Veterans are set to step off the buses

TWO long-serving members of the board of Lothian Buses are to leave their posts.

Non-executive directors Alison Ross and Irene Kitson are leaving after nine years.

Labour councillors on the city council had wanted both to continue in their posts until the review of the structure of TIE, TEL and Lothian Buses is completed. But Liberal Democrat and SNP councillors voted for them to go.

Council leader Jenny Dawe said that, as they were appointed in 2001, the two non-executive directors had not been selected "in the open way of new board members".

In response to comments by Labour councillors, Cllr Dawe said: "To say they were interviewed in 2001 so it is OK for them to continue is not showing a good understanding of the way the structure and operations of the company have changed."

In a vote, 17 councillors backed the Labour motion for them to remain in place, while 40 backed the Lib Dem/SNP motion to thank them for their services and defer any decision on filling vacancies until the reviews of the structure of TIE, TEL and Lothian Buses is complete.