ETI-15 Response Accepted

Qualified Project Management

Recommendation

Project promoters should appoint procurement and project managers with qualified, experienced permanent employees who have successfully delivered similar projects on time and within budget.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
The City of Edinburgh Council formally accepted this recommendation in a Chief Executive's report on 16 November 2023, stating that demonstrable experience should be secured for project management in light rail delivery. The Council Leader also noted on 2 November 2023 that improvements were already implemented for the Trams to Newhaven project. However, no specific new policy or process document published by the Council since the inquiry report details the formal adoption or enforcement of this recommendation for future projects.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 24 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.gov.scot, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
This recommendation requires implementation across many organisations. The assessment reflects central policy response, not adoption in individual organisations.
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Response
Accepted
Under Consideration City of Edinburgh Council Initial Response
02 Nov 2023

Council Leader Cammy Day stated: '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.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes that since the original tram project, several processes and strategies have been put in place which helped successfully deliver the Trams to Newhaven line. The Council has not published a formal detailed response to individual recommendations. Source: Council news release, 2 November 2023.

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Accepted City of Edinburgh Council Follow-up
16 Nov 2023

The Inquiry Report highlights a number of instances where there was insufficient experience in delivery to give assurance that the project would be properly managed. The procurement and project management of a project is key to success and demonstrable experience should be secured as part of light rail delivery. It is recommended that the Council should adopt this Recommendation. Source: Chief Executive's report to Transport and Environment Committee, 16 November 2023. Note: City of Edinburgh Council statuses are drawn from the Chief Executive's report to the Transport and Environment Committee (16 November 2023), referred to the full Council on 14 December 2023. This report appears to have been formally adopted but independent confirmation has not been obtained.

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Progress Timeline
Official Report
02 Nov 2023

Initial status based on Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council responses to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry Report (September 2023).

Source
Source
Inquiry Edinburgh Tram Inquiry
Report Edinburgh Tram Inquiry Report 01 Aug 2023
View Source
Responsible Bodies
City of Edinburgh Council Primary
Themes & Tags
Public project assurance methodology Project Cost Escalation from Delays Project Management Staffing Qualifications
Recommendation age 2.6 yrs
Last formal update 860 days ago