COUNCILLOR Paul Blanchard states in his letter (Burden of tax, November 13) that the rebanding of properties for council-tax purposes is a "zero-sum game".

Would that we could believe this. Over time, we seem to have forgotten why council tax is levied: namely, to pay for council-provided services. No one uses more services just because they live in a bigger or better house. In practice, the current system amounts to an extra tax on property.

There are thousands of people in the city who have the benefit of the services without paying a penny towards: namely, working offspring who reside with their parents.

With the ever-rising cost of council tax, the time is ripe for the introduction of a fairer system than the one currently in place.

Des Feakes, Cedarwood Close, Acomb, York.