AS a former independent councillor on Hyndburn Council -- voted on as the sole independent between 23 Tory and 23 Labour Councillors -- I think I can speak with some authority, by stating the obvious, as to why the position of chief executive is not being replaced and his duties being shared out between existing officers (LET, May 22).

The existing leadership of both parties do not want anyone coming in from outside who, like me, will soon find out what has been going on for the past 10 years or so. At the time of my voluntary resignation, two years ago, I remember two very poignant remarks made by senior council officers... "Your standards are higher than ours, Mr Shurmer, and that's the problem"; and "Shurmer came in like a breath of fresh air and has become a hurricane." You bet I did!

ADRIAN SHURMER, Lyndon Avenue, Great Harwood.