Quarter ONE 2017 UPDATE BRIEFING ON THE GLASGOW CITY REGION CITY DEAL Councillor Frank McAveety Leader Glasgow City Council and Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet Dear Colleagues businesses. In fact, many of the City Deal projects will bring jobs and benefits wider to their immediate location. Last month the eight member councils of the Glasgow City Region launched an ambitious economic action plan kick- As always, keep up to date on progress through starting an unprecedented long-term collaboration on jobs, the Glasgow City Region website and twitter feed - skills and inclusive growth. This move, a first in Scotland, will glasgowcityregion.co.uk/@GlasgowCityDeal. see the City Region member authorities pursue a common Councillor Frank McAveety economic strategy between now and 2035. Our eight councils have pledged to work together to deliver a range of ambitious targets - including 100,000 extra jobs; 6,500 new businesses, and big improvements in qualifications, training and skills. We also aim to bring thousands of hectares of vacant and derelict land into use and support the building of 110,000 new homes across the region. The strategy and action plan represent a step-change in our approach. Building on the City Deal, we are collaborating more closely than ever before and want to extend that strong, open partnership to the Scottish and UK Governments, the business community and other agencies, such as our colleges and universities. Glasgow City Region is already the powerhouse of the Scottish economy – but, as council leaders, we are absolutely united in our determination to aim higher on jobs, skills and growth that benefits every community. There’s more detail below on the Economic Strategy and Action Plan and also news on various infrastructure developments, all of which are bridges. This is symbolic of our overall ambition to create better and stronger links across and within the region for communities and www.glasgowcityregion.co.uk @glasgowcitydeal Phone: 0141 287 4743 Email: [email protected] Quarter ONE 2017 NEWS Glasgow City Region Councils commit to working together to deliver economic vision, left to right: Cllr Martin Rooney, West Dunbartonshire; Cllr Jim Logue, North Lanarkshire; Cllr Stephen McCabe, Inverclyde; Cllr Frank McAveety, Glasgow; Cllr Jim Fletcher, East Renfrewshire; Cllr Chris Thompson, South Lanarkshire; Cllr Rhondda Geekie, East Dunbartonshire; Cllr Mark MacMillan, Renfrewshire Glasgow City Region Glasgow City Region’s economy by 2035 Councils commit to ambitious shared • An additional 100,000 jobs in the region; • 110,000 new homes vision for jobs, skills • The opportunity of a job, training or apprenticeship for every and inclusive growth young person that wants one; The Glasgow City Region • An increase of 50,000 in the working population; Economic Strategy and Action • A halving of the current rate of adults without any qualifications; Plan were formally launched on Tuesday 14 February to an • An increase in the long term survival rate for new businesses; audience of key stakeholders • An increase in the business base of 6,500 businesses; and across the public, private • 3,000 hectares of vacant and derelict land brought back into use. sector and other agencies at The Lighthouse in Glasgow, universities. Guests also heard from the • Infrastructure and Assets - Scotland’s centre for design and Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of East Renfrewshire Council Commerce, Stuart Patrick, and Chair • Inward Investment and Economic architecture. of the Glasgow City Region Economic Growth - Glasgow City Council Leadership Board, Lord Haughey - The strategy and action plan identify • Tourism and Destination Marketing both of whom welcomed the plans eleven key priorities for the region’s - Inverclyde Council economy along with 50 specific on behalf of the business community. • Transport and Connectivity - actions, both short and long-term, to To deliver on the Economic Strategy North Lanarkshire Council deliver them. The Strategy sets out eight portfolios themes have been a clear vision for where the partners established which will be led by each • Enterprise - Renfrewshire Council want to position Glasgow City Region’s of the eight councils. Each portfolio • Skills and Employment - economy by 2035. will focus on delivering the actions and South Lanarkshire Council Presentations on the day stressed ambitions within their remit, and these • Housing and Equalities - success would only be achieved be will contribute towards the objectives West Dunbartonshire Council further and stronger collaboration not set out in the Regional Economic More information: only across the City Region council’s Strategy. These portfolios are: View short film clip but together with the Scottish and • Land Use and Sustainability - and visit website to UK governments, their agencies, the East Dunbartonshire Council access the strategy and action plan business community, and colleges and documents. 