Lack of clarity over bus contract

THE secrecy surrounding the sale of Rosso by Rossendale Council to bus operator Transdev has resulted in a drip-drip of information.

After announcing the proposed sale before Christmas, Rossendale Council met in secret to discuss the deal, something the opposition Tories objected to, but were over-ruled.

Labour cited commercial confidentiality as the reason for the public being excluded from the meeting. But it has emerged that there is no deal in place for Transdev – which runs Witch Way and Lancashire Way – to manage the new Rawtenstall bus station on Rossendale Council’s behalf, something which Rosso had said it would do.

Coun Jackie Oakes, who chairs Rossendale Transport Limited, said that this ‘wasn’t a major issue’.

It’s all a bit odd though – the whole sale to Transdev began as a result of talks between the council and Transdev over Transdev agreeing to use the new bus station for their flagship services.

And surely the best time to negotiate a deal is when you’ve got something to sell – why not make running the bus station part of the deal to sell the bus company? Coun Oakes also said the council was: “Trying to secure the jobs of all the employees of Rosso at the moment.” It’s hard to know what that means. What guarantees has the council sought over existing staff?

This is a massive deal for Rossendale – it’s the sale of something which has been publicly owned for over 100 years.

It should be scrutinised in public, as the Tories have said. It could yet turn out to be the best thing ever to happen on the buses in Rossendale – but there’s a remarkable lack of clarity about the deal.