Move to scrap potential £45,000 bonus for boss of Lothian Buses

Lothian Buses’ interim boss Nigel Serafini may be stripped of his potential £45,000 bonus if a move from opposition councillors is backed at an Edinburgh City Council meeting on Thursday. The move from the Liberal Democrats could also see two directors lose their positions on the board of the council-owned bus company to be replaced by new appointments. The company has seen a significant hit to its income due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown, and has furloughed many of its employees. It also confirmed that its existing executive team “chose to forgo” any bonuses for 2019/2020. Cllr Kevin Lang, the Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesman, said the company needed an injection of “fresh leadership” to help it navigate the pressures of coronavirus. The amendment, if passed, would require the Lothian Buses board to appoint two new directors and remove any potential performance-based bonus for the company’s interim managing director, Nigel Serafini. Mr Serafini replaced controversial former boss Richard Hall following his resignation in February, and will receive a salary of £150,000 following the increase in his responsibilities. The move would also see Jim McFarlane reappointed as a non-executive director, but two of Steve Cassidy, former Labour MSP and Scottish health minister Susan Deacon, Tony Rose and Mark Yexley would be removed from the board and replaced. Cllr Lang said: “The whole of Edinburgh depends on Lothian Buses. However, passenger numbers have plummeted during lockdown and it remains far from clear what the new normal will look like when restrictions are relaxed further. “It would be wrong to assume that the people and skills deployed at the very top of the company over the last few years is what’s needed now. “Experience is important but we should use this opportunity to inject some fresh leadership and new thinking into the company to help ensure Lothian Buses can weather this economic storm.” Transport convener, Cllr Lesley Macinnes, said: “Matters relating to either board appointments or salary and bonus decisions are clearly a matter for the Lothian Bus board to take at the appropriate time. “At a time of unprecedented pressure on public transport continuity within Lothian Buses is important in ensuring both appropriate responses to this crisis and to the long term health of public transport within Edinburgh – something we should all be focused on.” Lothian Buses were contacted for comment.