SIR — I read with despair the reports under the heading "Council in crisis" in last week's Free Press.

How different an approach from that I experienced when I am privileged to attend meetings of councillors, council officers, government officers and MPs at county, regional, national and international level.

At a recent local government rural conference in Cheltenham, it was suggested by a Government Minister that the way forward for local authorities was to consider local learning centres in rural areas, better access to information and advice, community audits, support initiatives to improve rural transport policies, improving childcare facilities to help those wishing to return to work, take up the challenge of new streamlined decision making processes, and introduce ways to involve local communities in achieving healthier safer communities.

In West Somerset, thanks particularly to the support of chief executive Colin Rockall, we have already achieved many of these ideas which other authorities are only now considering.

We have four local learning centres located in Porlock, Winsford, Minehead and Williton providing easier access to lifelong learning opportunities.

We have piloted in Dulverton the use of a redundant police station as a Police and Community Information Centre.

We have supported many village appraisals.

We have a real improvement in rural bus services across the district.

We have support CLOWNS and other out-of-school and pre-school provision in an integral response to economic regeneration in the district.

Councillors in other local authorities look to West Somerset as an example of good practice in encompassing the new 'cabinet' approach.

We recently received a letter from Alan Howarth, Minister for the arts, congratulating WSDC on its recent copy of West Somerset News, welcoming 'the significance that your authority places on involving local communities'.

In attending such conferences I am confident that West Somerset is often at the cutting edge of new approaches to help improve many aspects of life affecting local people.

Naturally this is not achieved without developing partnerships with other authorities and organisations within the district. We are all part of a team.

However, I am not complacent. There are many more improvements to be made and the majority of my fellow councillors will hope that we shall be able to appoint a new chief executive of the high calibre of Colin Rockall, who has played such a crucial role in the past.

Cllr Keith Ross,

The Tantivy,

Fore Street,

Dulverton.