SIR — Peter Humber (Your Letters, August 17) indicates that West Somerset Council is no longer viable, questions the 'integrity, political courage and honesty' of its members and refers to 'political duplicity' of the council. These comments do not reflect the open, transparent and increasingly efficient culture of the council which I have the honour of leading.

Currently, our very good group of elected councillors and our hard-working officers are doing their best, at a time of unprecedented cuts to our Government funding, to preserve, as far as possible, those services which the people of West Somerset value.

We are in regular communication with other local councils, the Local Government Association and National Government over the best way to organise local government in West Somerset. If evidence shows that alternative options for local democracy will better serve the residents of West Somerset, current councillors will not lack the courage to pursue such options and place them before the people of West Somerset. However, any procedures for changing the structure of local government in West Somerset, would also involve boundary and structural changes within neighbouring authorities. Procedures for such changes would be lengthy, complicated and the outcomes difficult to predict.

It is also uncertain that any alternative structure based outside of West Somerset would provide better 'value for money' services for the people of West Somerset; other councils are also facing considerable financial challenges. There is still a case for decisions for West Somerset being made in West Somerset, by councillors wholly elected by the people of West Somerset.

Over the last 18 months West Somerset Council, along with our partners Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council, has been highly successful in securing some £90 million in mitigation for the proposed construction stage for two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point. Much of this will be spent in West Somerset. We are also active in negotiating with EDF and National Government to obtain long-term financial community benefit for West Somerset, if and when the proposed new nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point generate electricity.

Please rest assured that we will continue to the keep residents of West Somerset informed of the considerable challenges which face us and our proposals to continue to provide 'value for money' services within West Somerset.councillors welcome comments and suggestions from the people of West Somerset. However, any suggestions of 'political duplicity' and lack of 'integrity, political courage and honesty' within the current council are wholly misplaced.

Cllr Tim Taylor

Leader,

West Somerset Council.