Tram chief's future in doubt

Published on Sunday 10 May 2009 23:15

THE frontman for Edinburgh's troubled tram scheme is facing the axe amid claims he has lost control of the project, The Scotsman can reveal.

Lib Dem councillor Phil Wheeler could be ousted by his own colleagues within days as part of a major reshuffle of the majority party in the coalition running the capital.

Another of the city's most powerful councillors, education leader Marilyne MacLaren, is also believed to be facing a challenge on Thursday.

Critics believe Cllr Wheeler has been partly responsible for problems the trams scheme has run into over the last year, which has seen the departure of two senior officials, a protracted dispute with a German contractor and the ditching of part of the route due to funding problems.

Cllr MacLaren faced prolonged criticism for the council's handling of proposals to close schools. She was forced to apologise after a Standards Commission investigation into claims a parent was wrongly kicked off a taskforce for leaking details of a "hit-list" of targeted schools.

Finance boss Gordon Mackenzie is understood to have been lined up to replace Cllr Wheeler although the Lib Dem group is thought to be split over whether a change is necessary.

Council leader Jenny Dawe was unavailable yesterday, while Lib Dem group secretary Paul Edie refused to comment when contacted by The Scotsman.