I was disappointed to read the comments in your August 21 issue attributed to Ken Cunningham, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, regarding the role of chief executives in the management of education.

Every local authority chief executive has responsibility for every service delivered within their council, including education. They have to address the strategic management and performance issues within all services and must ensure that the council is structured in such a way as to facilitate the achievement of its corporate priorities, as well as those set out in consultation with communities and partners in the Community Plan.

Education is a very important part of local government and has a crucial role to play in helping to deliver the outcomes we seek for our communities. I am confident that chief executives will continue to make decisions which reflect the best interests of their councils and the communities which they serve.

Mary Pitcaithly, president, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, Scotland; chief executive, Falkirk Council.