Business chiefs to investigate appointment of new bus boss

Published on Friday 19 November 2010 15:10

THE future of Edinburgh's pro-tram business leader was in doubt last night over concerns about his proposed chairmanship of the city's main bus firm.

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce's operating board yesterday held an emergency meeting to discuss the city council's plan to appoint chief executive Ron Hewitt as interim head of Lothian Buses.

In a statement afterwards, the chamber said it would "consider fully the implications" of the move on the organisation and its members if the move was approved.

The bus operator's board, which next meets on Tuesday, will have the final say on whether Mr Hewitt becomes interim chairman to replace David Mackay, who quit two weeks ago.

Opposition members walked out of a city council meeting on Thursday after failing to block Mr Hewitt's recommended appointment.

There are fears that council-owned Lothian Buses could suffer from being merged with the trams, which are expected to be loss-making initially.

The chamber's statement said: "The board of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce (ECC) met this afternoon to discuss the approach made to its chief executive, Ron Hewitt, to consider the post of interim chair of Lothian Buses.

"The ECC board is aware that no formal offer has been made to Mr Hewitt and that any appointment and subsequent offer is subject to the approval of the board of Lothian Buses.

"We will obviously consider fully the implications of any appointment for this organisation and its members once the board of Lothian Buses has reached a decision on the appointment of an interim chair."

Mr Hewitt is one of four non-executive board members of Lothian Buses from whom the interim chair has to be picked. The others are Ann Faulds, head of planning and transportation at law firm Dundas & Wilson, former bus industry official Marjory Rodger, and Donald MacLeod of Standard Life.

It is understood the interim chair can remain in post until next August at the latest.

The council will advertise for a permanent chairman shortly, and for the same posts at Edinburgh Trams/Tie (Transport Initiatives Edinburgh) and bus-tram umbrella body Transport Edinburgh, which were also held by Mr Mackay.

He slammed the tram project as "hell on wheels" when he resigned.

Members of the chamber's council contacted by The Scotsman yesterday were split over Mr Hewitt's proposed move.

One said: "There is a potential for conflict of interest." Another called the recommendation "very dodgy". But Mary Johnstone, of consulting engineers Harley Haddow, said: "Regardless of what is said about his potential for impartiality, I believe Ron Hewitt could be relied on to be more honest than most."

Words of hope on trams

THE construction firm at the centre of Edinburgh's bitter tram dispute said yesterday it would respond "positively" to planned peace talks which have been ordered in a last-ditch effort to find a solution.

City councillors agreed on Thursday to launch mediation between their tram development company Edinburgh Trams/Tie (Transport Initiatives Edinburgh) and Bilfinger Berger.

The decision comes after separate attempts by both Bilfinger Berger and fellow tram line construction consortium member Siemens were rejected by Edinburgh Trams.

The dispute focuses on costs and design changes.