I am astounded that Oxfordshire County Council chief executive Richard Shaw and other senior managers are in line for pay rises of up to 15 per cent (Oxford Mail, February 5).

The pay of senior managers at the county council has gone up dramatically in recent years.

At the same time, a large number of council employees are threatened with a pay cut as a result of a spurious 'job evaluation' process.

If Dr Shaw and his senior colleagues have an ounce of respect for hard-hit council taxpayers and low-paid council employees, they should not accept a penny more than the rate of inflation this year.

As for council leader Keith Mitchell, I thought Conservatives were supposed to oppose wasteful spending by local authorities.

Maybe he would like to explain why he is presiding over this jobs-for-the-boys jamboree?

JOHN SMITH

Banbury Road

Oxford