IN response to letters ''Did council help fight?'' and ''Bring back the old days'' (Advertiser, September 6), I would like to write in support of Redditch Council's staff.

Our officers work hard to make the decisions of the democratically elected councillors a reality and work in partnership with them to provide ever improving services to local people within the resources available.

Many of these decisions increasingly and properly come from ideas and comment from the large amount of consultation which the council carries out with Redditch people.

Indeed, it was our officers' commitment to the councillors' Focus on the Future programme which has led us towards debt-free status and a £60 million boost for the town.

An officer's role is often, by necessity ''behind-the-scenes'' but they are major players in our efforts to make the borough a better place to live in.

Redditch has been the pioneer in several services which we provide and which are valued by so many of our residents.

Our work within all of the consultation mechanisms which we employ has been many times nationally recognised and applauded.

Having first been elected to Redditch Council in the 1950s, yes I remember the ''old days'' and while I sometimes yearn for things past to return, I have no wish to go back to a council structure where officers were officers and members were members and never the twain shall meet.

No, Redditch has a healthy partnership between the two these days and with a few hiccups now and then, it works for the borough as a whole.

Albert Wharrad

Council Leader

Redditch Council