A city mayor and his deputy are to be paid £9,000 extra a year in allowances and expenses.

The Mayor of Brighton and Hove currently receives an expenses allowance of £9,480.

This is to be changed to an allowance of £8,000 with an expenses allowance of £10,000.

Another £500 will be added to the deputy mayor's expenses allowance of £2,000, which is on top of a basic allowance of £8,000.

City solicitor Claer Lloyd-Jones said no increase had been made in mayoral allowances since Brighton and Hove City Council was formed four years ago.

She said: "The mayor's expense allowances, which were considered adequate at the time, now need to be reviewed."

The office expense allowance of £10,000 to cover the cost of civic receptions will also rise to £12,000 as it is proving inadequate.

The changes were due to be approved by the policy committee last night and would come into effect in May when new mayor Harry Steer takes over from Andy Durr.

However, before then the council is likely to put the new arrangements in front of an independent panel.

Ms Lloyd-Jones said: "The proper funding of the mayor's and deputy mayor's allowances will have a positive impact.

"It will assist in removing what some may see as a financial burden attached to becoming a mayor."

She said the new allowances were in line with allowances paid to other members of the council with special responsibilities, such as Cabinet councillors.