Councillors had “no choice” but to approve a bus contract valued at more than £1.3million despite the vehicles being less green than they would have liked.
Stirling Council’s environment and housing committee had to decide on the Park and Ride contract last week, just four days before it was due to run out.
Only one bid was submitted - with the least environmentally friendly of the vehicle options the only one within budget and therefore put before committee members.
The contract - which had a budget allocation of up to £1,365,000 - kicked in on Monday, February 14, but only came before the committee on Thursday. last week It will run until February 16, 2025 as an 18 -month contract with three optional six-month extensions.
Stirling Council operates two Park and Ride services from the outskirts of the city centre at Castleview and Springkerse.
The P1 bus service operates from Springkerse and the P2 operates from Castleview.
They are seen as a major part of the Local Transport Strategy and the Climate and Nature Emergency Plan to reduce the number of cars travelling within the city centre thereby reducing congestion and emissions.
The committee was told that suppliers were asked to tender prices for three lots for different vehicle types: Lot 1 electric/hydrogen; Lot 2 - Euro 6; Lot 3 - Euro 5.
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The Euro 6 standard imposes a further, significant reduction in NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) emissions from diesel engines (a 67 per cent reduction compared to Euro 5) and establishes similar standards for petrol and diesel.
Submissions were only received in respect to Lot 2 and 3, with Lot 3 - the least green of the three options - being the only submission within budget.
Tory councillor Martin Earl said this was particularly concerning given members had been talking about the council’s Alive With Nature programme and the council had passed its own climate emergency plans.
He added: “I’m not blaming officers because they only got one submission within budget. It was the least environmentally-friendly classification but they have no choice.”
Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache said: “I’m not happy about the lateness and the time councillors have been given to make comment on this.”
Chief operating office for infrastructure and environment Brian Roberts said there had since been a recent change to the procurement process, suggesting there would be opportunities to get involved at an earlier stage in future.
