The £145,000 annual salary about to be paid to David Panter, chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council, will seem high to many people.

Even his £25,000 wage rise is a lot more than thousands of workers, including many of his staff, earn every year.

But the Brighton and Hove city boss is earning less than many chief executives of comparable authorities.

He would undoubtedly earn far more if he was heading a private company that had the same number of employees as the council - up to 8,000.

Councillors would have spent a lot of money recruiting someone else at the same salary if Mr Panter had accepted other posts he has been offered.

That's why, despite all the doubts and the big hole in council finances, they agreed to give David the dosh.