PETER Boulton rightly questions the oft-repeated mantra that high salaries are needed to attract the best people into top management at local authorities, (Letters April, 15).

Another spurious claim made in support of mega-salaries is that these remuneration packages are needed to reflect the high level of responsibility these senior staffers carry.

This is hogwash. As we have seen in York several times no one ever takes responsibility for anything when things go wrong; which they often do.

Major projects turn out to have serious problems, have long delays and go way over budget.

The fundamental requirement of a Local Plan is never achieved. Despite these failings no one is ever censured and sackings are unknown.

The more common practice is a generous severance package and a positive reference to move on to another lucrative senior position in another public sector organisation. The severance packages are invariably negotiated in secret behind closed doors and subject to confidentiality clauses so we citizens don’t know about them.

And all the while we are paying for these super salaries in the farcical merry-go-round of senior public sector management.

It has to stop.

Matthew Laverack,

Eldon Street, York

 

...WITH reference to recent letters on the salaries of CYC staff, my only experience has been with the school governance service.

They may not be on six figure salaries, but their commitment, professionalism, expert advice, willingness to serve their schools and work some really unsocial hours, to say nothing of their highly effective training of governors is nothing short of outstanding.

The excellence of so many of the schools in our city owes much to this excellent service.

Mike Walmsley, school governor

Danebury Drive,

Acomb,

York

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