Murdo Fraser MSP says he hopes more local authority staff return to work in Perth city centre as he feels this would boost the local economy.
The Scottish Conservative politician wrote to Perth and Kinross Council to ask if they had figures for staff working at their offices in Pullar House and 2 High Street, Perth, following concerns being raised by constituents and some businesses about a drop in footfall over several months in Perth city centre.
In a reply to Mr Fraser’s letter, the Council stated that they have been monitoring staff numbers in these buildings and reported circa 25% occupancy levels at them. Mr Fraser also believes that factors revealed in data published by the BBC on changes to Britain’s High Streets after two years of Covid lockdowns and trading restrictions, shows how the fall in footfall has hit certain businesses in the region.
Perth and Kinross had the worst figures than the rest of Scotland in all but one of the criteria analysed.
Commenting, Mr Fraser, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, said: “I found the reply to my letter to Perth and Kinross Council to be very interesting. While they said there had been 25% occupancy levels at Pullar House and 2 High Street, Perth, which is quite low, they did add that there is ‘significantly higher occupation’ at some other city centre locations depending on the nature of the roles of the staff involved.
“I was also encouraged to note that the council said they have started to see a further increase in staff working in both Pullar House and 2 High Street, Perth, which they believe is related to the re-opening of Pullar House for ‘walk-ins’ as well as appointments, which began back in October.
“Hybrid working will appeal to some council staff but I believe that the more council staff that work in their offices in Perth City Centre the better it will be for the local economy. Perth and Kinross Council is one, if not, the biggest employers in the city, so while I understand some staff may prefer hybrid working, I feel they should be encouraged to work in the city centre, wherever possible.”
Mr Fraser continued: “I also believe that the results of analysis from the BBC on the changing face of Britain’s High Street from March 2020 to March 2022 doesn’t cast Perth and Kinross in a very good light. It is notable that the figures for the region were worse than the rest of Scotland in all but one of the criteria used. This included more supermarket chains being closed in the region than in the rest of Scotland along with the percentage of public toilets closing.
“These findings reflect how the pandemic restrictions impacted on Perth City Centre and I would expect Perth and Kinross Council to consider this analysis when they look at ways to influence footfall in the High Street and ask them to encourage more staff to work in the city centre.”
