A senior council officer has admitted failings in Edinburgh’s handling of the hosting the start of the Tour de France in 2027.

But councillors acknowledged that no rules or laws were breached when officers undertook preparation works without the awareness of elected members.

At Thursday’s finance committee meeting, the council’s chief executive, Paul Lawrence, said work would be undertaken to help avoid officers ending up in similar situations in future.

Earlier in the meeting, Conservative councillor Phil Doggart challenged Mr Lawrence on his actions around the council’s participation in the Grand Depart.

He asked: “Given that we were pushed down a cul-de-sac, literally, why did he not bring a report, even [in private], to an appropriate committee?”

Mr Lawrence replied: “I’ve sai

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