Tag: lessons learned

Council responds Tram Inquiry

LESSONS LEARNED (of course) …

A report to Transport and Environment Committee has set out the Council’s understanding of the failures identified by Lord Hardie in delivery of the first phase of the tram project, and how lessons learned can ensure future delivery of major infrastructure projects can avoid similar issues.

This includes consideration of Lord Hardie’s recommendations relating to the Council, and an assessment of the consequences of the project’s failings, such as additional costs, disruption and impact on the Council’s reputation.

The report is accompanied by three other appendices covering: the financial cost and reporting of the tram project; whether any action is to be taken with employees as a result of the Inquiry’s findings and assurance of arrangements in place for Arm’s Length External Organisations (ALEO) and contractors; and an update on any possible legal action (the final to be considered in private).

These three reports will be considered by Governance Risk and Best Value Committee (GRBV) on 28 November and, along with the report to Transport and Environment Committee, will be referred to December’s Full Council for consideration.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Since the start of the Tram Inquiry we’ve completed the line to Newhaven and launched passenger services, the success of which was down to the hard work of the in-house project team and partners. It’s also thanks to lessons learned from the first project, and our own improvements to project management and governance, communication and independent oversight.

“It’s worth noting too that in the nine years since the line between Edinburgh Airport and York Place was built, the service has flourished to become a hugely successful transport route for thousands of residents and visitors each day.

“While we broadly agree with Lord Hardie’s recommendations, prior to the inquiry’s announcement we had already introduced processes and strategies to help avoid some of the problems experienced in the original tram project. Not only have we applied this in the construction of the line to Newhaven, but these lessons are hugely beneficial to other major infrastructure projects.

“Of course, scrutiny of the Inquiry’s findings has allowed us to provide further, robust assurance that we understand the factors that contributed to the difficulties in the first phase of tram delivery, and to build confidence in future infrastructure delivery. We want to make sure we continue learning and improving.

“We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line, which caused a great deal of disruption and concern for residents and businesses, as well as impacting the Council’s reputation. Once again, I want to apologise for this.

“Ultimately, creating a better connected, environmentally friendly transport system is essential for a modern, successful city and we need to transform the way people move around if we are to achieve our net zero goals.”

The Edinburgh Tram Inquiry report was published in September and provides an account of the original Edinburgh Tram project’s progress, identifying factors that contributed to difficulties in its delivery.

The independent inquiry was commissioned by the Scottish Government following the completion of the section of tram line between the airport and York Place in 2014. Its remit was to establish why the project was delivered years late, massively over budget and did not produce the promised ‘network’ – only part of one of the originally-promised lines was eventually delivered.

The Council’s response examines and acknowledges the findings made by the Inquiry, including those around governance, the need for independent legal advice and reporting practices. It also considers the implications for future project management.

While the report broadly agrees with Lord Hardie’s recommendation, it highlights that, since the original tram project, several processes and strategies have been put in place which have helped to avoid some of the problems experienced. It’s thanks to this approach, along with lessons learned from the original project, that we have successfully delivered the Trams to Newhaven line.

LESSONS LEARNED, BUT AT A TRULY MASSIVE COST TO EDINBURGH’S BUSINESSES AND THE HARD-PRESSED TAXPAYERS WHO FOOT THE BILL FOR FAILURE – Ed.

Read the full report and appendices, Response to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry. Watch Transport and Environment Committee discuss the report live from 10am on Thursday, 16 November.

UK Coronavirus response: “some big achievements with some big mistakes”

MPs publish Coronavirus: Lessons Learned To Date report

Covid vaccine programme “one of most effective initiatives in UK history” but delay to first lockdown a “serious error” that should have been challenged

The House of Commons and Science and Technology Committee and Health and Social Care Committee have published their Report, Coronavirus: lessons learned to date, examining the initial UK response to the covid pandemic.

The 150-page Report contains 38 recommendations to the Government and public bodies, and draws on evidence from over 50 witnesses—including Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Professor Chris Whitty, Sir Patrick Vallance, Sir Simon Stevens, Dame Kate Bingham, Baroness Harding of Winscombe and Dominic Cummings—as well as over 400 written submissions.

The Report was agreed unanimously by members of both Select Committees, which consist of 22 MPs from three political parties—Conservative, Labour and SNP.

The joint inquiry, which began in October 2020, examined six key areas of the response to covid-19: the country’s preparedness for a pandemic; the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as border controls, social distancing and lockdowns to control the pandemic; the use of test, trace and isolate strategies; the impact of the pandemic on social care; the impact of the pandemic on specific communities; and the procurement and roll-out of covid-19 vaccines.

