Brighton and Hove City Council faced a financial crisis in the spring when it had to make cuts of £5 million.

At the same time, it increased council tax by 14 per cent, several times the rate of inflation and more than many of its hard-pressed citizens could afford.

The council is still under heavy financial pressure with a poor grant settlement and pleas from officers for restraint.

So what does it do? Agree to spend £40,000 on showers at its King's House headquarters in Hove to encourage more people to cycle to work.

The aim of washing down sweaty cyclists is admirable, not least for those working next to them all day.

But should this sort of spending be a priority for an authority in such desperate financial trouble? We think not.