Deborah Anderson - Herald Scotland - 1st March 2010
First
Minister Alex Salmond has threatened to pull the plug on
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, following the expenses row that
has engulfed the Glasgow-based organisation.The First Minister has told senior officials that, unless there is improvement in SPT’s performance and an end to a culture of “cronyism”, it could be disbanded and its functions split among other government bodies.
The comments go further than Mr Salmond’s previous warning that the scandal-hit SPT should clean up its act or face Government intervention.
SPT chief executive Ron Culley, chairman Alistair Watson and vice-chairman Davie McLachlan have quit amid revelations about expenses.
A source close to Mr Salmond said: “The First Minister has given fair notice that the status quo for SPT is not an option.
“It provides key public services, and must command public confidence. If they cannot and will not reform their crony constitution and practices, Government will need to intervene, and legislative measures are always open to us.
“Given their track record, there would be relatively little difficulty in securing a parliamentary majority for change, which could take a number of forms.”
Last week Mr Salmond told the Scottish Parliament the Government would press the SPT to reform after the resignations. In total, 11 directors at SPT spent around £117,000 in three years on expenses.
This included some £50,000 on overseas trips, as well as a visit to Manchester that coincided with Rangers’ appearance in the 2008 Uefa Cup final there.
Questions have also arisen over expenses claimed by Bob Wylie, SPT’s communications director, who claimed £773.65 during the trip to Manchester.
Mr Wylie has been asked to explain a “joke” he made about getting a cup final ticket. He is said to have told staff he got it by pretending to be the Livingston MP Jim Devine.
SPT officials have already been asked to explain why they asked for a meeting with the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) on the day of the final.
According to reports, the request was made by SPT on April 24, the day of Rangers’ semi-final win. Mr Wylie, who attended the meeting, also submitted a £138.82 claim for lunch and drinks on the day. Although the claim form had “GMPTE” written on it, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive released a statement saying nobody from their organisation attended the lunch.
The Herald contacted Mr Wylie, but he said he could not comment while an external audit was under way.
A spokeswoman for SPT said: “Bob Wylie did not need to say he was Jim Devine MP to get a ticket for the Uefa Final. He had his own ticket which he paid for himself.
“He is well known as an entertaining speaker at events and made a joke at a staff meeting about the Uefa final. It was meant in that spirit.”
She said she would make no further comment as an external audit by accountants KPMG was under way.
See also:
All aboard the SPT gravy train
Fury over Transport Scotland's £1m PR bill
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