Perth has missed out on renewing its Purple Flag status, the council has confirmed.
The accreditation, launched in 2012, is awarded to cities in the same way Green Flags are awarded to parks and Blue Flags to beaches, aiming to raise standards and broaden the appeal of centres between 5pm and 5am.
In June 2016, the Fair City became only the second in Scotland to be awarded the status.
Accrediting body the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) said due to staffing issues, the local authority was unable to renew its status.
A spokesperson said: “Perth and Kinross Council were due to renew their Purple Flag in July 2019.
“Having spoken to the team due to a change in staffing and some restructuring, they are currently not in a position to renew at the moment but are members of ATCM and we are working with them to look at possibly rejoining the scheme in the future.”
The news comes in the same week the council was slammed by management of High Street fish and chip shop Blue Lagoon for failing to “act like a city” by not granting extended weekend opening hours to their Perth takeaway and just weeks after city centre eateries slammed the local authority for “bullying” them over outdoor seating.
Council bosses say that they are “committed to supporting” the evening economy and may consider reapplying for the accreditation, which ATCM say brings increased spending, lower crime rates and improved public image.
A local authority spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we did not renew our Purple Flag accreditation this year, though we remain a member of the accrediting organisation, the Association of Town and City Management.
“The council remains committed to supporting the evening and night time economy in Perth.
“Our commitment to securing the status in the future is currently being reviewed, following consultation with local businesses about the benefits that the Purple Flag status can offer the local economy.
“We are also considering the development of town centre management initiatives in our rural towns.”
The next deadline for reapplying is October 11 and the council may consider reapplying in the autumn if it is ready and if it thinks the scheme has “tangible benefits”.
City Centre councillor Peter Barrett added: “Perth has previously been one of the few Scottish Cities to have achieved Purple Flag status and to have maintained that status for several years.
“The next deadline to reapply for the status is in October, by which time we will have had feedback from local night-time economy businesses about tangible benefits of the award and whether it attracts footfall and visitors.
“Perth’s evening and night-time economy continues to develop and there are several major developments planned for the city centre which will enhance Perth as a visitor destination.”
