The full Final Business Case (FBC) for taking trams to Newhaven was published yesterday – the day after city councillors voted to make cuts of £33 million to council services and shed up to 200 jobs. The £200 million tram line extention has the full backing of the city’s ruling SNP – Labour ‘Capital Coalition’, so it’s almost certain that the controversial project will get the green light next month. Continue reading Forget council cuts … here comes your tram extension
Cargo bikes, subsidised local discount schemes, a business continuity fund and logistics hubs – these are among the ideas most supported in a local survey of businesses who would be most affected should the Council decide to take trams down to Newhaven. Continue reading Tram planners listening to Leithers?
Councillors will make a final decision on whether or not to proceed with the Trams to Newhaven project in early 2019, it was announced yesterday.
Continue reading Trams to Newhaven: decision delayed until Spring
A series of workshops with residents, traders, active travel organisations and community representatives is under way to refine proposals for taking trams to Newhaven. Continue reading Community input helps shape Trams to Newhaven designs
“Of course, no final decision on taking trams to Newhaven, or not, will be made until much later in the year”
More than three thousand people have shared their views in a six-week long consultation about plans for taking trams to Newhaven. Edinburgh citizens either attended one of the information events, sent in their comments by email or completed the consultation online on the Council’s Consultation Hub. Continue reading Three thousand people have their say on Trams to Newhaven
arms-length company won’t be resurrected for trams inquiry
The City of Edinburgh Council has today written to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry to state that, while it will continue to participate fully in the process, it will not revive the dormant company formerly known as tie Ltd.
The Inquiry has asked the Council to consider whether tie, which operated from 2002 until 2011 as an arm’s length company and is ultimately owned by the Council, should be a core participant in the Inquiry.
However, the revival of the company would involve appointing new officials who would require legal representation at the Inquiry, leading to significant additional cost, which the Council does not believe to be in the public interest.
The Council has committed to full participation in the Inquiry, and to providing information to the Inquiry in relation to the role of tie, which was under its ownership.
Council Leader, Andrew Burns, said: “The Council continues to support the Inquiry, as it has done throughout, and to be fully open and accountable. By applying to be a core participant we have committed to playing our part in the proceedings and co-operating fully with the Inquiry.
“However, we do not believe that the considerable cost of reviving (tie) for the sake of the Inquiry is a justifiable expense; one which would ultimately be borne by the Edinburgh tax payer.
“The Council is the ultimate parent body of tie, and we have communicated our willingness to provide information about its role to the Inquiry.”
The Council will make independent legal advice available to current and former Council employees and elected members, should they wish it, when giving their written statements to the Inquiry.
Former tie employees will be able to give evidence about the role of tie to the Inquiry, if they are called on by the Inquiry to do so. However, the Council will not be funding legal advice to these individuals, although they will of course be free to appoint their own lawyers.
The Council’s participation in the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry will be detailed in a report to Council next Thursday (20 August).
The Edinburgh Tram Inquiry, chaired by Lord Hardie, was commissioned by Scottish Ministers and has been ongoing since June last year.
The Inquiry aims to establish why the Edinburgh Trams project incurred delays, cost more than originally budgeted and through reductions in scope delivered significantly less than projected. The official terms of reference for the Inquiry are to:
