A call for Falkirk Council to look at ways to improve bus services locally was rejected as councillors agreed they could not afford a report into the subject, let alone the cost of making improvements.
At a meeting of Falkirk Council's executive on Tuesday, SNP and Conservative councillors agreed that they had to be pragmatic about the costs at a time when the council is under massive financial pressure.
Previously, councillors from all parties had supported a call from the Labour group when they requested a report into how improvements could be made to Falkirk's "appalling bus services".