I WAS somewhat surprised to read in last week's Advertiser/Messenger that Bromsgrove District Coun-cil is in future to manage without a chief executive, because it cannot afford to pay one an appropriate salary.

This was after the council, within a week of being in office, awarded councillors a huge increase in their attendance allowances and then put up our rates by 11 per cent - one of the largest increases in the country.

In figures recently published, attendance allowa-nces totalled around £45,000 for the first year in office, more than half the amount needed to appoint a new chief executive. It is amazing that in such a short space of time, the council has exhausted the healthy balance left by the outgoing Labour administration, and is willing to downgrade our town to little more than a parish council.

The chief executive officer has a responsibility to ensure the smooth and efficient running of council affairs.

The recent report that the council was considering forming an inner cabinet of about five or six members to run the day-to-day affairs, previously the responsibility of democratically elected members, in itself gives rise for serious concern. The appointment therefore of a chief officer becomes even more essential if the public is to believe in open government.

Each councillor is the representative of the public who elected them to office, and they should have equal influence in office irrespective of length of service or seniority. This is far better than a few making deals in private, and then announcing them to full council when a deal has already been signed. Bromsgrove deserves and needs, more than ever, a chief officer.

John P Healey

Golden Cross Lane

Catshill

Bromsgrove