I AM writing in reply to the three letters about council tax in the Evening Press on Friday, March 22. N Ashcroft points out that the charge from the Police Authority has gone up by 41 per cent. This is in addition to the 6.8 per cent rise in York but while the money is collected by the council and handed over to the police, it is the Police Authority that sets its level of charge not the city council.

The council tax in York has risen by about 44 per cent (not 50 per cent) since Labour came to power in 1997. Part of the reason for this increase being above inflation (about 18 per cent over the years in question) is that it is national government economic policy, started under the previous Conservative Government, for council tax to rise by at least two per cent a year above inflation as part of a move to keep income tax low and raise more from direct taxes.

The citizens of York should be aware that despite these recent increases the City of York Council:

Has the lowest council tax in North Yorkshire

Has the eighth lowest council tax among the 47 similar unitary councils

Has the lowest spend per head of population of all unitaries

Has set one of the lowest council tax rises among unitaries for the coming year.

With regard to Mrs Prophet's letter I can only say that the offer from St Peter's was the best that the council could obtain for the school and its grounds without causing considerable traffic problems for local residents, given the narrow roads around the site. This decision was taken after public consultation.

The money received is being used to fund major developments within the council's capital programme, these include the works to Edmund Wilson pool, improvements to council houses and some of the enhancements at Canon Lee School.

Simon Wiles,

Head of Financial Services,

Library Square,

York.

Updated: 09:58 Monday, April 01, 2002