tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post1799002206672410916..comments2023-11-05T12:04:50.649+00:00Comments on COUNCILLOR ANDREW BURNS' REALLY BAD BLOG: Special Council Meeting tomorrowAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684349200288599810noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post-87202361334753596072011-09-05T21:53:16.839+01:002011-09-05T21:53:16.839+01:00Anonymous
Thanks for the further comment ...
......Anonymous<br /><br />Thanks for the further comment ...<br /><br />... if you search 'tram' in the top left box, you'll be able to see all my posts over the years on this topic.<br /><br />In essence, there is an ongoing dispute between the contractor and the Council over responsibility and this is referenced in a lot of my posts, which should have links to numerous formal reports on trams that have been through the Council in recent years.<br /><br />I agree that the whole route 'should' be what's eventually completed.<br /><br />Hope that helps.<br /><br />AndrewAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01684349200288599810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post-70499028269439447012011-09-04T02:02:45.608+01:002011-09-04T02:02:45.608+01:00Frankly I am shocked at the lack of attention to t...Frankly I am shocked at the lack of attention to the protection of the public purse. The contract seem open ended with no penalties and movement of risk to the contractor. It seems that the contractor can simply say when hitting a problem THEY did not forsee 'Hey taxpayer pay up'. Surely there was a proper survey and due dilligence carried out by each contractor during the tendering process. That is ground radar ,desktop and borehole surveies. That formed the basis of the tender price. A legally binding agreement was made by CEC/TIE with the winning contractor complete with penalty clauses on both parties. <br /><br />Why were expensive design changes allowed after the tender process and who authorised them or should they have been check ,costed and authorised by full council?<br /><br />What issues in construction were the contractors not forced to absorb due to their failing to spot them during the tender process?<br /><br />What is stopping the council from forcing the contractor to build the full route after all they are getting the original £540million and £230million?<br /><br />In my eyes nothing short of the full route will do ? The contractor tendered for the full route the full route they must build. The people of Edinburgh are being short changed to the tune of around £950million !!!<br /><br />That must be one of the biggest losses in the history of public works !!!! £950,000,000. Just how many public service jobs ,community centres ,schools could that save. How many roads could that resurface? How many snow ploughs and gritters could that buy ? How much personal care could that give to the elderly and disabled ? How many low paid workers could be given a decent wage? What benefit would £15 million a year give to the homeless ? <br /><br />All this squandered on a vanity and loss making project to give the city a single 8 mile tram track.<br /><br />Shame on all councillors and officals for this mess.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post-88874779783679321342011-09-02T17:48:51.920+01:002011-09-02T17:48:51.920+01:00Anonymous
Thanks for the comment.
I know that, a...Anonymous<br /><br />Thanks for the comment.<br /><br />I know that, and I also know that there are no winners out of this process.<br /><br />AndrewAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01684349200288599810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post-77608427502854025962011-09-02T17:26:51.483+01:002011-09-02T17:26:51.483+01:00Its our money regardless of whether CEC or SG pays...Its our money regardless of whether CEC or SG pays.<br /><br />We pay the TAXES, We are EXTREMELY ANGRY at this Mad Decision.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post-65471879565259758332011-09-02T16:56:47.628+01:002011-09-02T16:56:47.628+01:00Anonymous
Points noted - and agree about the need...Anonymous<br /><br />Points noted - and agree about the need for a Public Inquiry, and very soon.<br /><br />Andrew<br /><br />P.S. if the tram project is anything to go by, the Commonwealth Pool will probably be a mere 25M long :-(Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01684349200288599810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post-29969368301205203702011-09-02T16:44:33.088+01:002011-09-02T16:44:33.088+01:00Probably the right decision for the city but I rea...Probably the right decision for the city but I really do struggle with the lack of leadership,accountability,vision,etc offered by the Council. It all looks a bit like a big boy done it and ran away and from the Council body politic " it wasnae me" well who was it ??<br />A full enquiry must follow very soon.<br />PS Any truth in the rumour the refurbished Commonwealth Pool is going to be 49mtrs long instead of 50.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post-28521955844467709782011-09-02T16:22:48.523+01:002011-09-02T16:22:48.523+01:00Anonymous
Absolutely noted - that's why our p...Anonymous<br /><br />Absolutely noted - that's why our paragraph 9 sought further SG funding, as it is they who are clearly adamant the project has to go to SAS now.<br /><br />AndrewAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01684349200288599810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post-74631967312396236892011-09-02T15:44:54.730+01:002011-09-02T15:44:54.730+01:00Its another blank cheque to the contractors is it ...Its another blank cheque to the contractors is it not ?<br /><br />They can come back for more.<br /><br />So have we got fixed deadlines and penalties in place ?<br /><br />Either way we the TAX payers foots the bills for this vanity project.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post-68838037336011867712011-09-02T14:06:30.111+01:002011-09-02T14:06:30.111+01:00Anonymous 1/2
Thanks for the comments - this amen...Anonymous 1/2<br /><br />Thanks for the comments - this amendment (which contains a clear call for additional Government funding!) was defeated by a joint SNP/Lib-Dem position.<br /><br />I will try - as soon as possible - to get all the texts up, as I did last week.<br /><br />Thanks again for checking the blog.<br /><br />AndrewAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01684349200288599810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post-83448669416800917552011-09-02T13:34:15.438+01:002011-09-02T13:34:15.438+01:00That £15millions a YEAR for 30 years.
This is cra...That £15millions a YEAR for 30 years.<br /><br />This is crazy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662128.post-78341340170085956492011-09-02T13:29:07.950+01:002011-09-02T13:29:07.950+01:00Utter Madness.
Where is the mandate from the poo...Utter Madness. <br /><br />Where is the mandate from the poor council tax payers for this utter madness ?<br /><br />You have not secured a fixed price contract <br />You have now lumbered the tax payers with a £15million additional payback<br /><br />The contractors are just lapping this up and laughing at us as they count the profits. <br /><br />And oh yes they can come back for more anytime. <br /><br />You did this just to save face with other councillor and not in the best interests of your bosses , the council tax payers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com