Reading your item in the Journal last week I was intrigued to learn that Wychavon District Council leader, Councillor Martin Jennings, has appointed a Labour councillor as vice-chairman of the scrutiny committee.

They are two Labour members on the council, but twelve Liberal Democrats.

In the circumstances one would expect that a Liberal Democrat would be appointed as vice-chairman. Indeed, on a number of councils it is the policy to appoint the chairman of the scrutiny committee from the main opposition party. The reasoning is that a committee run by the same party which constitutes the executive board is not best placed to do the sort of job the electorate would expect.

David Phillips, Waverley, Elmley Castle, Pershore.