Road chief Burns moved aside

Councillor Burns is expected to be moved into another job by his Labour colleagues in a cabinet reshuffle ordered by council leader Donald Anderson.

Edinburgh’s outspoken planning leader, Trevor Davies, is thought favourite to land the transport post at a crunch Labour Group meeting tonight.

Insiders believe that as one of Councillor Anderson’s closer allies, he is the most likely candidate and is also seen as one of the most able councillors in the Labour group.

The transport post also includes responsibility for general improvements to the appearance of the city centre, an area Councillor Davies has been heavily involved with in his role as planning leader.

The transport portfolio is widely seen as the most difficult to grapple with of the 12 set up by Cllr Anderson, who has recommended a shake-up of other job titles. Labour councillors will vote tonight on recommendations due to be thrashed out at a meeting this afternoon of group office bearers and the local government committee of the Edinburgh City Labour Party.

Cllr Burns’ performance during the congestion charging debate is thought to have left several colleagues dismayed, even though he retained the support of Cllr Anderson until the end.

One source said: "The recommendations will all be thrashed out today, but it looks like Trevor is going to win promotion and Andrew is apparently happy to step aside.

"The leadership wants to freshen things up without making it look too bad and Donald is also keen to promote Trevor. He’s by far the most obvious candidate to take over as he has a real grasp of the planning issues in Edinburgh and it’s a very difficult job for anyone else to take on."

Another insider said: "The word is that although Andrew would happily continue he would be willing to step aside to get out of the firing line.

"A lot of heat was turned on him during the congestion charging debate and he took a lot of abuse. A reshuffle is the easiest way to let him go."

Cllr Davies, one of the most vocal Labour councillors, was one of the strongest advocates of congestion charging.

Cllr Burns, transport leader since 2002, is believed likely to survive in the council’s executive, but in a less high-profile position.

Sources believe he could win the post of finance leader, currently held by Maureen Child.

Cllr Burns insisted after the roads tolls referendum result, which saw 74 per cent of voters reject the scheme, that he had no intention of quitting.

Cllr Anderson - who praised Cllr Burns in the wake of the referendum defeat - is nevertheless thought keen to reward Cllr Davies with a promotion from his role as head of the planning committee, a non-cabinet position at the council.

Some insiders say Cllr Anderson needs to pacify Cllr Davies with a promotion in a bid to stall a leadership challenge, which insiders believe he has been rallying support for.

A number of other Labour councillors, including Lorna Shiels, Gordon Munro and Ian Murray, are thought to have bid for executive posts, with Councillor Murray believed most likely to be rewarded for his loyalty to the leadership.

Neither Cllr Anderson nor deputy leader Ian Perry would comment today. Cllr Burns said: "I have no comment to make whatsoever."

A Tory councillor said: "I wasn’t surprised to hear this week that Andrew Burns may be on the way out, having spent 9 million of council tax-payers’ money on the failed road tolls project.

"He was advised by the opposition and his own officials that he would never get road tolls through.

"But any move to get rid of Burns will reflect very badly on Edinburgh South West MP Alistair Darling, who backed congestion charging all the way, as well as Donald Anderson."

THE FACTS

ROAD tolls were put forward by the city council as the most effective way of tackling congestion in the centre of Edinburgh.

The scheme was overwhelmingly rejected in a public referendum following a vigorous "no" campaign backed by the Tories.

The 2-a-day charge was designed to fund a host of transport projects in the Capital.

The defeat spelt the end for the 198 million "line three" tram service which was set to be the centrepiece of a 760m spending spree by the local authority.

An underground car park earmarked for George Street also looks as though it will remain a pipe dream following the poll result. Toll backers say there will be less investment in improved bus services, 20mph zones and new park-and-ride schemes.

But a raft of public transport improvements will still go ahead, including two tram lines - a loop connecting Princes Street with Granton and a line linking the city centre to the airport - plus an airport rail link and other rail improvements.

Does Andrew Burns deserve to have a role in the city council executive?

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