The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S3M-5459, in the name of Murdo Fraser, on Perth 800. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes that 2010 marks the 800th anniversary of the granting of the Royal Burgh Charter to Perth; welcomes the launch of Perth 800, Perth and Kinross Council’s year-long programme of events and activities to celebrate this monumental anniversary; believes that the celebrations will allow Perth to showcase to the rest of the United Kingdom that Perth is one of the best places to live, visit and do business; further welcomes Perth 800 being used to progress Perth’s bid to gain official city status; considers that official city status will reflect Perth as being one of Scotland’s leading places for business, education, art, culture and sport, and supports Perth’s bid to become a city during HM the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
17:09
I thank all those members who have signed my motion and I welcome to the public gallery the provost of Perth and Kinross, John Hulbert, and other representatives of the local council.
In 1210, King William the Lion granted the royal charter to Perth. The charter declared some of the privileges that Perth could subsequently enjoy and stated various regulations for trade within the sheriffdom. Although there is evidence elsewhere that confirms that Perth was a royal burgh from the 1120s, the 1210 charter is the earliest surviving document that details the royal charter that was awarded to the fair city. It is the anniversary of the granting of that charter that Perth will celebrate this year through Perth 800, a series of events that has been designed to commemorate Perth’s prestigious past and to recognise its status as one of the best and most vibrant places to live, work and visit in Scotland today.
I pay tribute to Perth and Kinross Council, which has put together a programme of activities for the year. The overall purpose of Perth 800 is to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the royal charter in 1210, but the year-long programme has other ambitious aims. Perth 800 hopes to develop a sense of civic pride among residents by engaging the local community with Perth’s past and present; seeks to enhance Perth’s profile both nationally and internationally and to encourage the growth of the local economy through the promotion of Perth as a tourist destination; and aims to entice businesses and academic institutions to the area.
With more than 100 events designed to showcase Perth’s culture, sport, heritage and burgeoning economy, Perth 800 has something for everyone to enjoy—old and young, locals and visitors. Events include an exhibition at Perth museum entitled “Skin & Bone: Life & Death in Medieval Perth”; the Perth festival of the arts; and the first geocaching mega event to take place in Scotland. Until this afternoon I had no idea what a geocaching mega event was, but it is apparently a high-tech treasure hunt. There will also be a mini-Olympics, with competitors from the towns of Aschaffenburg in Germany and Cognac in France, with which Perth is twinned. Events will include badminton, swimming, football and gymnastics.
Perth 800 has encouraged local businesses to become involved in the celebrations. The development of the Perth 800 brand is growing in popularity among local organisations, businesses and manufacturers, who are enjoying the promotional opportunities that are provided by the celebrations.
Perth 800 will build the perfect foundation from which Perth can launch its campaign to gain formal city status—a campaign ably led by the provost and the lord-lieutenant for the county, Brigadier Mel Jameson. The campaign hopes that we can achieve that in 2010 for our 800th anniversary, failing which we have a second bite at the cherry in 2012 during the Queen’s diamond jubilee. Lord Mandelson has already announced that there will be a competition for a new city to be created.
Many local people are surprised to learn that the fair city is not officially a city at all. When I raised the issue back in 2005 I was even accused by some local politicians of talking Perth down. Fortunately, those sceptics have been won over, and we have a true cross-party consensus in favour of gaining official city status for Perth.
Why should Perth aim to attain that status? For a start, we have only to consider Perth’s role in Scottish history. In an age when the capital was determined by where the King held court, Perth was the nominal capital of Scotland. James I spent much of his time at Perth. Of his 16 Parliaments, 13 were held there; only one Parliament was held in Edinburgh. James enjoyed the accommodation at the abbey of Blackfriars in Perth, commenting that it was also a good place for a game of tennis. Unfortunately, it also turned out to be a good place for his assassination, in 1437.
The only time that James VI returned to Scotland after his crowning as King of both England and Scotland, he came to Perth in 1617. The last coronation of a British monarch to take place outside Westminster was that of Charles II at Scone on new year’s day 1651, the crown being placed on his head by the Marquis of Argyll.
As well as acknowledging the historical significance of Perth, the award of city status would mean that Perth would be recognised as one of the leading places in Scotland for business, culture and sport. Historically, Perth had an important role in commerce as an inland port. With the lowest crossing point of the River Tay, Perth was exceeded only by Berwick-upon-Tweed in trade. Today, Perth continues to have a role as a European trading port.
