An agreement by the Scottish Government and COSLA will see the two work together to encourage the public sector to invest in town centres.

In an initiative called the Town Centre First Principle, Derek Mackay, Local Government and Planning Minister has urged public bodies to sign up to the scheme. The Principle requests that public bodies such as local authorities, the NHS and Police Scotland look at the potential impact of closing town centre facilities, against the benefits of keeping the town centres attractive and vibrant.

Minister Mackay said: "Our town centres should be vibrant, attractive and safe places where local people want to spend their time and money.

"The Scottish Government made a commitment to recognise and prioritise the importance of town centres in our Town Centre Action Plan last year, and we are taking this one step further by introducing the Town Centre First Principle, and asking all public bodies to sign up.

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"The Principle will encourage public bodies to put the health of town centres first and consider what impact any investment decisions, will have on them. In particular, when it comes to investment, public bodies adopting the principle are requested to consider town centre locations first, and look beyond immediate pressures when they are making decisions about closing a town centre facility.

"We understand that for some businesses or services the town centre may not be a suitable location, but in signing up to the Principle, public bodies will make sure the rationale for locating elsewhere is evidenced and transparent."

Councillor Stephen Hagan, COSLA Spokesperson for Development, Economy and Sustainability said: "Undoubtedly town centre regeneration remains a priority for local authorities, along with partners in the wider public sector, businesses and communities themselves.

"To help reinvigorate Scotland's town centres a collective approach which understands the long term vision for each town centre is required, which will make our town centres fit and viable places to interact, do business, and access facilities and services.

"Given the importance of town centres to local communities across Scotland, we hope that the Town Centre First Principle is the first step in helping to ensure the viability of Scotland's town centres going forward."

Town centre investment was a recommendation made by the independent Town Centre Review Group, led by Scottish architect Malcolm Fraser. The Scottish Government and COSLA subsequently responded to this in the Town Centre Action Plan when it was launched in November 2013.

(JP/IT)