I write in my capacity as president of the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors in response to Charles Plant’s article ‘A fairer structure’ (see [2010] Gazette, 11 March, 8).

The association and I support the Solicitors Regulation Authority in taking the brave decision to remove unfairness in the practising fee system for solicitors employed in local government. However, I must tackle the myth that ‘henceforth, this will result in an increased fee burden on private practice of about 15%’.

Such a statement serves only to highlight the injustice of the current system and is the equivalent of ‘half-full or half-empty’ thinking. It totally ignores, for example, the fact that public funds from local government have been ‘feather-bedding’ the legal profession and the legal regulator for many years. Such a position has never been fair, proportionate or sustainable in the public interest, as the alleged ‘15% burden’ should never have been paid by taxpayers.

The 60%/40% firm/individual-based regulation begun to redress the inequity for local government must be continued by the SRA to achieve an 80/20 split. This is especially the case when one realises that solicitors employed in central government continue to benefit from a statutory exemption and pay less than the proposed fees for local government. Our association will continue to lobby the SRA to achieve the 80/20 split within the next two years.

Dr Mirza Ahmad, President, Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors, corporate director of governance, Birmingham City Council