Mr G Arkwright wrote in last week's Citizen making reference to Council Tax bills.

I thought he and your other readers may be interested to know that in the past two years Council Tax bills have risen by nearly 21per cent. This means bills have, depending on banding, risen between £100-300.

Furthermore, Treasury calculations published in last year's budget showed that the level of tax taken by the Government had risen from 36per cent at the 1997 General Election to 37.7per cent this year. This is the most tax any Government has taken since 1985.

Independent councillors have questioned the significant rise in Council Tax bills, but as usual the Labour Leader, Councillor Henig, was exceptionally quiet on the subject.

May I suggest that Citizen readers remember these excess increases when they are approached by Labour candidates for their votes. I urge everyone to ask them why tax bills have risen both nationally and locally under Labour.

Cllr Carol Broad

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