Perth is renowned for its gardens and parks. In 2008 it was the gold medal winner of the Britain in bloom competition, and in recent years it has achieved awards in the beautiful Scotland contest.
Perth was the first Scottish town to join, in March 2007, the cittaslow movement—an international network of more than 100 towns and cities, which, through supporting local businesses and protecting and conserving the environment and historic buildings, is dedicated to enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors.
Perth now wants to join the exclusive club of Scotland’s six official cities. The prestige that comes from being awarded city status would help to boost tourism and the city would hope to benefit from the targeted campaigns by the Government and VisitScotland that currently promote Scotland’s six cities. Although the cities growth fund, which used to promote Scotland’s six cities, no longer exists, a future Administration might restore it, and Perth would not want to miss out.
The campaign for city status has had great support from the local media, including the Perthshire Advertiser and Perth FM. The Courier and Advertiser, which is a great supporter of Perth, has produced car stickers so that locals can display their backing for the campaign—I have a supply with me, if members want to display them on their vehicles.
I ask the Parliament to lend its support to Perth’s bid to gain formal city status, either this year for Perth 800 or as part of the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations in 2012. The cause is long overdue.
17:15
I pay tribute to Murdo Fraser for his motion, which calls for city status for Perth, 800 years after it was granted its charter.
Perth is a fair city and, as Murdo Fraser said, a slow city, which is famous for food and—well—the sort of clothes that I am notorious for liking. It is also famous for courtesy. I remember that a party of us, including the London journalists Christopher Hitchens and Martin Walker, having dined well at the close of the 1975 Scottish National Party conference, went to the railway station, only to find that our Inverness to Edinburgh train had broken down at Blair Atholl. Owen Dudley Edwards summoned up courage—it was not terribly difficult in the circumstances—and strode off to the stationmaster to demand, Sherlock Holmes-like, a special train. Amazingly, he got one. Two diesel rail cars turned up and five of us travelled to Edinburgh in circumstances that would have made Holmes and Watson green with envy.
Perth figures in music, from Mendelssohn to Bizet and on to Runrig and Perth’s MP, Pete Wishart. Bizet made one of Scott’s novels, “The Fair Maid of Perth”—not a very good novel—into a much better-known opera. Indeed, the opera is Bizet’s best known after “Carmen”, albeit with poorer weather.
Within Perth’s boundaries is Scone, where the kings of the Scots sat themsels doon an’ proclaimed themsels king on the magic stane. I went there with my girlfriend in 1979. Virginia was descended from the earls of Dysart and Huntingtower, and, further back, from Malcolm Canmore—but aren’t we all?—who made Birnam wood walk to Dunsinane, so we scrambled over to Huntingtower and we sort of got engaged there. The place is deeply in my memory.
The Scottish reformation began on 11 May 1559 in St John’s kirk, and that is where it took on its democratic character—it was an artisan reformation. It is a pity that Perth did not have city status by the millennium, because that could have led to the commemoration last year of that epochal event. I hope that we do something this year to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the Treaty of Edinburgh, which enabled the reformation Parliament to take place in 1560.
In 1859 there occurred another interesting but not-much-commemorated event, when the German novelist and poet Theodor Fontane moved to Scotland to see the country associated with his beloved Walter Scott and, on looking out over Loch Leven towards Queen Mary’s tower, was moved to do for Germany what Scott had done for Scotland. He brought the Scots ballad and the realist novel to Wilhelmine Berlin.
If members want to experience the Perth of its Victorian glory days they should go to the huge and underused station. If we exploited our railways properly, Perth station would be the centre of touristrail Scotland, which would be an enterprise on a Swiss scale. Members should read Fontane’s “North of the Tweed”, or go to York to see George Earl’s massive painting of Perth station in the mid-1890s, “Coming South”, which is in the grand style of W P Frith. This is the world of Anthony Trollope’s Palliser novels. It is the world of politicians and magnates, Etonian lairds, and young folk and ghillies heading north for the glorious twelfth and then back down again, vows exchanged and mobilising telegrams answered.
Members should remember that this is where John Buchan was born and where James Kennaway’s “Tunes of Glory”—that great novel of Scots peacetime army life, which was made into a fine film with Alec Guinness and John Mills—was set.
