THE case which York council chiefs hope will avert the threat of capping has now been sent to the Government.

City of York Council's appeal to local government minister Phil Woolas - all 500 pages of it - has arrived on desks at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Case For York argues that the council is a model of prudent management rather than the excessive spender that the Government has labelled it.

Council leader Steve Galloway today said the document was "comprehensive" and that he hoped that "good sense will prevail".

A letter from Coun Galloway and chief executive David Atkinson states the council did not "set its council tax at a level that it thought would in any way be likely to lead to a confrontation with the Government or any likelihood of capping".

The pack also contains articles from the Evening Press - which has supported the city council in its efforts to avoid capping - including the open letter we sent to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The Government will spend the next few weeks considering the council's case. If it rejects the authority's overtures, it could impose restrictions on the budget - or force it to rebill homes, costing as much as £170,000.

The council is required to shave £280,000 from its £98 million budget.

In its defence, the council says York has one of the lowest council tax bills in the country, and is also one of the lowest spending councils. A final decision is expected in the summer.

Coun Galloway said: "The Case for York has now been lodged with the local government minister.

"We have produced a comprehensive document which not only details the financial strategy of the council but which also explains why we feel that York, far from spending "excessively", is in reality a model of prudent management.

"We continue to receive letters of support from parish councils, residents groups, business and academic institutions.

"We trust that good sense will prevail and that we will be able to negotiate an agreement which recognises that the unfair council tax system does impact adversely on those members of society who rely on fixed incomes, but which also appreciates that the York council - over a very long period of time - has done everything possible to keep tax levels relatively low while striving to provide good public service standards in the city."

Updated: 10:12 Thursday, April 20, 2006