The piece about the Brighton and Hove City Mutual Project (The Argus, July 17) and, in particular, Voice of The Argus were fascinating.

Hitting the nail right on the head springs to mind.

The legislation that deals with the disposal of local authority land and buildings is long established and for Brighton and Hove City Council to suggest it has only just come to light or may be relevant is worrying.

How much other legislation is the council missing?

The legislation is the Local Government Act 1972 (Section 123) and while I was the council's head of property that section had always to be in the forefront of one's mind.

But there was then - and I doubt it has changed - a reservation in the Act that the consent of the Secretary of State could be sought to waive the requirement to obtain the best price.

Surely the council must be aware of this and, if the project is something really worthwhile and justifiable, an application to the Minister is worth trying.

As Voice of The Argus said, "If the council took another legal opinion it might find out that the snags were sic not insurmountable".

-John Bartlett, john_bart@onetel.net.uk