A SPECIAL charter aimed at improving working relations between York area councils looks set to be approved.

Senior city councillors will tomorrow discuss adopting a council charter for the City of York.

They will also invite York area parish and town councils to adopt the charter.

The charter is designed to improve co-operation and response to complaints and consultation on decisions taken by the city council affecting parish or town councils.

But one of its main aims is to cut out "double taxation," where the city council charges taxpayers for a service provided by the town or parish council.

A report on the charter states: "City of York Council wants to ensure that residents of York do not have to pay council tax and a local precept for the same service. However, it believes that the existence of concurrent functions does not in itself mean that double taxation is occurring."

Parish or town councils that believe residents are being "double-taxed" will be invited to make the case to the city council.

If the case is successful the council would then be offered a financial settlement or the chance to transfer the service to the city council.

City councill leader Steve Galloway will debate adopting the charter from 5pm tomorrow, at The Guildhall.

Updated: 08:36 Tuesday, July 15, 2003