By Jenny Laing

THE levels of uncertainty around the possible outcomes of the negotiations to leave the European Union make the assessment of the implications on Aberdeen very difficult.

As a council we have had initial reports prepared but in reality, in light of the uncertainty, local government can only closely monitor the situation and make preparations to respond to development. Wherever possible we, of course, will feed into new policy and negotiations.

I have made my views on Brexit clear, but regardless of what is happening nationally and internationally we can’t allow it to detract from the efforts to stimulate our regional economy.

In 2016 Aberdeen became the first local authority in Scotland to issue bonds on the London Stock Exchange. What the £370 million bond issue demonstrated was that investor confidence in the council’s economic strategy and vision for the future is very strong – and it is important that message is spread far and wide.

On the back of the oil and gas downturn, international eyes have been on Aberdeen and, understandably, as the Brexit negotiations continue there are huge challenges.

In the past year we have signed the £250m Aberdeen City Region Deal, which we estimate will be worth a total of £826m when wider and private investment and our own contribution are factored in.

Elements of the City Region Deal play a part in the much bigger transformation being driven by Aberdeen City Council through our City Centre Masterplan and Strategic Infrastructure Plan.

This, however, is not change for the sake of change. The goal is to improve outcomes and opportunities for businesses in all sectors and individuals in every one of our communities by investing in a £1billion capital programme.

With the bond issue and the completion of the City Region Deal, in a single month alone last year more than £600m of funding for vital projects was secured. These are significant numbers and underline the scale of the ambition for the future.

We all know the challenges we have faced in our economy and outside factors will continue to have an impact - but when you take time to consider what is being done to shape our city’s future it should give us all great optimism.