Continued lack of islanders on CalMac board sparks anger

Hebridean councillors have slammed the Scottish Government for not appointing an island resident to CalMac’s board of eight directors.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles Council, has expressed disappointment that the Scottish Government has appointed the David MacBrayne Group Board, but ‘ignored pleas from councils and stakeholders across the ferry network to address the fundamental gap in user experience of those appointed to that board’.

‘Not one single resident of an island served by David MacBrayne Group or its subsidiary CalMac Ferries Limited sits on the company board,’ the council said, ‘and this opportunity to right this wrong has been passed up by ministers.

‘Instead they have appointed a new chairman and three new non-executive directors with no residential tie to the communities the company serves.

‘At a meeting of the Hebrides Ferry Stakeholder Group (Thursday December 2) community stakeholders supported the call for lived experience of these ferry services be a pre-requisite of any and all future appointments to the Board of David MacBrayne Group.’

The chairman of the council’s transportation and infrastructure committee, councillor Uisdean Robertson, said: ‘The recent failure to address the absence of residents of the islands served by CalMac in the appointment of board members to David MacBrayne Group has caused real anger in our communities.

‘It is little wonder company management are so detached from the reality of their decisions when they are based at a headquarters in Inverclyde, and those appointed to hold the company to account have limited experience of how the company’s actions affect people from Lewis to Arran.

‘Having raised this issue with the transport minister, I had hoped our concern was understood and these vacancies would be filled by islanders. The comhairle will continue to press the case for real and meaningful change in the voice communities have in shaping our lifeline ferry services.’

Chairman of the Independent Ferries Community Board Angus Campbell attended the meeting and shared the frustration, saying: ‘The Ferries Community Board firmly believes experience of living on islands and first-hand knowledge of how lifeline ferry services impact on island communities are an essential part of the skill mix required to undertake these roles. An opportunity has been lost to add knowledge and improve decision-making for both the company and the communities they serve.’

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: ‘Scottish ministers are committed to ensuring that island residents and communities’ views are represented appropriately and have asked the new chair, as a priority, to consider how this might be achieved. Board members were appointed for their experience and abilities.’

The Scottish Government added it had advertised the recent chair and three non-executive director positions widely, including on the vessels travelling to island communities, and it was pleased to receive a high number of applications.

‘Residents of island communities are free to apply to become members of the board if they wish,’ it said.

‘An opportunity has been lost to improve decision-making...’