SIR, I am writing to express my disappointment on seeing a Cumbria County Council advertisement regarding the proposed increases in council tax (Gazette, January 17). The

advert was inviting council tax payers to indicate their preference regarding the percentage increase in council tax to overcome the cut in the Government grant.

My disappointment was not fuelled by their consultation but in the misleading use of band B figures rather than band D. Band D is the average band on which the council tax base rate is set and used by all collecting authorities and Government.

There is a substantial difference between bands B and D (on average £200). As a district councillor, I feel that the county council has exercised power without responsibility whereas the district councils in the county have to exercise power with responsibility, as they are the collecting authority in whose names the bills go out. I hope that future consultation exercises from the county council be better executed.

Coun John Moffat

Chairman of the resources committee

Eden District Council

February 4, 2003 16:30