A senior civil servant insists arbitration is not an option to resolve the bus drivers’ dispute.
Last week, a union chief said he believed it was the only way to end the differences between drivers and leisure officials.
Drivers will stage a half-day bus strike this Thursday opposing government plans to make £300,000-worth of cuts to their terms and conditions.
However, while DCCL chief executive Nick Black says the department remains open to compromise, arbitration will not be considered: