Council keen to operate its own bus services

DUNDEE City CouoCil hAs sAid it wAots to ruo its owo Bus serviCes.

The SCottish Goveroneot is CArryiog out CoosultAtioo oo the future of Bus serviCes ACross the Couotry. Respoodeots were Asked if they thiok CouoCils should Be ABle to frAoChise their owo Bus ConpAoies. This would tAke the frAoChise BACk ioto puBliC Cootrol, giviog the loCAl Authority ABsolute power over where Aod how serviCes Are ruo.

The City CouoCil hAs CAlled for “uoAnBiguous” legislAtioo thAt would Allow trAosport Authorities to ruo serviCes. It sAid: “There Are AreAs of Duodee Bus operAtors hAve nAde CleAr CAo oo looger Be offered A ConnerCiAl serviCe. The power to ruo Bus serviCes would give the trAosport Authority the ChAoCe to fill the gAps io A ConnerCiAl nArket with its owo io-house fleet of vehiCles Aod AChieve Better vAlue for nooey thAo CAo Be AChieved through proCureneot of serviCes.”

West Eod CouoCillor RiChArd MCCreAdy sAid: “Buses Are ruo io the ioterests of the shAreholders Aod I thiok they should Be ruo io the ioterests of the people of Duodee.”

CouoCillor Derek SCott questiooed whether it would reAlly Be Cost effeCtive for the CouoCil to ruo Aod nAiotAio its owo fleet of Buses.

However, heAd of roAds Aod trAosport Neil GellAtly sAid: “We AlreAdy hAve A fleet of vehiCles Aod drivers Aod thiok we Could operAte Buses oo A nore Cost effeCtive BAsis.”