We read about tram problems in the papers, say city chiefs

THE media knew more about the floundering Edinburgh tram project than councillors supposedly at the helm of the scheme.

Former Labour politician Lesley Hinds told the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry councillors would learn of major setbacks in the £1billion infrastructure fiasco only when they saw it in print.

She also said then-council leader Jenny Dawe offered ‘no political leadership’ at the height of the crisis in 2009.

In February that year, a dispute erupted between the consortium of construction companies and the council’s arm’s length company handling the trams, Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE).

Contractors demanded up to £80million more for work on Princes Street but when TIE refused, they downed tools for a month.

Describing the scene in city chambers Mrs Hinds, who served as transport convener towards the end of the project from 2012, said in a statement: ‘It seemed they were doing nothing. The Labour councillors were very frustrated that the administration was sitting back and saying it was nothing to do with them. We were very frustrated that there was no political leadership.’

Explaining her statement she added: ‘I think it was the view of the Labour group that the leader of the council should have got more involved.

‘I just felt that the answers were, “well that’s not up to me”. Almost like, “I’m only the leader of the council”.’

In 2011, a construction blunder meant concrete used around the tracks on Princes Street had to be torn up and relaid.

The former councillor said she and other councillors only found out about this ‘from the front pages of papers’.

She added: ‘We certainly felt we were not getting the information and felt that in our briefings we were not getting the answers. We became extremely frustrated.’

She also said she had since been ‘shocked’ to find ‘officers were aware there was a real problem with the tram project months and months before it ever became clear’ to councillors.

Her allegation of a ‘lack of political leadership’ was put by inquiry senior counsel Jonathan Lake, QC, to Lib Dem politician Mrs Dawe on Tuesday.

She defended herself saying: ‘There is a limit to what a councillor does. We set the strategy and we do not get involved in the operational matters.’

But those comments seemed at odds with evidence yesterday from her predecessor, Labour council leader Donald Anderson, who held the role from 1999 to 2007, when construction began.

He said elected members could ‘get involved’, adding: ‘Ultimately

‘No political leadership’

it’s the council’s decision how much it wants to intervene.’ In his statement on arm’s length organisations he also said: ‘There was no coherent strategic control or direction of TIE from within the council that I could see.’

He said there were instances where ‘TIE developed a life of its own’.

Mr Anderson added: ‘I think it’s clear there was a deliberate series of action to prevent key figures in the council from having accurate information in order to take the decisions they needed to take.’

The tram project was estimated to cost £375million and was due to finish in 2011. But it was not completed until 2014, when costs had spiralled to £1billion.

The inquiry, before Lord Hardie, continues today.