There is no such thing as a free lunch. Unless, it seems, you're Brighton and Hove City Council's chief executive.

The Argus has discovered David Panter spent more than £6,000 of public money in the last financial year, mostly on wining and dining.

Criticism is mounting of his spending on entertainment at a time when the council has had to make millions of pounds in cuts and put up council tax by more than the inflation rate.

The discovery also comes at a time when the council has just given Mr Panter an inflation-busting £25,000 pay rise amounting to more than many people in the city earn.

No one is saying Mr Panter should not spend money entertaining people who bring prosperity to the city.

It's natural for him to want to impress important visitors by taking them to the posh Grand Hotel or the trendy Hotel du Vin.

But he should be showing a little restraint when the council is facing the worst financial crisis in its history.

Thousands of people who struggle to afford council tax payments will not be amused to hear some of that cash went on a £54-a-head dinner at the Grand for an assessment team from the Local Government Improvement Programme.

They may also find the spending of £289 for dinner during a fact-finding visit to Edinburgh, including £103 for drinks, a tad excessive.

Six thousand pounds may not seem that much to a man on one of the highest salaries in the city - but it does to most of the people he is employed to serve.