I write in support of Valerie Paynter (Letters, July 8) on the role of Brighton and Hove City council officers in decision-making processes.

I am often shocked and saddened at the standard of research in some background papers presented to councillors - for example, research on the Hove Library debate.

The reference to our Forum's Tenure Group as a "Ten year group" or the "Tenure Year Group" does not add to my confidence in their understanding of, for example, housing issues.

Not everyone relies on officers to research decisions the officers themselves will then implement.

To ensure quality, other councils employ specialists.

An officer threatened to resign attendance at our housing forum if a vote she should never have had was removed. Some council officers (of course, not all) do not have the interests of our community at heart or even in sight. They act in the interests of their own CVs or political agenda.

Chairwoman, Brighton and Hove

private sector housing forum

-First Avenue, Hove