Yesterday The Argus reported on Brighton and Hove Buses’ £15 million profit last year. Where does that money go?

MH: “We’re really excited to be working on transforming public transport but to do that requires money.

“Over the next three years we’d like to invest a total of £41 million in new vehicles and new infrastructure.

“Our depots are from a former time, they’re not going to be fit for purpose for the future.

“We want to be emissions free by 2030.

“That sounds like a long way off but to convert our whole fleet of 460 buses, that would cost £172 million and that’s the scale of the investment we’re looking at.

Are you going to be more transparent in future?

“Yes, we’re going to show people where their money goes.

“This work started weeks ago and within the next few weeks we’ll be publishing stats on performance, reliability, and more.

“We want to publish because we want to be more transparent.”

What would you say to people who are upset by the company profits and your own high salary?

“We try to be careful with the money people pay us but we have to achieve a balance.

“And we put back into the local economy and community, around £50 or £60 million of the revenue we take, in the form of salaries and other things.

“It’s important that a business is strong and sustainable.

“Without that level of profit we can’t invest.

“And we can’t expect shareholders to put in money and get nothing in return.”

“We have to reward investors, and we have to reward customers – with level of service, quality of service, we’ve put in wi-fi for instance, and frequency of service.

“Eighty five per cent of our customers in the city have a service every ten minutes or more frequently.

“Someone else has made a determination as to my salary and I have a great team around me, but this is a business of 1,500 people, 430 vehicles, and what I bring is 38 years’ experience in the industry.”

Will you be reopening night bus routes?

“There were a small number of least-used night bus services cut, and we are looking at what we can and should add back.

“And we will add something back.”

How do you think Brighton’s fares compare with other cities?

“I think we offer really good value.

“There’s a perception they’re high.

“I know they’re not cheap, but they’re comparable and competitive especially when you take into account what people get.

“We’re still running hundreds of night bus services.

“The high frequency, wi-fi on vehicles, it’s all part of what people are getting.

What do you pay your drivers?

“In round terms they’re on about £25,000 per year.”

Is anyone in the company on minimum wage?

“No. Everyone is on at least the voluntary living wage.”

A spokeswoman confirmed Mr Harris was referring to the “Real Living Wage” as assessed by the Living Wage Foundation.

The living wage is £8.75 per hour outside London.