I can even remember—I am old enough—the 1963 Kinross and West Perthshire by-election, an amazing confrontation. The Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, was schlepped round the vast seat, which had more Etonians per square mile than a Cameron shadow cabinet, like a holy icon to be venerated by Tories—remember them?
We should remember above all the theorist of city and region, Sir Patrick Geddes, who was brought up on the slopes of Kinnoull Hill. He was a sociologist, ecologist and town planner, and “maker, mover, mender” to Chaim Weizmann in Israel, to Ghandi and to Nehru. We can have his cosmopolis, and city status for Perth is a necessary first step. The alternative, alas, could well be a necropolis, and we do not want that, do we?
17:20
Follow that, as they say. As usual, Christopher Harvie has given us an excellent review of the history and culture of Perth.
I have a lengthy association with the Perth area. I was born in Edinburgh but adopted by a family in Perth. My father was a general practitioner there for 40 years, I trained as a medical student at Perth royal infirmary and the grandfather of my adoptive family was previously head of one of the law firms there—J & J Mailler.
Perth’s association with the Black Watch has not been mentioned. My grandfather served with some distinction in the first world war—he was gassed while serving with the Black Watch—and my uncle Fergus was killed at Casino when serving in the second world war.
I am really pleased that Murdo Fraser has secured the debate, because the time has come for Perth’s city status to be restored—that is really what we are talking about. It is a royal burgh, as Murdo Fraser said. The campaign that has been launched—which is supported by all the local MPs, MSPs, the council and individuals in the area—is, I hope, gathering momentum on the back of the 800th anniversary celebrations. Jim Murphy, to whom I have written, supports it. My colleague Gordon Banks has also spoken to Jim Murphy and organised a meeting in Westminster. Perth FM and the local papers—The Courier and Advertiser and the Perthshire Advertiser—have also been supportive, which is welcome.
I will not cover all Perth’s history, but I will make one or two observations. The royal burgh status was awarded in the midst of severe flood damage, which is quite an interesting historical note.
Perth is not just about its history, although that history is clearly royal, entrenched and of huge significance to Scotland. It is also a modern place and will, I hope, achieve city status on the back of its modernity and the fact that it is an area of growth. It has industry. Aviva has taken over from General Accident, which has a long and proud history in insurance—a growing industry. Indeed, one of the small local investments that my grandfather’s company made was in General Accident. The other was in Pullars of Perth, which Perth people will know is significant.
The city has a rich history of culture and art, which continues today with the new concert hall that was opened in 2005. That important development has led to the renewal of the city centre. Although some shops have closed in the recession, the changes that have created a vibrant, alive city centre since I was a child there are important.
The only time that I have been angling—I am not an angler—my grandfather took me to catch salmon on the Tay. Indeed, I caught an 18lb salmon, though I was allowed to play it for only 10 minutes before he snatched the rod from my hand. Salmon were slightly more prevalent in those days than they are now, but salmon fishing and fishing more generally remain important to the area, as do many other sporting activities. The area is 530km2, vibrant and alive with possibilities for tourism in the modern setting.
Time does not allow me to extol all of Perth’s virtues, but the time has come for it to celebrate its 800th anniversary. It has a Premier League football club once again—thank goodness—and a rugby club that is not doing too badly; that club is certainly on its way up. It would be a fitting accolade if Perth’s city status was restored this year. Perth would be a worthy addition to the cities of Scotland.
17:25
I stayed back for the debate on a whim and am extremely glad that I did so, because what I have heard so far has been entertaining and interesting.
I give fraternal greetings to Perth. We celebrated the royal burgh of Tain’s 900th anniversary in 1966, when I was a very small child—members will agree with me about that. I have personal memories of Perth. It was where I was first interviewed by my party to see whether I would be suitable to be put on its candidates’ list. For some curious reason, it was decided that I was not suitable, but be that as it may.
For much of the middle ages, Perth was, of course, known to many highlanders as a place in the south to which they went for recreation. I am afraid that that involved torching the place from time to time, but that is how things were.
On a serious note, I support the bid that is being made. Murdo Fraser was eloquent.
