It is good to see Brighton and Hove City Council's bid to become European Capital of Culture is in the accomplished hands of its new chief executive, David Panter, encumbered by no previous local government experience and by only a modest selection of earrings.

Under the headline "The facts speak for themselves" (The Argus, February 13) in an ill-advised debate with Julie Burchill about how the council spends our money, he boasted: "Next year, grants going to arts groups will decline three per cent while money going to social and community groups will increase by 13 per cent."

Unaware of the trap into which he was falling, he added: "The Brighton Philharmonic's grant, for instance, is being cut from £34,000 to nothing in two years."

And he proudly added: "Of the £237 million budget, about £260,000 will go in grants to Brighton Festival and £130,000 to a variety of smaller arts organisations. That's actually less than we spend on five children with special needs."

Swindon, Slough and even Scunthorpe obviously stand no chance.

-Edward Goring, Ainsworth Avenue, Ovingdean