Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser believes part of the reason for a dramatic fall in footfall in Perth City Centre has been caused by local authority staff continuing to work from home.
Concerns have been raised at the loss of revenue generated in the city centre as a result of local authority employees choosing to remain working from home, rather than carrying out their duties at council offices in the city centre.
Such is the concern on the matter from constituents and some businesses that Mr Fraser MSP has written to the Chief Executive of Perth and Kinross Council to ask for a solution to be found.
Commenting, Mr Fraser, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, said: “We have recently lost retail shop Oliver Bonas along with 63 Tay Street, and the sad proliferation of ‘To Let’ boards across Perth city centre tells its own story.
“Perth and Kinross Council has traditionally been a major employer of staff within the city centre. There is no doubt in my mind that having large numbers of council staff working from home has contributed to the decline in the city centre businesses. I have written to the Council’s Chief Executive to ask how the local authority could better support the city centre by encouraging staff to work from their city centre offices in Perth.
“I have asked the Council to encourage their staff to work from their offices in Perth City Centre and will also be interested to learn whether the local authority have undertaken any economic impact study of current working arrangements.”
Mr Fraser continued: “This problem is by no means unique to Perth. A major factor in business losses has been the reduction of footfall across the city centre, partly caused by the rise in homeworking. However, there are real concerns that have been expressed by business organisations and some constituents that the loss of large numbers of council employees working in Pullar House and 2 High Street, Perth, means there is far less spending being made in the local economy. And this has a direct effect in the loss of retail and hospitality outlets.”
