Pro-trams Hewitt could be blocked from top role with bus firm

Published on Sunday 21 November 2010 15:56

THE board of Edinburgh's biggest bus company may try to block the appointment of the city's pro-tram business leader as its chairman, it has emerged.

Ron Hewitt, one of the most vocal supporters of the tram scheme, is thought to be facing mounting opposition to becoming chairman of Lothian Buses.

The Scotsman has learned the city council overturned the bus company's recommendation of another candidate - lawyer Ann Faulds - as its preferred chairman in favour of Mr Hewitt, the chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

But sources closes to the bus company have pointed out that its directors are legally obliged to act in the best interests of the firm and insist Mr Hewitt, who is also a non-executive director of Lothian Buses at present, will command "little or no support" as chairman.

Insiders believe the council will have to resort to "arm-twisting" in the run-up to a board meeting of Lothian Buses tomorrow in order to ensure Mr Hewitt - who has led the chamber for the last five years - becomes chairman.

Mr Hewitt's appointment was backed by the council last week despite claims the decision should have been left to the bus company, which is majority-owned by the local authority.

Opposition councillors walked out in protest after failing to block the appointment, understood to have been recommended by the previous chairman of Lothian Buses, David Mackay, who quit that post and his role as chairman of the council's tram firm, Tie, earlier this month.

It is thought the board of the business group - which has more than 2,000 members - may also try to block Mr Hewitt's appointment amid concerns the two roles would be incompatible.

Mr Mackay quit after being targeted by union leaders angry at his support for plans to merge Lothian Buses with Tie in the run-up to the tram scheme becoming operational.

One insider at Lothian Buses said: "It is certainly not inevitable that Ron Hewitt will be confirmed as chairman by the Lothian Buses board.

"If there was no pressure from the council to back its recommendation he would receive little or no support.

"There are grave concerns over his impartiality due to a long-track record of unswerving support for the tram project."

Another insider said: "There was a clear recommendation to the council that Ann Faulds would be the best appointment, but the council were not happy with this, and have insisted it should be Ron Hewitt. It would be very difficult to see how he could remain as chairman of Lothian Buses if he does not have full backing of the board."

One former director of Lothian Buses, Jane Saren, told The Scotsman: "The workforce of Lothian Buses have made it clear they want a chairman who will act in the best interests of Lothian Buses and no-one else.I think they will see it as a snub from the council if Ron Hewitt becomes the new chairman."

Ian Craig, the managing director of Lothian Buses, declined to comment ahead of tomorrow's board meeting. Mr Hewitt was unavailable for comment.

JOB OVERLAP:

LOTHIAN Buses has become entangled with the capital's troubled tram project this year over controversial plans to merge the "arms-length" company with the city council's tram firm, Tie.

David Mackay, the previous chairman of Tie, took over as chairman of Lothian Buses on 1 January.

However, his long-serving predecessor, Pilmar Smith, claimed he had effectively been forced out of the role to make way for Mr Mackay, later announced as chairman of the merged company, known as TEL.

Claims Mr Mackay holding the posts was a conflict of interest put pressure on him and he stepped down on 3 November.