Robert Hale (Malvern Gazette, July 21) has only touched the tip of the iceberg on the cost of staffing levels at MHDC.

It may be saving £500,000pa after spending £650,000 cutting seven senior managers, which works out at a cool £33 per household, but who do they think they are kidding with their figures?

Like the archetypal man on the No 44 bus to Worcester, we all know staffing levels reflect the inefficiency of local government. I guess 10% of staff could disappear with no impact on services, if run properly. The problem applies right through government circles, from Whitehall to MHDC. We are all being taken for a ride, we all know we are.

One final question, if seven out of 14 senior staff can be taken out of the system, then why were they recruited in the first place? Anybody running private industry only recruits when the pips squeak and when they plan for growth. MHDC has the growth, so if they can still be disposed of, just how over-staffed has the council been for many years? We all have a pretty good idea.

Tony Brook, Montpelier Road, West Malvern .