IN response to Dennis Barton’s letter, Give us answers, The Press February 18.

All UK councils have been offered millions of pounds of Government money to freeze council tax, including the Labour council in York. But the council is proposing not to take the government’s money and increase council tax payers bills by 1.9 per cent.

This means council tax payers in York pay more in council tax, which is wrong, when this money is on offer by the Government.

Also, by proposing to increase York council-tax payers’ bills by 1.9 per cent the Labour council in York will not have to put their proposal to a referendum.

Keeping the council-tax increase to under 2 per cent it makes the Labour-run council in York democracy dodgers.

Terry Smith, Fourth Avenue, York.