Council chiefs want the capital to get more investment

The ruling Lib Dem/SNP coalition in the city wants a meeting with the Scottish Government to ask for Edinburgh to benefit from the wealth it generates.

Figures released by the council suggest the city has contributed more than �900m in business rates to the rest of the country over the past decade.

Council leaders feel the city is being hampered by current arrangements.

A report from leader of the council, Jenny Dawe, said that �112m of business rates generated in Edinburgh last year was redistributed around Scotland.

'Impact adversely'

It said: "If Edinburgh is to continue to compete successfully with other European cities for tourism, business and general development it has to provide the facilities and services expected of a major capital city.

"The investment in the city's infrastructure and marketing which could have been undertaken with these monies, generated in Edinburgh, would have significantly increased its ability to compete with the best in Europe.

"By doing so, not only would Edinburgh benefit, so too would the whole of Scotland."

The report also claimed that other financial arrangements operated by the Scottish Government "impact adversely" on Edinburgh.

Ms Dawe and deputy leader Councillor Steve Cardownie have written to Finance Secretary John Swinney requesting a meeting.

They said they wanted to press the case that investment in Edinburgh's development and growth was vital for Scotland's economic well-being and that Edinburgh must be allowed to benefit from the wealth it generates.