As a distinguished member of an honourable profession, you know the importance of checking facts. Would that Mr Ronald Scott knew the same.

It is precisely the kind of business expertise and financial acumen that he is extolling that has got this country into its current desperate mess.

Does he not realise that, according to the Audit Commission, the average salary of a Chief Executive Officer of county and single-tier authorities in England rose by 34 cent to an average of £150,000 (still much less than Wiltshire’s proposal) over the last four years?

What he calls ‘financial acumen’ others might call a ‘rip-off’, particularly at a time of rising unemployment and hardship.

Part of the £50,000 fee it is proposed to pay a consultancy firm to find Wiltshire’s new paragon will go towards them sitting down with councillors to identify where to advertise the job. Mr Editor, will you join me in pooling our media expertise? Let’s sit down together for ten minutes and do it for them, absolutely free of charge. Now there’s an offer I know they’ll refuse.

Of the 46 historic counties in England, Wiltshire ranks 34th in population size. It’s a sporting bet that a good few of the 33 counties that are larger will actually be paying their CEO less than the Prime Minister – unlike Wiltshire.

As every schoolboy used to know, the smallest county is Rutland. Perhaps the recruitment consultants might recommend that its motto of Multum in parvo (So much in so little) be adopted by Wiltshire. It certainly applies in their case.

Coun Nicholas Fogg, Oxford Street, Marlborough.