BEXLEY Council is not perfect and it is part of the democratic process councillors should accept and respond to criticism.

However, I think it is fair to expect criticism is based on fact, otherwise it serves no purpose except to confuse people.

John Nicholson-Taylor (Bad Borough, News Shopper, January 18) says Bexley residents "pay the most council tax".

This is not true. In London this dubious distinction belongs to the residents of Conservative-controlled Richmond, whose Band D tax is £142 higher than in Bexley.

They are closely followed by the people of Lib-Dem controlled Kingston, who pay £132 more than their Bexley equivalents.

Indeed, Bexley's council tax is just below the Outer London average.

It is also less than Havering, Haringey, Waltham Forest, Hounslow, Harrow, Merton, Hillingdon, Ealing and Barnet.

And it is £1 to £2 more a month than you would pay in some parts of Tory-controlled Dartford.

All councillors, whatever their party, are aware of the burden council tax places on residents.

And I believe the system needs to be reformed because it is unfair.

I want Bexley to be at the forefront of arguing this case.

We will continue to do everything we can to keep the council tax down but let's debate with facts, not myths.

COUNCILLOR CHRIS BALL

Leader of the Labour Group

Bexley Council