Sir – In your editorial of April 9 you say that if local council executives were leading private businesses of a similar scale they would be more highly rewarded particularly with bonuses.

I would like to point out that such a comparison is totally inappropriate.

Local council chief executives are not running a business, they are administrating a cost centre and that is all.

Certainly, the budget can be large but they don't have to deal with the many concerns that occupy the private businessman.

They have no competition, they don’ t have to worry about marketing, product development or price competition or difficult cash flow because they know Government can’t let them go into administration.

And, they have much, much more job security than in the private sector and a secure pension.

David Hills, Oxford