The inquiry concluded that some initiatives were examples of global best practice but others represented mistakes. Both must be reflected on to ensure that lessons are applied to better inform future responses to emergencies.

In particular:

  • The forward-planning, agility and decisive organisation of the vaccine development and deployment effort will save millions of lives globally and should be a guide to future Government practice;
  • The delays in establishing an adequate test, trace and isolate system hampered efforts to understand and contain the outbreak and it failed in its stated purpose to avoid lockdowns;
  • The initial decision to delay a comprehensive lockdown—despite practice elsewhere in the world—reflected a fatalism about the spread of covid that should have been robustly challenged at the time;
  • Social care was not given sufficient priority in the early stages of the pandemic;
  • The experience of the covid pandemic underlines the need for an urgent and long term strategy to tackle health inequalities; and
  • The UK’s preparedness for a pandemic had been widely acclaimed in advance, but performed less well than many other countries in practice.

The 38 recommendations made, if implemented by the Government and by public bodies such as the NHS, would ensure that during the remaining period of the pandemic and in any new emergency, the UK could perform better by having distilled lessons—positive and negative—from the UK’s initial response to covid.

In a joint statement on the publication of the Coronavirus: lessons learned to date Report, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, and Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, said:  “The UK response has combined some big achievements with some big mistakes. It is vital to learn from both to ensure that we perform as best as we possibly can during the remainder of the pandemic and in the future. 

“Our vaccine programme was boldly planned and effectively executed. Our test and trace programme took too long to become effective. The Government took seriously scientific advice but there should have been more challenge from all to the early UK consensus that delayed a more comprehensive lockdown when countries like South Korea showed a different approach was possible.

“In responding to an emergency, when much is unknown, it is impossible to get everything right. We record our gratitude to all those—NHS and care workers, scientists, officials in national and local government, workers in our public services and in private businesses and millions of volunteers—who responded to the challenge with dedication, compassion and hard work to help the whole nation at one of our darkest times.” 

The Report includes an Executive Summary with conclusions, recommendations and lessons learned at the end of each Chapter. 

coronavirus-lessons-learned-to-date-reportDownload

Leith Walk set for more diversions as tram work gathers pace

The main phase of construction work to take the trams to Newhaven will begin on Leith Walk next month. The city council says the construction strategy will ‘build on lessons learned to minimise disruption.’

The Trams to Newhaven project team, along with the Infrastructure and Systems Contractor (Sacyr, Farrans, Neopul JV) and Swept Path Contractor (Morrison Utility Services), has drawn on lessons learned from the first stage of the project, as well as good practice from other European cities, to develop a construction strategy.

This will involve Leith Walk being reduced to one city bound lane between London Road and Crown Place for the duration of the works, which will begin on 28 March and are scheduled to be completed by Summer 2021.

The team’s approach will involve the establishment of large work sites to allow both utility works and tramway construction to take place at the same time, resulting in fewer traffic management changes for those affected.

Sharing information with residents and businesses as the project progresses
Letters are being delivered to residents and businesses to share information on traffic management, bin collection arrangements, cycling access and diversions for bus services.

Logistics hubs will be set up along the street to help businesses with deliveries and dispatches, as well as residents expecting large deliveries. A Support for Business package has also been devised in consultation with local businesses.

The first phase of the project is already well underway on Constitution Street, where the excavation of the road is being carried out to allow utility diversions, tracklaying and the installation of tram infrastructure.

The city’s ruling SNP-Labour ‘Capital Coalition’ are united in their support of the next stage of the controversial trams project, despite huge pressure on council budgets. 

Last week the Capital Coalition voted through yet more cuts to essential council services. The Council will make required savings of £35m over the next 12 months and planned savings of around £87m over the next three years.

Transport and Environment Convener, SNP Councillor Lesley Macinnes, said: “We are about to reach a major milestone in the project to take the trams to Newhaven, as we prepare for the main phase of works on Leith Walk.

“We are already progressing well with the first phase of the project on Constitution Street and the Trams to Newhaven team have been working closely with contractors and transport operators to plan this next crucial stage.

“We will continue to engage with residents and businesses to keep them up-to-speed with plans as the project progresses.”

Transport and Environment Vice Convener, Labour Councillor Karen Doran added: “This is a transformational project for the city as a whole, but we’re aware of the particular impact this work will have on the people living nearby.

“That’s why our team has been making every effort to share information on the process, as well as providing support to adapt to the changes for residents and businesses.”

