THE exorbitant fees paid by City of York Council (The Press, May 26) to interim director Sarah Tanburn once again beg the question why we need directors and assistant directors, when we have councillors paid as cabinet/executive members running these departments.

Taking a couple of top layers out of each department’s pyramids would free up much more money for front-line services, and apart from a reduction in paperwork and management meetings, would anyone notice any difference if this bureaucracy was removed?

Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington, York.