I write in response to the front page article in last week's Guardian and, in particular, the comment that Mr Corker is regarded by some observers as having been squeezed out in a management restructuring at the council.

To set the record straight, the posts created by the management restructure were advertised openly to both internal and external applicants in accordance with council policy and best practice.

Mr Corker, together with other internal applicants, was encouraged to apply.

The decisions to appoint the successful candidates were taken in accordance with council procedures and by committees that involved all five of the political groups being consulted on a proportional representation basis.

Mr Corker was unsuccessful in his applications and was given the opportunity to be permanently redeployed into two other vacant Chief Officer positions, but at that stage he was seeking early retirement.

So you can see that Mr Corker volunteered to leave the council's employment.

I also wish to respond to Mr Corker' s comment that 'If the MBIs can get rid of the Chief Executive and the whole of the management team....' Mr Corker was promoted on a temporary basis only by the last Labour Administration pending the outcome of the review of the management structure.

Two former management team members successfully applied for promotion with two other local authorities and two in due course, together with Mr Corker, were granted voluntary early retirement in accordance with council policy.

Cllr Tricia Heath, Leader City Council