I want to make a point about going back one step from cities. I would like to dwell briefly on Scotland’s royal burghs. I have often thought that we are missing a trick. I am not advocating that we undo local government reform, but along with that reform in 1974, many of the titles and honours of historic royal burghs were put in glass cases in museums. That strikes me as sad. I am not advocating going back to town councils with all their powers, but I remember the chairman of the community council in the royal burgh of Tain, as it has to be known, writing to the Lord Lyon to ask whether he or somebody else could wear the chain and ermine robe of the provost. The Lord Lyon replied that it would be little more than fancy dress, which was a pity, I thought. I say to the cabinet secretary that it could be considered how some of the prestige of communities could be restored at no cost whatsoever. Human beings enjoy a little bit of difference in life; they enjoy unusual and historic things. At the same time, one must not forget that, in the old days of the royal burghs, favours were not necessarily done to the communities around them that did not have the same rights. One must be even-handed and bear that in mind.
What Murdo Fraser said about city status makes me think that there are opportunities—not to create more cities than Perth, but to restore something that would be of interest to our communities and that would reignite a sense of community pride. It should be remembered that, for all the faults of town councils in the past, their members did a lot of things for very little reward. They did those things in the spirit of serving their community by volunteering.
I congratulate Murdo Fraser and wish him every success in achieving city status for Perth. I look forward to going to the party when that is achieved.
17:28
I, too, congratulate Murdo Fraser on securing the debate. I understand that my Westminster colleague Pete Wishart lodged a similar early day motion at Westminster a couple of months back. I also pay tribute to the work of the Lord Lieutenant, Brigadier Melville Jameson, and that of Provost John Hulbert, who is in the public gallery. He has been supported by Pete Wishart, the constituency MSPs Roseanna Cunningham, John Swinney and Murdo Fraser, and many people from other parties, who have done much work in promoting Perth 800 and building the case for restoring Perth’s city status. That work is important.
Members may wonder why, as a South of Scotland MSP, I am speaking in a debate about Perth. The reason is that I grew up in Perthshire, I have family who still live there and I went to school in what I hope will soon be the city of Perth. I echo the sentiments in Murdo Fraser’s and Pete Wishart’s motions, which note that Perth and Perthshire are among many great places to live, visit and do business in, among other things. There are also many places in the South of Scotland that are great places in which to live and work, including my new home town of Biggar.
I was born in Perth royal infirmary in 1980. Around five years earlier, Perth’s city status was removed. That was an unfortunate decision. Although Perth is called the fair city, that is not the same as its being formally recognised as a city. That is why I support the bid to make it a city. I hope that the momentum that is built up during the year-long celebrations of Perth’s 800th birthday are rewarded by the long-overdue restoration of its city status in 2012. That would make the fair city title ring true once again.
There certainly has been a lot of momentum. The First Minister passed the baton of celebration on to Perth when the curtain came down on the year of homecoming on St Andrew’s day last year. The celebrations for 2010 are the perfect way, I hope, to make the city bid a success and to ensure that the philosophy and popularity of homecoming does not end. I believe that the First Minister also signed a declaration of support earlier today. A successful celebratory dinner was hosted by Pete Wishart in Westminster, which allowed people who are involved with the campaign to put their case to members of Parliament and the House of Lords.
The bid is impressive. The brochure that has been presented to members who supported Murdo Fraser’s motion is fantastic and gives a wonderful journey through Perth’s history right up to the here and now. It showcases what a modern and dynamic place Perth has become, with art trails, excellent shopping, great architecture and, of course, the wonderful concert hall. It is good to see mention of another royal burgh, Lanark, in the fair city guide, because 2010 is also a special year for Lanark, as it marks the centenary of aviation week. That was Scotland’s first air show, and was held in Lanark. I have been working with organisers in Lanark—Ed Archer and Sylvia Russell—who hope to mark that occasion in Lanark. However, because of the absence of an airfield there, they have been working with the aerodrome in Perth. The drome will be home to the centenary show, which makes up part of the Perth 800 celebrations. The 1910 version of the air show had a huge impact in Lanark, so I look forward to enjoying the show and celebrations when they happen in Perth and Lanark.
Although I have not lived in Perthshire for some time, it still holds a dear place in my heart. Browsing through the brochure has rekindled fond memories: summers spent berry picking in the soft fruit capital of Scotland; going to Perth academy, which celebrates its 250th anniversary this year; playing sport in Bell’s sports centre; being dragged through McEwens by my mum; Murray’s pies; playing in concerts at St John’s kirk; and, of course, attending fitba matches at McDiarmid Park. I hasten to add that those latter memories are not all fond.
