A county council's consumer protection service was told to cut costs today after Government watchdogs said it was one of the most expensive in the country.
Despite the criticism, West Sussex County Council's Trading Standards department has been awarded a two-star rating by the Best Value Inspection Service.
The rating means that the council has a good service which will probably improve. The maximum rating is three stars and the minimum zero.
Councillors have been told that they must look at the cost of providing the service, said to be the fifth most expensive out of 34 local authorities.
Trading Standards costs the county council £2.2 million a year and employs more than 60 full-time staff.
A spokeswoman for the Best Value unit said: "There is concern the costs are extremely high."
Patrick Bligh-Cheesman, head of Trading Standards, said many of the areas in the report had been dealt with since the inspection eight months ago.
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