Diary doesn't want to come across as a frightful snob, but we could not help raise an eyebrow when we received an email from Carlisle City Council about a deal to bring a major retailer into a shopping centre.

It was revealed last week the local authority has paid £1.1m to the parent company behind British Home Stores – or BHS as the kids like to call it – to get the retailer to terminate its lease at the Lanes Shopping Centre.