I am impressed by the events that have been drawn together to showcase Perth and Perthshire, which illustrate how modern and forward-thinking Perth is. I see that my old classmate the incredibly talented Alasdair Beatson is performing several concerts as part of the programme of events. I am sure that 2010 will be an exciting year for Perth. No doubt, the whole place will have a buzz about it and the events will entice many visitors from throughout Scotland and the world. I hope that the icing on the cake will be success in the bid for city status.
The work that has been put into the campaign by many people is to be commended. The campaign acts as a useful blueprint for what other local authorities can do if they choose to be proactive in the same way. I hope to highlight the project to local authorities in the South of Scotland region to show them what can be achieved to boost tourism and profile. I wish everyone in Perth and Perthshire all the best for Perth 800 and I hope to pop up the road soon to enjoy some of what is on offer.
17:32
I, too, congratulate my colleague Murdo Fraser on securing the debate, and I congratulate all those who have worked so hard under the guidance of Provost John Hulbert, Brigadier Mel Jameson and Ken MacDonald, who are with us in the public gallery, to ensure that the Perth 800 bid has been so professionally presented. In the world of politics, it is not always easy to find issues that bring politicians together rather than divide us, but the Perth 800 bid is surely one of them. There is every sign that the campaign has already done much to unite not only members, but the people of Perth, its many close communities and many businesses and institutions, which make up the fabric of Perth and Kinross.
Members will not be surprised to hear that I believe that Perthshire is one of the best places in which to live in Scotland—although perhaps it is not today, with the power cuts and heavy snow. However, generally speaking, it is a fantastic place to live. Perth 800 presents an opportunity not only to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the granting of the royal burgh charter to Perth by King William the Lion of Scotland in 1210, but to celebrate and promote the long and distinguished traditions that the city can boast in local heritage, sport, arts and culture.
Murdo Fraser mentioned several of the 100 or so exciting events that will be held throughout Perth and Kinross during 2010, that will have something for young and old alike. Events such as the Johnnie Walker golf championship at Gleneagles will add the usual international glamour and, we hope, a much-needed boost to tourism and local business, but I particularly congratulate the Perth 800 team on its work to provide an extensive grass-roots sports programme, including the Perthshire festival of rugby, the Scottish orienteering championships and the Perth mini Olympics. For those who prefer a slightly more sedate sport, there is also the international grandmaster simultaneous display, a name which brings up interesting imagery. As a sports enthusiast and someone who has a strong interest in encouraging young people to become involved in sport, I think that these events have a particular importance, and I am sure that they will do much to inspire wider participation in sport and enjoyment of the great outdoors.
One of the most encouraging aspects of the planning stages of Perth 800 has been the enthusiasm of the many local businesses—from the one-man businesses in Perth High Street to the large companies such as Scottish and Southern Energy—that play their parts in stimulating the local economy. Through them, we have been able to ensure that Perth 800 can engage with every part of the community, whether in Perth city itself or its immediate hinterland. That has helped to encourage a sense of civic pride as well as enhancing the national and international profile of Perth and Kinross.
As Murdo Fraser said, Perth 800 also presents an opportunity to progress Perth’s bid to gain official city status. I believe that that city status presents an opportunity to bring major benefits by increasing the potential to market the area as one that contains the premier city in Scotland for business, education, art, culture and sport, as well as putting Perth on the map as Scotland’s seventh city.
I hope that Perth 800 will prove to be a great success—the positive signs are already pointing to that. That is welcome in what are difficult economic times in which to plan such a wide-ranging programme of events. As we look forward to the legacy of Perth 800, I hope that we will also be able to rejoice in what will be a successful bid to regain official city status for Perth, which will restore Perth to her rightful place at the heart of Scotland.
17:36
I congratulate Murdo Fraser on securing this debate and I welcome to the public gallery the provost of Perth and Kinross, Provost John Hulbert, and his team, who have been in Parliament today promoting their aspirations in respect of Perth 800 and talking about the details of the programme that has been so effectively developed by Perth and Kinross Council.
