LOCAL authority bosses have been accused of “reinventing the wheel” by a councillor as school transport costs increase in Argyll and Bute.

A report revealed last week that the cost of providing the service in the area had increased by £876,000 a year.

But Councillor Tommy MacPherson (South Kintyre) quizzed officers on why the recommendations of a report on transport options were not implemented years ago.

The discussion took place at a meeting of the council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee on Thursday, September 12.

Councillor MacPherson said: “In my short life as roads deputy under the previous administration, I was aware of a report in December 2020, and think we may be reinventing the wheel with officers directing this to external consultation.

“I appreciated we have moved on a few years, but in the Campbeltown area we have a circular service bus, the 440, which was identified at a cost of £56 per head.

“That bus is still running. I corresponded in July 2022, having seen buses going around the town empty, but there was consideration during Covid to stop night-time services.”

Jim Smith, the council’s head of roads and amenity services, responded: “Some recommendations from the economic report have been taken forward, but some would be easier to implement in an urban setting than in Argyll and Bute.”

John Blake, the authority’s fleet, waste and transport manager, added: “There were a number of pieces of work carried out off the back of the report. Services could have been removed but that would be to the detriment of the community.

“You see services with one or two people on them, but that is not for the full journey. Most kids throughout Argyll and the islands have a travel pass, so can access travel on the services we subsidise. These cards are used on services to school.”

Councillor MacPherson then said: “What concerns me is that we had an option of costings. You mentioned that you were able to implement some of them, but not what the cost of those savings were.

“What I can identify from the previous report is you have got the highest cost to local government of a bus service.

“I am curious to know what that is this year. If not implemented, why have you not got it as a consideration now?”