---
“The Executive Group”
WHO THAT??
---
Folks, I know there's been a lot of info on the situation but we have discussed this before. Last month sometime. It's buried in the the other Picardy Place thread somewhere. IIRC Executive Group is the developers, CEC and Scottish government officials who oversee the GAM project. That's in public domain via Scottish government report I linked to some weeks ago, don't have details to hand right now.
What is not public knowledge: any binding elements of the contract, any penalties specified and what would trigger these,
Finally an extract from the document Morningsider linked to (my bold).
---
Scope of Works
Providing essential infrastructure for the St James Quarter and neighbouring areas is crucial to the successful delivery of the proposed development. Combined, the improvements will increase the prominence of the area, improve access and participation in the public areas, while easing traffic flow around this part of the city. The proposals include the promotion of green spaces and planted areas.
The enabling assets also include new public realm at Picardy Place and the reconstruction of the existing gyratory at the junction of Leith Street, York Place and Leith Walk, together with the provision of a public transport interchange at Picardy Place. Including the new interchange now avoids the possibility of abortive works and significant disruption to a transformed St James Quarter, should the tramline be extended in future.
A key feature of the public realm in Picardy Place will be the reduction of the carriageway space in favour of improved pavement, footway and cycle facilities. In addition, to complement the proposals being taken forward under the Council’s Leith Programme, separate off-road cycle facilities will be incorporated as part of the detailed design. These proposals will create a genuinely vibrant “hub” at the junction of Leith Walk and the city centre. The proposals will make the area a much more attractive space in which to spend time, improving the links between the two communities.
---
Apart from the contradictory brief, the only issue is the Drawings appended to the contract.
Presumably if CEC changes its mind unilaterally, a compensation clause kicks in for knock-on delays to the St James redevelopment?
Perhaps though if the Executive Group agree changes, such penalties do not come into effect?
As I keep saying, this whole burach was caused by certain councillors from the Economic Development Committee who pushed the GAM agreement through Council last year with no real scrutiny, and only two days' notice...
posts
