Council row over tram extension
It won’t publish legal advice
EDINBURGH City Council has refused to publish its full legal advice for the tram extension after it was revealed the project was approved without the full picture from law experts being seen.
Extending the £207million tram line to Newhaven was approved by the city council last month – but councillors were not shown the full legal advice until after the decision was taken.
Councillors also did not see the full extent and wording of two contracts awarded to companies to carry out the construction work.
A freedom of information request has revealed that £378,000 has been paid to law firms Ashurst and CMS for legal advice for the project so far – while the authority has not made the full legal advice available to the public.
Michael Smith, legal adviser from Ashurst, appeared in front of the council’s finance and resources committee to answer questions on two contracts awarded for the tram construction.
The tram extension is being overseen by the council’s own legal team INFLATION was flat in March, as lower food prices offset higher fuel costs at the pumps.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) was unchanged at 1.9 per cent last month, matching February’s rate.
March inflation missed but the advice was outsourced due to the importance and complexity of the project. It is thought the majority of the legal fees have gone towards drafting two contracts for the project.
Councillors were only issued with the full legal picture after a request at the March full council meeting by Tory councillor Andrew Johnston.
The plea came at the same meeting the extension was approved – but councillors were handed the confidential advice four days later.
Johnston said: “The decision has now been made but we should have seen the legal advice before determining whether to go ahead with it.
“Given the mess we got into last time where things weren’t clear, it’s only right that the full legal advice and risks are made available.”
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, transport and environment convener, said: “The council has a duty to safeguard its legal position and we therefore maintain a confidentiality clause around any legally privileged advice we are given.” economists’ expectations of two per cent, which would have put it squarely in line with the Bank of England’s target.
Mike Hardie, head of inflation at the ONS, said: “Inflation is stable, with motor fuel prices as well as the cost of computer games growing more slowly than it did at this time last year.” FORTUNE ASOS founder has unlocked some cash