I REFER to Cllr Whittaker's letter in last week's Citizen where he proudly announced a council tax increase of 4.8 per cent

I find it hard to believe that there is any cause for celebration in beating the outrageous council tax budgets of the last six years. There are creatures obstructing the by-pass who could have achieved that!

Emotive statements such as 'tough and prudent management of the city's finances is required' could make you think they have sub-contracted financial management to a competent body. How can he spout this rubbish when most council taxpayer's are lucky if they get an increase in their income of 1.5 per cent.

Additionally, the councillor the quotes some hitherto unknown figures which show Tory councils to cost £200 per head more than Labour. Which Tory councils are we comparing ourselves with, what service do they provide and are the figures irrefutable?

Cllr Whittaker should forget party politics and just try to satisfy the people he represents. They deserve better than what they are being given at the moment because there is a election around the corner.

Russell Mills, Hest Bank.