AT LONG last – a genuine chance for York council to make itself popular.

Ever since the council tax was introduced, year upon year the council has increased the rate by nearly the maximum allowed.

One of the main excuses has always been fuel and running costs – well, with fuel prices down more than a fifth this is a chance for the council to reduce our taxes by at least three per cent.

Added to this, we are in a state of negative inflation meaning prices are expected to go down. So there is no reason why the council projections should show a necessary increase.

Also, the Government is once again offering money to councils to help them keep the council tax down. More than 50 per cent of councils in the UK are freezing or reducing their taxes. York has never frozen or reduced it .

When times are hard for residents – many of whom haven’t had a pay rise for three or more years – then the council should also follow its own governance, which is to act in the best interest of its ‘customers’ .

There is no justification for a tax increase this year, so let’s see if they can do the right thing.

Eddie Vee, Woodlands, York.