YOU describe Bristol City Council's referendum on council tax options as "innovative" (Ballot on council tax is non-starter here, January 5 2001).

You omit to describe it as expensive. At a cost of £150,000 many York citizens might view it as such.

City of York Council does ask residents every year about spending priorities

via the representative Residents' Opinion Survey. The Evening Press receives a copy of the full results so it is disappointing that you have ignored a

consultation method that costs just one-tenth of the Bristol idea.

Peter Berry,

Assistant Chief Executive,

City of York Council,

Guildhall,

York.