2.3.1 Whilst the Inquiry was established as an Independent Inquiry, like many inquiries, it had to rely on the cooperation of organisations and individuals to carry out its work, not having had the authority to compel the production of documents or the attendance of witnesses for interview.
2.3.2 In this regard the Inquiry has enjoyed the full cooperation of the Councillors, the Chief Executive, the officers and the staff of the City of Edinburgh Council in an open and transparent manner throughout the course of the Inquiry in seeking to respond as fully as possible to the requests for information from the Inquiry. In so doing the essential independence of the Inquiry in undertaking its work was acknowledged and respected at all times.
2.3.3 The information, on which the analysis of the period of the procurement, design and construction of the projects from 1998 to 2005 has been based, is limited to that which was made available to the Inquiry by the Council or provided by other participants involved in the project.
2.3.4 Unfortunately, some of the information dating from the 2000 to 2005 period, which would have been of benefit to the Inquiry, had either not been retained, could not be discovered within the archives, or was not offered to the Inquiry by those organisations that may still hold relevant information in their possession. This fact will be referred to in the recommendations of this Report.
2.3.5 The Inquiry Team would like to express our thanks to those many organisations and individuals who gave of their time to attend as witnesses or make submissions to the Inquiry.
2.3.6 A small number of individuals or representatives of organisations, involved in the project or in possession of information relevant to the Inquiry, and from whom the Inquiry would have wished to take evidence, had deceased, had retired, were no longer traceable, or, when invited, were unwilling to appear before or cooperate with the Inquiry.