SO it's official. City of York Council has decided to fleece us yet again in its yearly money-grabbing efforts.

When the inflation rate in the country is only at 2.8 per cent, when the Government has increased the money available to local councils, when the council is about to get a huge windfall from the sale of the Barbican site, when it has admitted to losing open land, councillors still think it is a good thing for the people who elect them to have to pay a 9.5 per cent council tax increase (January 30).

When is this council going to realise that there has to be an end to the amount of money we have to give away?

My last pay rise was only because of the increase in the minimum wage, added to my wife's part-time job. Where are we supposed to get the money from?

I should like every council tax-payer to make a stand and only pay an increase equivalent to the rate of inflation - and make the council sue us for the rest. We can't go on giving more and getting less.

Jeremy Banyard,

Bramham Grove,

Acomb, York.

...I READ with disgust that the police bill is to increase by an average of £26 for a band D home.

What are we paying for? I live in the Foxwood area of York and last year I called the police (999) three times and was told it was not their problem.

On one of those occasions a woman ended up burnt in the street.

I have asked the council to waive my contribution to the police on the grounds that I was not getting a service for my money. The council told me I must pay.

So I ask the police: what do you do for your money?

Tony Pemberton,

Foxwood Lane,

York.

Updated: 10:09 Monday, February 04, 2002