EVERY year begins with Councillor Hills, leader of the Labour-controlled City of York Council, warning of an impending large increase in council tax accompanied by cuts in services and increased charges.

With public sector pay rises regularly far less than council tax rises one wonders what are the cost pressures behind large tax rises. How can an organisation that continually reduces services but raises charges, claim to be delivering best value?

Can York's history of council tax rises be due to costs resulting from executive councillors, computer upgrades or burgeoning office bureaucracy?

We can only speculate whereas Coun Hills could perhaps enlighten us as to what is driving up council costs. He should also consider other solutions to control costs because his remedies do not seem to be successful.

Richard Lamb,

Greystoke Road,

Rawcliffe Road, York.

Updated: 10:31 Monday, January 28, 2002