By Alan Richardson

SURROUNDED BY stunning scenes from Perth’s history, Provost Bob Scott yesterday laid out his council’s bid for city status.

Under the watchful eye of the numerous portraits of former lord provosts as well as stained-glass windows showing scenes from Sir Walter Scott’s Fair Maid of Perth and Robert the Bruce’s capture of the city, Provost Scott delivered a rousing declaration to the first full council meeting to be held in the chambers for 20 years.

Stating Perth was, is and always will be a city, he unequivocally laid out its history, painstakingly researched by council archivists.

The run-in to the 2010 800th anniversary of King William the Lion’s charter, which first bestowed the status—backed up by the 1600 Golden Charter—is the perfect time to reinforce it, he said.

Regaled in the full finery of his office he left none of the onlooking councillors and officials in any doubt that they were witnessing a “historic occasion.”

In re-establishing city status, he said, the whole region would be ideally placed for moving forward into its next stage of growth and prosperity.

He was followed by a succession of councillors brushing aside disgruntled comments from national politicians to thump their tubs.

Council leader Jimmy Doig said the declaration has a “major role in shaping the future of Perth.”

The SNP’s Ian Miller said, “The charters and documents prove Perth’s historic right as a city, and no one can take that away from us.

“Perth already has a wonderful quality of life but it also has a tremendous potential to exceed that and be recognised throughout Europe as the jewel in Scotland’s crown.”

Lib Dem leader Alan Livingstone called for Perth to be officially recognised as a city at the end of the G8 summit as a way of acknowledging “the immense sacrificial input of the council and its officers over many months.”

The Tories’ Alexander Stewart said his party started the ball rolling last year, and said “crucial funding” would follow recognition of Perth’s rightful status.

Councillor Peter Mulheron asked the message to be passed on to other cities bearing Perth’s name in Australia, Canada and the USA.

He said, “It was 405 years ago when the Golden Charter was bestowed on the City of Perth, and today we are witnessing a lifetime event that will be talked about by all for the next 405 years, and it will leave no one in doubt Perth was an ancient city.”

The Scottish Executive has yet to respond to the declaration.