SO YORK’S council tax is to rise by 1.9 per cent (The Press, February 5).

In response, I truly believe it is wrong that the Labour council is proposing to increase council tax when a £1.8 million grant is on offer by Conservative local secretary Eric Pickles to freeze this year’s council tax.

I do believe Labour’s decision is politically motivated and unnecessary and will hit hard-working families.

Terry Smith, Fourth Avenue, York.