This section sets out the formal remit for this Inquiry as agreed between the City of Edinburgh Council and the appointed Chair of the Inquiry. It was:
To inquire into and report on the following matters:
1. The rationale for the Council entering into the PPP1 contract for schools and the effect this financing arrangement may have had on the construction process;
2. The contractual arrangements between the Edinburgh Schools Partnership and Edinburgh Council;
3. Establish the reasons(s) for, and necessity of, the school closures, including a review of the reasons for the Oxgangs Primary School wall collapse;
4. The role of the Council with regard to the quality assurance of the construction of the buildings, including the granting of completion certificates to allow the buildings to be occupied and to become operational, the management of risks to the Council; and if standard practice regarding quality assurance provided adequate checks and balances for all parties to the contract;
5. The management and maintenance of the buildings since construction, including advising on whether the current defects should have been found earlier;
6. The management of the contract by the relevant parties since construction; and the quality of the contract undertaken.
7. A review of Edinburgh Council's handling of the incident from January 2016 to the reopening of the schools in Summer 2016; and
8. Provide advice and recommendations on any specific or wider lessons which can be learned from these unfortunate events for Edinburgh Council and any other bodies;
9. Any further matters the Chair of the Inquiry wishes to pursue relevant to this matter.