsewhere. And think about transport networks for people living in the Borders and working in Edinburgh, it just doesn't make sense not to include them.
“That's why it's important to have a regional approach as opposed to individual councils coming up with their own independent solutions.
“Collaboration and partnership would be the key elements of any regional partnership and that's what's worked with the current City Region Deal. “
And she said it was vital that the other councils were given their place.
“It only works if there is very effective collaboration and real partnership so that no one council dominates. I think there was a fear when we started the City Region Deal that Edinburgh would dominate, but I think if you speak to any of the other leaders in the other local authorities they'll say it's a genuine partnership.”