Buses purchase 'unacceptable'

THE panic buy of 12 new buses by Dumfries and Galloway Council using £2.7m of taxpayers’ money was this week branded “unacceptable”. The local authority splashed out the huge sum on a dozen low emission vehicles to help plug the gap in services amid the bus transport drama that has unfolded in recent weeks. In the aftermath of Stagecoach withdrawing its bus service provision from the region, council chief executive Dawn Roberts gave the green light for the cash to be invested to try and maintain as many public and school bus services as possible. However, councillors weren’t best pleased that they never had a say on such a major spending decision. Speaking at Monday’s special council meeting, Lochar Councillor Linda Dorward said: “The possibility of ordering 12 buses at a cost of circa £2.7 million wasn’t raised at either the economy and infrastructure committee, nor at the June 2025 full council. “We have been asked to endorse a decision which, at the very best, we should be noting as all decision-making authority has been removed from full council in this instance.” Councillor Dorward then asked for the wording of the council motion to be changed from councillors “endorsing” the spending of the £2.7m on buses to simply “noting” that it had taken place. She continued: “Given the amount of money involved here, and the fact we have a minority administration, I would say it’s unacceptable that members were not briefed or given the chance even informally to ask questions on behalf of constituents and taxpayers regarding how their money is being spent. “The convener and deputy convener should have recognised this and ensured the chief executive briefed members. “This is the convener and deputy convenor after all, who provide strategic political and cultural leadership for this council.” Council convener, Councillor Katie Hagmann, replied: “I won’t speak on behalf of the deputy convenor, but certainly there was a request that all members would be updated as soon as possible and that was taken forward by officers.” Council chief executive Dawn Roberts added: “As you’ll appreciate, it’s been a very fast moving and very complex piece of work.” She explained that the council leader and deputy leader, along with relevant committee chairs were first briefed on the decision taken to invest in the buses. The chief executive continued: “Also after the decision has been taken, a briefing of all group leaders. So there was a communication to all group leaders, I believe on either the 30th, 31st of July or August 1st from myself to advise of this decision.” Mid and Upper Nithsdale Councillor Andrew Wood, former chairman of Swestrans, said this week: “The chief executive jumped the gun in spending this £2.66m without the input of elected members. She totally undermined our positions and roles.”