Mr Walton (Letters, April 6) has fallen into a common trap when he writes about the council's reserves. Much of the reserves are already earmarked for such things as job creation or repaying debt which would otherwise have to be paid through large increases in the council tax.

The Liberal proposal to take £2 million from the remaining reserves would mean reducing them to an unsound level - one third below what is generally agreed is prudent. A reckless squandering of the reserves just to garner in a few votes is Liberal policy, it is not Labour's.

Coun Rod Hills,

City of York Council Leader.

Guildhall,

York.

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