LIKE Sylvia Dunn (Tough choices in council cuts, Letters, January 15) and J Beck, I too would like to know what happened to the very expensive Christmas tree which graced Parliament Street during the Christmas 2006 season.

Was it put in a new locality for Christmas 2007, or is it mouldering in a council cellar somewhere? An explanation would be appreciated.

I would also be interested to know the cost of employing a "writer in residence" at the art gallery. This seems a very odd appointment when we are having to suffer cuts in basic services to save money.

Celia Allison, Cherrywood Crescent, Fulford, York.