Sir – I should like to reassure Mr Timothy Oates (letter, October 14) that the county council is reducing its senior management by 30 per cent in recognition of the severe financial position we face. He should know that arbitrarily reducing an employee’s pay can amount to constructive dismissal with all the cost that can entail.

In any case, with a smaller senior management team, the responsibilities on those who survive the present staffing reductions will be all the greater, and they are responsible for running a billion pound business and are still paid considerably less than their counterparts in the private sector, let alone pop stars and fooballers.

Keith R Mitchell Leader of the council County Hall