Just when I thought that our city councillors had at last come to their senses, they go and spoil it all and ask their chief executive to clear up the mess.

At the city council's retirees' Christmas party, hosted by the Lord Mayor, John Tanner, he mentioned in his speech that three executive directors had not been reappointed, reversing the commonly-held notion that only employees on lower grades faced the sack when cutbacks in staff were required.

What a disappointment it was to read that the city council has advertised five senior jobs at the town hall with a combined salary of more than £400,000 - despite a freeze on the recruitment of rank and file staff (Oxford Mail, February 23).

I do not know what the combined salaries of the three executives who were not appointed amounted to, but I cannot see any significant savings.

Was the wool pulled over our councillors' eyes?

Following Andy Beal's letter (Oxford Mail, February 22), where he lists the pay of council bosses, the chief executive does not appear to disagree with the figures stated. So one can presume they are correct.

Though he says that the number of council senior service manager posts has been reduced from 21 to 14, he has not explained why the council is advertising five senior posts in the town hall (Oxford Mail, February 29).

Considering that many departments have been closed, assets sold, a major part of our housing stock transferred to housing associations, consultants engaged to carry out surveys etc, the number of staff usefully employed should be half.

As for attracting senior managers with proven track record, the 'bloomers' made in the last decade should make Oxford worthy winners.

VIM RODRIGO Rivermead Road Rose Hill Oxford