LEADERS of eight local councils across the west of Scotland will meet next week in a new body to drive forward regeneration.

They will be responsible for managing £1.1billion of spending in the area in a scheme called the City Deal.

It will fund investment in the Clyde Valley area over the next 20 years through 13 different infrastructure scheme.

They will include the regeneration of the Clyde waterfront, a new Glasgow Airport rail link and opening up housing sites across the city.

One of the first actions of the new Glasgow and Clyde Valley cabinet will be to confirm the appointment of two leading city figures to posts connected to the City Deal.

Economist and philanthropist Sir Willie Haughey will be appointed chairman of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Economic Leadership Board.

And Glasgow University principal Professor Anton Muscatelli will be appointed chairman of the Commission on Urban Economic Growth.

The City Deal is expected to create 15,000 new construction jobs and 28,000 permanent jobs once building work is finished and unlock £3.3billion of private sector investment.

Chairman of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Cabinet will be city council leader Gordon Matheson.

Other members include the leaders of East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire councils.

Mr Matheson said: "Lord Matheson said: "Lord Haughey and Professor Muscatelli are highly accomplished and respected in their fields which are directly relevant to the role they will provide as part of City Deal.