The post of chief executive at Brighton and Hove Council is one of the most important public services appointments in Sussex.

More than 7,000 staff are employed by the council which also has a budget of more than £250 million each year.

But the cost of appointing a successor to chief executive Glynn Jones is almost beyond belief, especially for the hard-pressed council tax payers who will be footing the bill.

It could cost more than £100,000 to employ consultants who will carry out the appointments process and for advertisements in national newspapers.

Mr Jones has been an excellent chief executive in the 13 years he has held the post, firstly in Brighton and then in Brighton and Hove.

Already scores of people who might be suitable for the post know all about it and will be certain to apply. The council could alert the rest by writing to them.

There's no need at all to employ so-called employment experts or to place expensive ads in national newspapers.

It won't need complicated tests for councillors to see whether the new man or woman is up to the mark.

If councillors are prepared to squander a six-figure sum on this appointment, will they be prepared to make it up by forfeiting a rise in their allowances?