I simply cannot understand why Paul Hodson (Letters, April 30) is so agitated by my 30 seconds of fame at the Albion celebrations. I was proud to introduce the team and its then manager and am delighted at their success in achieving a historic second promotion. Brighton and Hove City Council was hosting the event in its headquarters and, as leader, I think I had some small legitimacy in being there.

I knew I would be barracked by some of the fans outside - I don't blame anyone. In their position, I would probably have done the same. I simply tried to point out the decision on Falmer is not up to me. The planning application is in and we have set the earliest possible date for councillors to examine it. Members of the planning committee have to work to the rule book. Breaking those rules is a red-card offence - the whole decision could be put in jeopardy.

So, neither I nor any other councillor who may be involved in the decision should ever be making their views known publicly. Mr Hodson seems to think I should have announced the decision itself six weeks before the committee meets and that in not doing so I have shown a "failure of leadership". This is utterly wrong.

The council has worked with the Albion to get this far, just as it worked with the club to provide Withdean stadium and bring the club home from Gillingham. We will continue to play by the rules - that's the way to get results.

-Ken Bodfish, Leader, Brighton and Hove City Council