I read with interest your article about council staff pay both for Essex and Tendring councils (Gazette, April 8, “Council has 40 staff earn more than £100k”).

I find it quite hard to think that 40 Essex County Council staff have a wage of over £100,000, and that three Tendring District Council staff have that same wage.

It used to be that working for a council was in a similar vain to that of the forces, where there was a civic pride in working or protecting the people of your area. This was whether you worked in the office or cleaned the streets.

A spokesman said: “We are one of the largest councils in England and one of the highest performing - because we have invested in high quality staff who ensure the council delivers value for money for the residents.”

I’m sure that a spokesman for Tendring District Council would say the same thing, for he would have to “sing from the same hymn sheet”.

So how can we measure this performance? By the litter strewn A120 from Harwich to Colchester.

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The break up of roads round our area of Essex.

The “gleaming” town centres of Clacton, Frinton, Walton, Dovercourt and Harwich.

These are just a few examples of the civic pride shown by those who are collectively on £4.5million wages and not forgetting, of course, those gold-plated pensions.

Also the gold-plated severance pay should either their jobs no longer exist or they do something where they’re found to be under-performing.

Also perhaps remembering other officers on £50,000 and more.

Is it any wonder that Chancellor Rishi Sunak can only afford one per cent to give to NHS staff when he has to pay such deserving council staff.

A V Holmes

Birch Avenue, Dovercourt