TAKE away the politics and look at the figures, and the Government's case is exposed.

Even after this year's 5.5 per cent rise, City of York Council imposes a lower council tax than all but nine other local authorities in the country. It is not, as Labour MP Hugh Bayley suggests, a spendthrift authority, but a thrifty one.

If there were a strong case for greater efficiency savings this year, the Labour group failed to identify these in an alternative budget.

Much of York's inflation-busting council tax demand lies 200 miles south. The Government relentlessly inflicts demands and targets on local authorities but fails to fund them properly. This has been New Labour's tactic ever since coming to power, a way of resisting income tax increases to fund its social programme by placing the burden, and the blame, on town halls.

Now Phil Woolas, the local government minister, is threatening York council with capping, which would cost a small fortune to administer. This is macho posturing by a man who should have no business meddling in this city's affairs.

For that is what this row most clearly demonstrates: the complete lack of local accountability inherent in the system.

York council sets tax levels not according to the needs of the people it serves, but on the basis of what the Government says and does. Then ministers, with no knowledge or interest in York's affairs, decide what is good for us.

The council should set out its spending programme and any case for raising taxes. Then it should be up to the voters, not faceless Whitehall bean-counters, to deliver their verdict - at the ballot box.

Updated: 09:22 Tuesday, March 28, 2006