Councillor Dennehy was right to highlight the slight of hand by Ealing Council (Letters, March 1) in keeping its new rates of council tax unchanged, but there are other questions to be asked.

As I understand it, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has reduced his precept on the London boroughs, if only by a few pence.

So if Ealing is not increasing its tax rate, the mayor’s reduction should give Ealing council tax payers a reduction on the previous year.

My Band B tax has reduced by £2.89p over the previous year, but the council has given no publicity to this fact. However, as a council tenant my rent has increased ‘based on the government rent restructuring policy’, another calculation ending with the words ‘+1.0 per cent’ by £3.09p per week (3.9 per cent); and my service charge, not subject to any government policy by 0.37p per week (3 per cent).

In the same issue of the Gazette are public notices of increases in on-street parking charges in Central Ealing and CPZ zones A, B and L of £1.20 to £1.40 (+ 17 per cent); £1.60 to £2 (+25 per cent); £2 to £2.40 (+20 per cent).

If the council took more interest in maintaining shopping areas and cheaper parking, car-owning shoppers wouldn’t go elsewhere and the borough might stand more chance of surviving the recession.

John Gashion

Church Road, Acton