Recommendation ETI-17: Governance Structure
From Edinburgh Tram Inquiry Report, published 19 September 2023.
Recommendation
The governance structure for the delivery of a major project such as a light rail scheme should follow the published guidance and should ensure that there is clarity regarding the respective roles of the various bodies and individuals involved in its delivery. In particular, the chairman of the company responsible for the procurement and management of the project should not also be its chief executive.
In brief (written by this site)
In December 2023, Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, agreed that future governance structures for major projects must follow up to date guidance and clearly set out the roles and responsibilities of bodies and individuals (Andrew Kerr response, Dec 2023). He recommended that it adopt the recommendation and seek assurance that these roles are understood (Andrew Kerr response, Dec 2023). The record holds no update since the Council's response of December 2023 (Andrew Kerr response, Dec 2023).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
About this summary
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The record reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.
Government response
The Inquiry Report describes difficulties in the governance of the first phase of tram delivery as a result of complexity in the governance structure and also due to a lack of understanding by individuals and bodies as to their roles and responsibilities.
It is agreed that in future the Council should ensure that the governance structure follows up to date guidance and importantly clearly sets out the roles and responsibilities of bodies and individuals. The Council should also seek assurance that the roles and responsibilities are clearly understood and a mechanism for this is set out at Recommendation 18.
It is recommended that the Council should adopt this Recommendation.
How this response relates to the recommendation
Site note: This passage is from the Chief Executive's report to the City of Edinburgh Council meeting of 14 December 2023. That day the Council agreed "to implement the actions as outlined in appendix one and appendix three" of the report (minute, item 7). The same words were in the report to the Transport and Environment Committee of 16 November 2023.
Delivery
No statement on delivery from City of Edinburgh Council has been found in the sources searched (last checked 31 January 2026). This is separate from the response above.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- City of Edinburgh Council
Response