I can reassure Jerry Laurie (Letters, April 23) that Brighton and Hove City Council does own the seafront south of Kingsway between the King Alfred centre and Hove Lagoon.

This is why we are able to make a commitment to conserve Hove seafront and lawns and plan better sports facilities and much-needed homes at the King Alfred site.

This area may not appear on the Land Registry because that tends to contain mainly properties that have been sold at some stage.

I am not quite sure which "fears and worries" Mr Laurie wants us to allay but if he would like to be explicit I will happily address them.

Trevor Pateman (Letters, same day) cannot know how many meetings council officers attend or how many memos they write so it is rather unfair to criticise them for either.

As a rule, I agree with his view that meetings should be kept to a minimum.

The council is no worse than any other public or private organisation I have worked for in this respect.

I am always on the lookout for suggestions for improving services and I welcome Mr Pateman's.

One of his ideas has always been part of my routine. I have a regular slot in my diary every week to work with front-line staff across all departments.

Mr Pateman might be pleased to know that key frontline staff do indeed work at busy periods, particularly weekends.

This includes bin emptying crews, street and beach cleaners, lifeguards and staff in the visitor information centre, museums and seafront office.

Officers are also on call for urgent work 24 hours a day in areas such as housing and environmental services.

-David Panter chief executive, Brighton and Hove City Council