In the seven years she has been in the post, she has dragged our council from under-performing to a three-star authority.

Of course, our Labour councillors give themselves huge credit for this improvement.

But how could that be when the same people are still in place as when it was awful?

However, it is worth pointing out that Ms Lucas has been handsomely rewarded for her efforts.

Her wages, paid for by Council Tax payers over the seven years, must amount to a substantial sum. Will she also be receiving a generous leaving package, including pension?

I did note that in her farewell article in the Gazette, she conceded that South Tyneside remains where it has always been since the first Labour council was elected after the war – one of the most deprived boroughs in the country.

I'm sure she would have liked to have improved on that unenviable position.

Now that we have to advertise for a replacement, perhaps it is an opportune moment to reduce the wages for the position?

The chief executive of our 'deprived' borough is paid about £110,000 a year.

In a recession, that truly is obscene. The average wage for someone lucky enough to have a job is about £27,000 per year.

If the post was advertised locally for about £60,000, the postbag would still be full of quality applicants.

But, we will probably end up paying another fortune for a career climber from a distant borough who has to use an A to Z to get around the town.

We have great business talent here.

Colin Campbell,
Cleadon.