New chairman Jonathan Findlay vows to get SPT back on track

A TRANSPORT body hit by a row over expenses has suffered an "immensely difficult" period, its new chairman said yesterday.

Jonathan Findlay was voted in as chairman of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport yesterday.

It comes less than two weeks after his predecessor, Alistair Watson, resigned on health grounds in the wake of questions about expenses claims of executives.

Mr Watson was one of three senior figures at SPT who quit last week, with vice-chairman Davie McLachlan "reluctantly" stepping down and chief executive Ron Culley also leaving for health reasons.

The resignations came after documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed that a handful of top officials, including Mr Watson, had claimed expenses of 117,573 in the three years between 2006 and 2009. That was said to include 49,195 incurred on overseas trips at public expense.

After being voted in, the new chairman said he was "extremely proud to be given this opportunity to chair an organisation with such a crucial role to play in the daily lives of so many people".

Mr Findlay, who works as a solicitor for East Dunbartonshire Council, added: "The last few weeks have been immensely difficult for SPT." He said morale in the organisation was "understandably low" and that front-line staff and the people who rely on SPT travel services "deserve better".

But Mr Findlay added: "As chair, I am determined to refocus SPT on its core business – delivering for passengers across the west of Scotland."