Third boss quits SPT amid expenses scandal

A THIRD senior figure has resigned from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport amid an ongoing row over expenses.

Councillor Davie McLachlan yesterday said he had "reluctantly" decided to step down from his post as vice-chairman.

Earlier, it was revealed that Ron Culley, the chief executive of SPT – which is Scotland's largest transport partnership – was quitting for health reasons.

The resignations of Mr McLachlan and Mr Culley come just three days after chairman Alistair Watson formally resigned. Mr Watson, a Labour councillor in Glasgow, stood down for health reasons.

The resignations come in the wake of questions over the expenses claims of senior executives at the public body. Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed that a group of directors and executives, including Mr Watson, had claimed 117,573 in the three years between 2006 and 2009. That included 49,195 incurred on overseas trips at public expense.

SPT said last week it had asked auditors KPMG to review the body's expenses. Public spending watchdog Audit Scotland is also looking into the claims.

Announcing his resignation, Mr McLachlan, a Labour councillor in South Lanarkshire, said: "I do so for what I believe is in the best interests of SPT. Over the past few days SPT has received unjust criticism, which has reflected on me. I believe that my position will be vindicated once the KPMG report is published."

Earlier yesterday it was revealed Mr Culley, who was appointed chief executive in 2006 when SPT was established to co-ordinate public transport in the Strathclyde area, was stepping down. He said: "I'm extremely confident that the investigation being undertaken under the auspices of Audit Scotland will exonerate officers of SPT as all delegations over the past four years were approved in advance by an authority comprising members of every major political party.

"Lessons learned were reported back to the authority."

He continued: "My health problems do not permit me to bring the energy levels to bear on the work necessary to drive the authority forward and to serve the needs of our new chairman."

An SPT spokeswoman said: "SPT can confirm that our chief executive is seeking early retirement on the basis of failing health and wants to retire to look after his young family."

Glasgow councillor Jonathan Findlay is set to replace Mr Watson.

Graeme Hendry, an SNP councillor in Glasgow, said: "Shuffling the deckchairs at SPT will not deliver the services the people of Glasgow and Strathclyde need."

He added: "There is clearly panic within SPT and Glasgow Labour as people move to get out of the firing line."