SIR – Otley Parish Council is set to raise its precept by 14.5 per cent and such increases always put the value of parish councils under the spotlight.

It’s worth remembering that the city’s council tax rates were frozen this year – the third year in a row – and this has been funded by a grant from the coalition government. Despite this, many people will have seen their overall council tax bill rise due to the increase in parish precepts and other charges like the Police Commissioner and West Yorkshire Fire Authority.

I’m broadly in favour of parish councils. I think they can do a lot to help improve the local area and represent the interests of communities in key matters like local development. But in the current financial climate people want to know that their taxes are being spent wisely.

Any increases to the precept need to be clearly justified to the people footing the bill, or else residents will rightly start to question whether what they’re paying for is really vital in such austere times.

If local people don’t see the benefits, they should take the matter up with their individual parish councillor.

Councillor Paul Wadsworth, Chairman of North West Outer Area Committee