SIR — As leader of West Somerset Council, I respond to both the report in the Free Press of May 25 and the subsequent letter from Richard Hughes concerning the decision to pay an honorarium to our planning manager Andrew Goodchild for his extra work and responsibility arising from EDF's application to build two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point.

It is standard practice for councils to make public only salaries of staff earning over £50,000, which applies to the top two officers of our council only.

The honorarium for Andrew was debated and decided in confidential session of the council's cabinet. As chairman of the meeting and in the interests of accuracy, I point out that the sum quoted includes contributions towards national insurance and pension, and is not the actual amount Andrew will receive.

While it is inappropriate to quote from a debate held in confidential session, the name and position of the member of staff concerned are now unfortunately in the public domain, although they were not in the published minutes of the cabinet meeting.

Therefore, I feel it is now appropriate to provide some background information which is already public knowledge.

West Somerset Council secured money from EDF under the Section 106 Agreement for the site preparation works for Hinkley Point C, which included a contribution paid to the council for providing an enhanced level of service to the developer, for which the planning manager is responsible.

Hence, the honorarium did not come from Council Taxpayers' money.

When our planning manager was appointed in May 2009, there was little appreciation of the huge role and responsibility that would come his way with the Hinkley Point C application.

Our planning manager would normally operate within the local environment of West Somerset, which continues to be a part of the position.

However, Andrew is also working in a regional and national context with a number of organisations and individuals, including national government at both ministerial and civil servant levels, EDF Energy, other councils, top lawyers (including QCs) and high-level technical experts.

Clearly, his current role and responsibilities far exceed those normally experienced by a district council planning manager – the role for which he was appointed initially, with its associated pay grading.

In the process of representing West Somerset's interests at high levels, Andrew has successfully managed some incredibly complex negotiations, in the process dealing direct with highly qualified (and highly paid) people who are experts in their fields. He has operated well beyond his initial remit on appointment.

What he has done, and is still doing, is in both the national interest and in the interests of the people of West Somerset.

Andrew has been a key (perhaps the key) player in securing approximately £30 million for Somerset, which includes a significant sum for West Somerset, in mitigation for the site preparatory works. In addition he has earned the respect of local, regional and national representatives.

Anyone who has been involved with the Hinkley Point project and knows its unprecedented scale and the massive amount of extra work involved understands that this honorarium is only a small recognition for the huge amount of extra time and commitment Andrew has given and continues to give, whilst still overseeing the West Somerset Council Planning Department.

He has developed expertise and undertakes extra responsibility well above his current pay grade.

West Somerset is incredibly fortunate to have such an exceptional and dedicated officer to represent the interests of local people.

The honorarium for Andrew is therefore more than justified.

Cllr Tim Taylor,

Leader,

West Somerset Council.