WITH reference to letters from councillors James Alexander and Anna Semlyen (Letters, January 17), I hope these facts will temper their thinking.

In 1999, Labour suspended the CAP and in 2002 NYP authority increased the precept 130 per cent. The result being we pay 260 per cent more.

In 2005, the council increased the council tax by 9.5 per cent (six per cent over inflation).

However, last year, the NYPCC received a £5.7m grant resulting in the various collecting agents saving money (City of York Council saved £1.3m on their contributions), but not the public.

Mr P Richardson, York Road, Haxby, York.