Sir, – Durham County Council is to be congratulated for winning the overall Council of the Year prize in London (Durham Times, March 14). Perhaps though, Simon Henig and George Garlick could have been more generous in their praise. Since 2010, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has frozen council tax and the council has become much more efficient, so surely the accolade should be shared with Eric Pickles?

LES HOLLOWAY Durham.