I ENTIRELY agree your opinion column on Kennet chief executive's pay rise.

Why must it be kept quiet? No doubt the job is a big administrative responsibility, but then so is the skill to remain solvent, year after year the council has a deficit.

We are told we must blame the Government. According to published figures a £15,000 rise over a base of £75,000 over three years is six per cent plus each year.

No pensioner on either state pension only or even a small company pension has received anything like this percentage over last three years.

This is not all. The county elections are on the horizon and the taxpayers will have further demands to meet.

Without causing offence to pro or sceptic-thinking European persons, may I ask do we really need the following layers of authority with their expense to run this country?

Brussels/Strasburg, House of Lords/House of Commons, county council/district council, town council/parish xouncil.

Very democratic, but oh so expensive.

B DAVIE

Netheravon