CDS has worked his way up to where he is today.
The CDS job comes with a huge responsibility and decisions made at that level can have a profound effect on every single member of the Armed Forces, it is a position which amongst other things bridges the gap between politics and soldiering.
Although not necessarily ideal, the job entails making decisions that are going to have a detrimental effect on one group within the Armed Forces, whilst benefiting another.
I would go as far as saying that finding the right person for the post is very tricky.
As CDS you are stuck between a rock and a hard place.... if the correct person (as far as Armed Forces personnel are concerned) has been chosen then obviously their concern and aim will be to get the very best for their people.. and they will probably want to fight tooth and nail for that.
However they have to weigh this up with the knowledge that if they are too hard nosed, the politicians will get sick of this and will become even more difficult.
A good CDS is worth every penny they earn, the question should not be whether the position of CDS is worth £235k, but whether the person who holds that position is worthy of being CDS and therefore by default, is worthy of getting the money.