A new town hall administration will work with a controversial “super-director” system – despite opposing its introduction.

In a first message to its 8,000 members of staff, new Brighton and Hove City Council leader Bill Randall and chief executive John Barradell sent a joint message backing “intelligent commissioning”.

This was despite the Greens opposing a central part to the plans - the appointment of four £125,000-a-year strategic directors to oversee services across the city.

Town hall sources stated the Greens felt it was better to work with the system rather than risk further upheaval during a time of unprecedented Government cuts.

The message included a promise to promote collaboration with key groups, organisations, businesses and other public bodies in the city.

It comes as Coun Randall and Mr Barradell met the Brighton and Hove Strategic Partnership yesterday to discuss ways of working more closely together.

Intelligent commissioning was piloted by Mr Barradell when he became chief executive in October 2009.

Its aim is to simplify the delivery of key council services and ensure that duplication across public bodies was eradicated.