Construction schedule

Construction will begin on Leith Walk on Saturday, 28 March while additional work will begin along the route during March. Full details of ongoing work and work scheduled to begin this spring are:

London Road to Crown Place – starting 28 March 2020, scheduled to complete Autumn 2021

Ocean Drive – starting 13 March 2020, scheduled to complete Autumn 2020
Newhaven to Melrose Drive – starting 6 March 2020, scheduled to complete Summer 2021

Queen Charlotte Street to Constitution Place – ongoing, scheduled to complete Autumn 2020

Foot of the Walk to Coatfield Lane – ongoing, scheduled to complete by Spring 2021

The full construction programme can be accessed on the Trams to Newhaven website.

Traffic Management

Traffic management arrangements have been approved jointly with members of the city’s Traffic Management Review Panel, including Lothian Buses and the emergency services, and these will be in place from 28 March 2020. Access through the site will be maintained for emergency services at all times. Diversion routes and advanced warning signage will be erected in the vicinity for information.

During main construction works there will be no stopping or waiting at any time within the city bound running lane. Traffic management plans are available online.

Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times on both sides of Leith Walk. While current parking and loading will be suspended, temporary car parks will be provided on Leith Walk to ensure people can still visit the area to shop and go about their business.

Cycling

A bi-directional cycle lane on the west side of Leith Walk will be provided and maintained throughout the construction works. At times there will be local diversions to this lane in order to facilitate the works. These will be clearly sign posted as required.

Bus diversions

The project has liaised extensively with Lothian on the proposed traffic management to allow Lothian to develop their bus diversion route plans. Full details of bus diversions are available online.

Changes to Lothian’s network have been announced as work is set to begin Leith Walk for the next stage of the Trams to Newhaven project.

Read more here ➡️ https://bit.ly/37w3RM9

Leith Walk will see significant traffic management in place from 28 March 2020 for 18 months, with major diversions to all bus services in this area. Main services affected include the 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 22, 25 and 49.

Information on these changes will be available on-board buses, on our website and on social media.

Lothian encourages all customers – whether occasional users or regular commuters – to view these changes and plan accordingly if affected. Full information about route changes across the network can be viewed here ➡️ https://bit.ly/38AQbkf

The bus company said ‘We sincerely thank all customers for their understanding and patience while this work is carried out.’

Construction Works 

From 28 March to 11 April fencing will be erected in order to establish the construction site. Construction work will involve the excavation of the road to allow utility diversions, tracklaying, installation of tram infrastructure, public realm improvements and heritage and archaeology works.

The construction strategy, which involves large work sites being established to allow both utility works and tramway construction, means works can continue in the event of any problem being encountered during the period.

During construction, communal bins for Leith Walk will be situated at the nearest side street to the existing location. The regularity of uplifts will be increased to ensure the area is kept clean and tidy and uplifts will take place in the evening to minimise traffic in the area at peak times.

All post boxes will be removed from Leith Walk and returned once construction is completed.

The London Road roundabout clock and bronze pigeons will be refurbished and returned to an improved public realm at Elm Row, scheduled for completion Autumn 2021.

Supporting Local Businesses 

There will be a Support for Business package in operation, devised in consultation with businesses in the area, which will include a local voucher scheme, an ‘open for business’ campaign across a range of media and a business continuity fund. Full details can be found on the project website.

Logistics hubs to support Leith Walk businesses will be set up on Montgomery Street, Albert Street, Dalmeny Street and at the Foot of the Walk to help with deliveries and dispatches. These will also be the location for businesses presenting their trade waste. Help will be at hand via these logistics hubs for residents expecting large deliveries such as appliances or furniture too.

For further information visit www.tramstonewhaven.co.uk.

Alternatively the team can be emailed at Newhaven.tram@edinburgh.gov.uk.

While the inexorable construction process continues, it’s easy to forget that a public inquiry into the Edinburgh’s trams fiasco continues at a snail’s pace. It was launched in summer 2014 and there’s still no sign of it reporting any time soon.

The Inquiry,under former Lord Advocate Lord Hardie, aims to establish why the Edinburgh Tram 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:

  • Inquire into the delivery of the Edinburgh Tram project (‘the project’), from proposals for the project emerging to its completion, including the procurement and contract preparation, its governance, project management and delivery structures, and oversight of the relevant contracts, in order to establish why the project incurred delays, cost considerably more than originally budgeted for and delivered significantly less than was projected through reductions in scope.
  • Examine the consequences of the failure to deliver the project in the time, within the budget and to the extent projected.
  • Review the circumstances surrounding the project as necessary, in order to report to the Scottish Ministers making recommendations as to how major tram and light rail infrastructure projects of a similar nature might avoid such failures in future.

The trams were five years late, £400 MILLION over budget and that was for a single line, not the promised network … it’s comforting to know that lessons have been learned!

Nothing can go wrong now …