2 Quarter ONE 2017 NEWS Speaking of his appointment Robert New City Deal said, “I’m delighted to be leading the Director in place PMO team and assisting the eight Robert Pollock took up position member authorities to realise the as Director of Programme significant economic opportunities through the programme of City Deal Management Office of City Deal investments. This is an exciting time in January. to be joining the Glasgow City Deal – Currently Chair of the Economic with a number of projects moving into Development Association of Scotland, implementation stage and with the recent launch of the regional Economic Robert has been involved in economic to a range of European governments Strategy and Action Plan. Over these development and public policy for and undertaken assignments for a first few months, I look forward over twenty years. In that time he’s number of international bodies. He to meeting with key programme worked within Scottish Enterprise, has also developed national and local stakeholders and gaining insight into local government and international strategies and has led the delivery of partner priorities and ambitions for consultancy. Robert has been an a variety of large capital and revenue the City Deal. ” advisor on economic development programmes. junctions of the existing Cathkin the first major transport project of the Cathkin Relief Road Bypass/Burnside Road and Fernhill Glasgow City Region City Deal. Cathkin – Completion of Road/Croftfoot Road/Blairbeth Road Relief will improve infrastructure to first major City Deal in Rutherglen, is now fully open. The employment areas across Rutherglen new road was welcomed by the Depute and Cambuslang and reduce traffic Transport Project Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, as impacts on neighbouring residential THE completion of the first well as by UK and Scottish Government type roads. major City Deal transport Ministers. Pupils from four local primary “The road will also reduce congestion schools – Burnside, Cathkin, Spittal and project was marked by an event at peak times which has the knock- St Mark’s Primary Schools – were also on effect of also reducing carbon in South Lanarkshire on Friday among the first VIPs to open the road. emissions. 24 February. Depute Leader of South Lanarkshire “Another benefit will be an improvement Cathkin Relief Road, a new 7.3 metre Council, Councillor Jackie Burns, said: to public transport reliability and bus/ wide carriageway between the “We are delighted to be able to deliver rail integration in the area, primarily because the new road will remove congestion and through traffic from existing routes. “The capacity and quality of the wider footpath and cycle network in the area has been enhanced which will improve access for cyclists and pedestrians. The new paths are also DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant.” 3 Quarter ONE 2017 For more information, visit www.glasgowcityregion.co.uk NEWS or email [email protected] The covered walkway is a key SEC chief executive Peter Duthie said: Redevelopment of connection between the SEC, “First impressions are very important bridge to Finnieston Finnieston, Pacific Quay and the and with a new brand, a world class The 30-year-old bridge between Exhibition Centre rail station. This area arena and countless incredible events will see investment of £114million from coming on site it is important that our the SEC and Finnieston is set the Glasgow City Region City Deal alone, campus facilities are up to scratch. In to be redeveloped with £5m and will connect economic drivers in the many cases the covered walkway or from the Glasgow City Region area such as the University of Glasgow, ‘Smartie tube’ is the first thing visitors City Deal, with an initial grant of the SEC, the Queen Elizabeth University experience when coming to the Scottish Hospital, and the digital media quarter Event Campus and so we are delighted £660,000 agreed for feasibility, at Pacific Quay, and develop vacant sites with the news that it is to be upgraded.” design and procurement. close to the river Clyde. The consultancy’s Glasgow office such as Waverley will still be able to Bridge between will develop the design of the bridge, berth up-stream. Govan and Partick with construction work expected to This new connection across the Clyde Glasgow City Council has begin in 2019. CH2M Hill (formerly will stimulate economic growth and Halcrow) has previously delivered a appointed global engineering improve links between the University number of bridges across the River of Glasgow Campus and the hub of consultancy CH2M Hill to Clyde, including the Clyde Arc, the high-tech research facilities located at undertake design of a new Dalmarnock Smart Bridge and the the new Queen Elizabeth University bridge between Govan and Tradeston Bridge. The bridge will once Hospital (QEUH). again make the historical connection Partick, funded through the between the two areas, and will be City Deal. able to open to ensure that vessels Clyde Waterfront and Stephen Curtis, Site Renfrew Riverside manager Geotech and Councillor Mark MacMillan, Crews are nearing completion Leader of Renfrewshire of initial on-site work to deliver Council.