YORK'S bus management body has been left in disarray after being led by seven different council officers in only three-and-a-half years, an opposition councillor has claimed Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour spokesperson on city strategy, blamed the controversies over price increases, timekeeping and the ftr on a poor running of the city's Quality Bus Partnership (QBP).

She said an inability to retain staff had left the partnership without direction, and said there was a high turnover of experienced staff leaving the authority in general.

Coun Simpson-Laing also said meetings, held quarterly, were not frequent enough.

She said: "All this instability has made it difficult to keep a firm watch on service targets that bus companies have to meet, including Disability Discrimination Act requirements, running times and fuel efficiencies.

"The council has an agreement with First for the ftr, but this has not been monitored properly due to the constant changes of staff in the transport planning unit.

"The inability to retain staff has had a serious affect on service provision for residents."

The QBP is the main body that liaises between City of York Council and the bus companies, and considers the performance of buses in York. The partnership consists of Coun Ann Reid, the executive member for city strategy; her opposition counterpart Coun Simpson-Laing; an independent chair; and several council officers. Bus companies in the Partnership include First, Arriva, EYMS, Coastliner, Reliance and Top Line.

Coun Reid said: "Under the direction of the new chair, the QBP is reviewing its remit and practices.

"The success of bus services, and increases in bus patronage, show that the QBP has fulfilled an important role. However, it is right that the purpose of the group, particularly in relation to new legislation, is reviewed to ensure that success continues.

"Coun Simpson-Laing seems to forget that the QBP is just that - a partnership of bus operators, users and the council. From the earliest days of the QBP, which has always met quarterly, I have supported public participation and will be discussing how this can be achieved.

"It is not for the council to impose its views on the rest of the group, nor for the group to monitor' other bus companies' performance. I look forward to the much-heralded changes in bus legislation that the Labour Government are belatedly promising and have no doubt that the QBP will embrace any changes."

A city council spokesman said: "With regard to the ftr, the agreement between the council and First is constantly monitored to review progress."