WITH regard to Oxfordshire County Council leader keith Mitchell’s response (Oxford Mail, February 14) to my letter about making savings in the management and organisation of the council, I am delighted to hear that a number of senior posts have been deleted with more to follow.

However, his letter does raise many questions, namely:

  • If they are not needed now, why were they needed in the first place? It reinforces my view that councils and other government bodies only think about savings and getting value for money when their money supply, taxpayer’s money, is being reduced.
  • He does not explain why the council pays such generous salaries, and pension contributions, to its senior staff.
  • He does not explain why he needs so many staff working on strategy.
  • Why were my comments about PAs and secretaries classed as cheap and easy digs?

These posts are not cheap for us taxpayers. When I have shown the council’s organisation charts, with their numerous PA posts, to people in industry and commerce their reaction is usually unprintable.

Modern organisations share PAs among several executives and use software to manage appointments and meetings. I really cannot believe that one of the directors needs a personal assistant, an assistant personal assistant and a personal secretary.

There is talk of substantial increases in council tax in two years. It would be nice to know that by then our council is as lean and efficient as possible so that these increases can be kept to a minimum.

John Gould, Oxford