SPT chief executive Davidson announces exit – Daily Business

Valerie Davidson: not an easy decision (pic: SPT)

Valerie Davidson, chief executive of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, is leaving the post after five years in the job.

Ms Davidson told a meeting of the partnership committee that “after much deliberation” she intends to retire on 31 August.

“This has not been an easy decision but I will have completed 39 years public service on that date, and I will have been SPT’s chief executive for five years by that time,” she said in a statement.

“I believe it is the right time now to go and give someone else the opportunity to lead the organisation.

“SPT is in a very good place currently with clear plans to move forward and lead the development of a major transport network for the city and beyond.”

She added: “The organisation is ready to make a significant contribution as the new Parliament gears up following May’s election.

“While I will still be fully engaged with all things SPT until the end of August, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone – a wide and varied cast – who have supported me over these many years.”

The SPT is responsible for running the Glasgow Subway and bus stations, bus stops and some subsidised bus services across the old Strathclyde region. It also oversees investment in public transport.

It reports to the SNP’s national agency, Transport Scotland, and is funded by 12 councils – Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Argyll and Bute, North, South and East Ayrshire, North and South Lanarkshire and West and East Dunbartonshire.

Last year it was drawn into a dispute with one of Scotland’s biggest private bus companies – McGill’s – which insisted SPT’s plans for franchises were “an outdated, expensive and unnecessary experiment”.

McGill’s opposed SPT’s franchising plan

SPT said franchising, which has been in place in London for many years and was introduced in Manchester, would deliver better services for communities.

McGill’s co-owner Sandy Easdale also asked why SPT was sitting on reserves of nearly £160 million in taxpayers’ cash while the councils that fund it were being forced to cut jobs and services and hike taxes.

The SPT responded by saying funds were put aside in order to fund the ongoing public transport investment programme, including the Subway Modernisation programme and other initiatives, including its work on bus reform.

“SPT’s revenue annual funding and annual capital grant are insufficient to cover these costs,” it said.

Commenting on Ms Davidson’s decision to retire, SPT chair and councillor Stephen Dornan said: “On behalf of the SPT Partnership and all of SPT, I would like thank Valerie for her many years of service to the organisation and to the wider transport network.

“She had dedicated herself to public service and has always tried to consider passengers first and foremost when making decisions.

“She will be a loss to the organisation, but we now look forward to the future with many projects already in development and planning.

“The role of SPT chief executive will be hugely important as we develop plans for bus reform and work with partners on the Case for Investment for Clyde Metro.”

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