Labour MSP Alex Rowley says communities in Fife were disappointed that the Levenmouth rail link was not included in the growth deal covering the region.

Mr Rowley says this raises questions about how the deals are responding to local needs, adding there is a lack of information on why certain projects are chosen.

These deals at their core must create skilled jobs and reduce inequality as well as generate economic growth, he argues.

The Labour MSP also questions how councils will be able to deliver city deals against a backdrop of cuts.

The Scottish government is also working with the three Ayrshire Councils and the Borderlands (Scottish Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Carlisle City, Northumberland and Cumbria) on their growth deal proposals.

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government and the UK Government both originally committed up to £150 million over 10 to 15 years towards the Tay Cities Region Deal. Together with regional partners’ contribution, this deal has the potential to secure more than 6,000 jobs and attract £400 million of investment.

The Scottish government has confirmed a further £50m investment for the Tay Cities Region.

The overall deal is worth £700 million and seeks to transform the region by focusing on inclusion, industry, innovation, internationalisation and empowerment.

Read the news release: Tay Cities Region Deal: Heads of Terms Agreement, external

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government and the UK government have each committed £300 million to the deal over 15 years alongside additional funding from partners comprising six member authorities, the city region's universities and colleges, and the private and third sectors.

The overall deal package is worth more than £1.3 billion and will deliver inclusive economic growth across the region through housing, innovation, transport, skills and culture. Our investment will contribute towards 41,000 new homes, 21,000 jobs and improve the skills of an estimated 14,700 people.

Read the news story: Edinburgh and South East City Region Deal, external.

Download the full deal document and find more information on the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region deal website, external.

Image source, Getty Images

Last January we reported Scotland's City Region Deals had "significant" problems that need to be addressed, according to MSPs.

The economic growth projects were focused on Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Holyrood's Local Government and Communities Committee said objectives needed to be clearer.

The then Economy Secretary Keith Brown said "inclusive economic growth" was being delivered but that the report would be considered.

The City Region Deals offer more than £3bn of investment in Scotland, with the UK and Scottish governments collaborating on the projects with local councils.

Read more here.

Image source, JIM MAILER

Both the Scottish and the UK governments have committed up to £45.1 million each towards the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal. Regional partners will match this investment with up to £123.8 million, resulting in a deal worth over £214 million.

Regional partners estimate that over the next 10 to 15 years, these interventions will unlock private investment worth in excess of £640 million, delivering over 5,000 new jobs across a wide range of sectors in the City Region.

In addition, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair work has committed a further £5 million investment into the region. This extra investment will deliver a new Business Park at Kildean and will support the next stage of development of the proposed new infrastructure at Callander. This has to potential to deliver 1,500 new jobs and £275m of private sector leverage.

The news releases, which include the Heads of Terms, can be found here:

• £5 million additional funding for Stirling and Clackmannanshire, external
• £90.2 million City Region Deal for Stirling and Clackmannanshire, external
• Stirling and Clackmannanshire city region deal: Heads of Terms agreement, external

Image source, bbc

The Scottish government has committed up to £135 million in the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal. The UK government has committed up to £53 million, and the Highland council and regional partners have committed up to £127 million over 10 years.

Regional partners estimate that this total investment package of £315 million could attract an additional £800 million of investment by the private sector.

The deal will support improvements to the region's digital connectivity, digital healthcare, skills, innovation and infrastructure, with the aim of stimulating long-term productivity and economic growth.

Read the news story from January 2017 and download the full deal document, external.

Find out more about the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal, external

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton confirms his party will support both the Scottish government motion and Labour amendment.

He suggests the government is wobbling on the commitment to deliver on the Glasgow Airport rail link.

The commitment to city deals has ebbed away from the UK government, he adds, explaining this is why his party will not support the Tory amendment.

He expresses concern that much of the decision-making on how to spend investment has been top down.

Image source, bbc

The Scottish and UK governments have each committed up to £125 million to the Aberdeen City Region Deal, supplemented by up to £44 million committed by Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Council and other local partners.

The 10-year deal aims to encourage investment in innovation, internationalisation, digital connectivity and infrastructure across the region.

The Scottish government says it has committed a further £245 million to delivering improved transport and broadband networks and local housing programmes.

Read the news story from November 2016 and download the full deal document, external.

Find out more about the Aberdeen City Region Deal, external.

