Committee
Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee, 04 May 2005
04 May 2005 · S2 · Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee
Item of business
Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill: Consideration Stage
Those witnesses will now be invited to provide oral evidence to the committee.The committee is also asked to discuss the draft oral evidence taking timetable which is set out in today's papers and which proposes that we meet in June and September to take oral evidence on the objections that have been discussed today. As members will see, it is proposed that we start to take oral evidence on Tuesday 14 June at a joint meeting with the Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee. I remind members that all committee members must be present at all meetings, including joint meetings, at which the committee considers evidence.The draft timetable draws on the information that is contained in the witness summaries that have been provided to the committee. Experience shows that some objections can be withdrawn at the last minute, so it is proposed that witnesses for the lead objectors and the promoter be given two alternative dates to provide oral evidence. If members agree the draft timetable, that will facilitate discussions that are due to be held between the clerks, the lead objectors and the promoter on Monday, at which all the parties will look at the specific timings for oral evidence. After those discussions, the committee will, I hope, be able to agree the finalised timetable at its next meeting. Do members agree the draft timetable?Members indicated agreement.
In the same item of business
The Convener (Bill Aitken):
Con
Good morning and welcome to the fifth meeting this year of the Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee. I remind members to switch off mobile phones and pag...
The Convener:
Con
Having agreed the new groups, I propose that from now on we refer to groups according to the numbers that are used in annex 1. All those groups and the promo...
The Convener:
Con
I make it clear that where groups will provide no further information, the committee is still required to deliberate on their objections. In all cases, the p...
The Convener:
Con
Group 6—Norwich Union Linked Life Assurance Ltd—has raised the issue of consultation on the preferred route. As members will recall, we considered the adequa...
The Convener:
Con
I encourage the promoter and Norwich Union to seek a resolution to Norwich Union's concerns, including any proposal for an alternative alignment. However, it...
Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
The latter.
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD):
LD
I agree.
The Convener:
Con
With that agreement, we will inform the relevant objectors in writing about the committee's intentions and concerns.Are members content with all the other wi...
The Convener:
Con
Those witnesses will now be invited to provide oral evidence to the committee.The committee is also asked to discuss the draft oral evidence taking timetable...
The Convener:
Con
I confirm that the draft timetable will be circulated to the promoter and lead objectors in advance of Monday's discussions.Our next decision is whether to u...
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
What day is that?
The Convener:
Con
Wednesday.
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
There will be parliamentary business in the afternoon.
The Convener:
Con
Obviously the visit would depend on that business. I suggest that we provisionally agree to a site visit on 8 June, but suggest that the visit will depend on...
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
There again, it is not essential for all members to attend entire meetings.
The Convener:
Con
No. Members must attend only the meetings at which evidence is taken. Some members might feel that, having visited a site before, it is totally necessary to ...
The Convener:
Con
Given that we might need the promoter to be present in order that we can access some of the sites that we visit, and in the interests of fairness, I seek mem...
The Convener:
Con
Before I close the meeting, I remind members, lead objectors and the promoter that the next deadline after Monday's timetable meeting is for witness statemen...
Meeting closed at 10:18.