COMMENT: Edinburgh tram boss quits 19 | 05 | 2011
THE DISASTROUS Edinburgh Trams fiasco plummeted to new depths today with confirmation that Richard Jeffrey, Chief Executive TIE — the council's tram firm which oversees the horror which has turned Scotland's capital into a transport laughing stock — is to resign next month.
Interestingly, his departure will come on the eve of a meeting of Edinburgh City Council at which councillors are expected to decide whether to abandon the project or keep going if additional funding can be secured. It's also expected the meeting will also receive details the new costs of the troubled project.
If ever there was a political and financial disaster, the Edinburgh Trams project is it. Quite simply it has been a horror story right from its inception.
First and foremost the question which must be answered is: why was it ever felt necessary to even consider introducing a tramline from Edinburgh Airport into the centre of the city?
To my mind, the project should have fallen at the first hurdle. The concept of the trams should have been derailed as soon as the idea was mooted. Why was it necessary to introduce trams, and all the infrastructure required, when Edinburgh already operated one of the most efficient and comprehensive public bus systems in the country.
Why — and I'm amazed if this question was never asked — was the decision taken not to simply buy a fleet of the most environmentally-friendly, alternative fuel buses?
Watchdog with no bite: read our report
Instead we have endured not only years of legal and political wrangling between TIE, Edinburgh City Council and the contractors led by Bilfinger Berger, but been forced to watch as the streets of Edinburgh were ploughed up to lay rails which — let's be honest — have very little hope of ever being used.
Jeffrey's decision is expected to trigger a raft of similar resignations by senior managers and his action is understood to have been instigated by continued disagreement with TIE chairman Vic Emery.
It is understood Mr Jeffrey will not be replaced immediately. A senior project source said: "There's no intention to bring in a new chief executive at the moment. The intention is to bring together a closer and tighter governance structure. The bottom line is we have reached a point where there are too many bosses."
Too many bosses? The problem is that those bosses who have preceded Jeffery — ironically, the project has actually moved on since he left his position at Edinburgh Airport to move to try and realign the trams debacle — have either avoided making decisions or, when they have, consistently made the wrong decisions!
Mr Emery said: "Richard has been an energetic force during his time on the project and has seen the organisation through a particularly challenging period. I would personally like to pay tribute to his determination, integrity and resilience."
Speaking on behalf of Edinburgh City Council, chief executive Sue Bruce said: "Richard has been an integral part of the process of bringing the tram negotiations to where we are now. I would like to wish Richard all the very best."
What is the business case for the trams: read our report
When Jeffrey took on his role at TIE almost two years ago, he was told it was "a Mission Impossible challenge", yet he insisted the project would be a success, despite admitting it was over budget and behind schedule.
Initial progress was positive, but no sooner had he re-opened Princes Street in time for Christmas shopping, work on the project ground to a halt as TIE's dispute with contractors Bilfinger Berger became more bitter.
So where are we today? Well the trams project has spent £440 million of its £545m budget; but it's completed only 28% of infrastructure work required. And the route from the airport to the waterfront is now expected to get only as far as St Andrew Square.
The council will meet on June 30 to decide what happens next. The only logical decision must be to cut its losses, admit it made a mistake right from the start, and stop the project immediately.
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Jim McGill