Green MSP Andy Wightman says a better alternative to the city deals would have been to build on local authorities' existing capital plans.

Mr Wightman reiterates his party's concerns with worrying about economic growth but not tackling inequalities.

He argues there is no evidence deprived areas are being targeted within the city deals.

Image source, bbc

The Green MSP criticises the money being invested into roads rather than public transport.

Mr Wightman goes on to say there is no consistency in the way these deals are being created and implemented.

He quips: "The Greens will be supporting the Labour amendment. We're no great fan of airports, but as long as they exist they should be accessible by public transport."

The Tory and government amendments will be opposed by the party.

Mr Smyth wonders about the possibility of delivering deals to cover Falkirk, Argyll and Bute, and the islands.

He suggests a timescale would be helpful for when Scotland will receive 100% growth deal coverage.

Local communities must be involved in the development of deals and investment must be in addition to - and not to replace - existing funding, the Labour MSP insists.

Turning to the Glasgow Airport rail project, Mr Smyth points to support for it and he claims the SNP is putting barriers in the way.

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government says it is contributing £500 million to the £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal Infrastructure Investment Fund over 20 years.

The regional partners estimate that the overall investment of £1.13 billion will deliver around 29,000 jobs in the region and attract around £3.3 billion of private sector investment.

Read the news story from 2014 and download the full deal document, external.

Find out more about the Glasgow City Region Deal, external

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Colin Smyth says his party believes that, with the right investment, city and region deals can improve the economy as part of an industrial strategy.

Mr Smyth calls on both governments to "put their money where their mouths are" and begin funding the Ayrshire and Borderlands growth deals.

He insists local councils have invested in the Borderlands growth deal, with no investment from either government.

Infrastructure Secretary Michael Matheson insists there is no lack of effort to make progress on the Ayrshire deal, with it offering to sign it on Burn's night, which the UK government was unable to match.

Mr Matheson adds the the Borderlands deal is not quite ready yet.

Mr Smyth argues this just highlights the frustration with both governments leaving both these areas behind the rest of Scotland.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Mr Greene says the Scottish government's motion does not mention investment made by the UK government, nor does it make clear what the "additional investment in city regions" is that it is referring to.

For that reason, the Scottish Tories are unable to support the motion as it is currently worded explains Mr Greene.

Turning to Labour's amendment, the Tory MSP agrees the Glasgow Airport rail link project needs to progress.

He also calls for local devolution as a way to drive growth, such as allowing councils to collect business rates and revenue from land and buildings transactions.

There is cross-party support for a regional deal for Ayrshire, he says.

City Region Deals are agreements between the Scottish government, the UK government and local government designed to bring about long-term strategic approaches to improving regional economies. They are implemented by regional partners and overseen by the Scottish City Region Deal Delivery Board, external.

Each deal is tailored to its city region, reflecting its individual economic strengths and weaknesses, and comprises a programme of interventions to support positive, transformative change.

The Scottish government develops and deliver sthese interventions in collaboration with partners drawn from the broader public sector, such as Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland, as well as from businesses, colleges and universities.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Jamie Greene says city and regional deals have resulted in billions of pounds of investment already and they show devolution at its best, with the Scottish and UK governments working together.

Mr Greene says the Glasgow Airport rail link is only one of many important projects in the Glasgow City Region Deal.

He says all the city deals are creating jobs, with real investment funding real projects and having a real impact on our country.

The Tory MSP says his party also want to push to ensure Scotland is completely covered by the deals, but he says his amendment calls on the governments to continue to work together.

Image source, bbc

Regarding last year's report from the local government committee on city regions deals, Mr Matheson says the Scottish government is continuing to work through its recommendations.

Labour MSP Johann Lamont notes the cabinet secretary has not yet mentioned the Glasgow Airport rail link, which was a key part of the Glasgow City Region Deal.

Mr Matheson says there will be a meeting next week with the key parties.

Drawing to a close, he says the Scottish government will continue to press the UK government on further deals and encourage partners at local levels to work on proposals.

Image source, PERTH TRANSPORT FUTURES

The Scottish government has confirmed a further £50m investment for the Tay Cities Region.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said £40m will be invested in the Cross Tay Link Road, which will link the A9 over the River Tay.

The remaining £10m will fund an "industrial investment programme" supporting manufacturing businesses.

The Scottish and UK governments previously announced they would each invest £150m in the Tay Cities Deal.

Read more here.