We have heard a number of excellent speeches. As always, we received a most cultured contribution from Christopher Harvie. I am glad to hear that the flexibility of the rail service is still intact after his experience with the two rail cars in Perth station in 1975. That was a wonderful tale, but not quite as tall a tale as Richard Simpson’s story about the one that got away. I am sure that the salmon truly was 18lb and I hope that others will give Dr Simpson the benefit of the doubt on this occasion.
Jamie Stone made an interesting point, with which I have some sympathy, about the loss of identity of many of our burghs. The town in my constituency with which Aileen Campbell’s family is associated, Coupar Angus, has a rich history that has left it with a great heritage, including civic robes and provost’s chains, and the same is true of many other towns in my constituency and in Jamie Stone’s. I very much encourage burghs to rekindle and celebrate that cultural heritage, notwithstanding the discouraging noises from the Lord Lyon King of Arms.
Aileen Campbell made an excellent speech that captured some of the associations of her family with the Perth area and Perth city, and made an important point about the proactive approach that has been taken by Perth and Kinross Council in seizing the opportunity of Perth 800 to celebrate the work of the city and to ensure that the identity and the roots of Perth city can provide strong foundations for the years to come.
I congratulate the council on its creation of a wonderful springboard from which to launch the city’s bid for the restoration of its city status and I make clear my strong support for the council’s call for city status to be restored to Perth. I was pleased to hear the First Minister make a similar expression of support earlier today.
Recently, the Minister for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, helped to launch Perth 800 when she opened the major exhibition by Perth museum and art gallery, “Skin & Bone: Life and Death in Medieval Perth”, to which Mr Fraser referred.
In a crammed programme of events, the renowned Perth festival of the arts will continue to make a significant contribution in the city of Perth, and Perth day, which has been designated as a public day of commemoration and celebration to mark the 800th anniversary of Perth, will be a centrepiece of activity in the city.
Using the city as a venue, Perthshire past, present and future will be portrayed through a dramatised light trail at light night Perth. Participants can expect bright lights, big sings, concerts, choirs, talks and treasure hunts, and discos and danceathons—I never thought that I would ever get the word “danceathon” into the Official Report of the Scottish Parliament, but it has been achieved now.
The Scottish Government is pleased to be able to show its support for the aims and objectives of Perth 800 by approving a proposal to develop a new artwork installation. The installation is to be located on the Broxton roundabout. It will act as a gateway feature at that pivotal entry to the city of Perth from the west, and will be a lasting legacy of the initiative. My officials in Transport Scotland are working alongside the Perth 800 organisers and sponsors to agree the finer details of the installation, which is planned to be constructed later this year.
A great deal has been said tonight about Perth 800’s importance as a springboard for the restoration of city status to the city of Perth. We must have, among the key components of a prosperous city such as Perth, the city operating as a true capital of the county, with a demonstrably strong local economy that is supported by the economic activities that are undertaken in the surrounding county areas. Perth is a most beautiful place to live alongside, as I do, and we will see Perth city fulfil its true county capital status.
Perth believes that it is ready to resume the responsibility that goes with the restoration of official city status, and to take its rightful place alongside six existing official cities in shaping the development of modern Scotland. That aspiration is warmly embraced by the Scottish Government, and I congratulate the provost and the leadership of Perth and Kinross Council for taking the initiative in advancing the case for city status. It is a matter of regret that when city competitions were available in the past, the leadership of the city decided not to take that opportunity, so I am glad that Provost Hulbert and his colleagues have put in place the mechanisms to enable that to happen now. I also warmly welcome the support for the process from Brigadier Melville Jameson, the Lord Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross.
My Westminster colleague Pete Wishart, the MP for Perth and North Perthshire, has been instrumental in drawing together individuals in the House of Commons and the House of Lords to support the city status bid. I am sure that his support, along with the support of Gordon Banks MP, has had a beneficial effect in encouraging the support of the Scotland Office for the bid for city status. All-party support is essential to the bid, so I welcome that work.
I hope that out of tonight’s debate, and the focus on the cultural celebrations of Perth 800, we can get some real impetus behind the granting of city status to Perth city. Perth 800 is a major initiative for the council, and it involves an exciting events programme that celebrates the 800th anniversary of the granting of the royal charter to Perth by King William I.
I hope that large audiences flock to Perth to join the local population in understanding that Perth and Perthshire are truly beautiful places in which to have the privilege to live.
Meeting closed at 17:43.Previous
Decision Time