CLLR Tina Funnell may have a point in saying that residents care more about parties working together for the good of York than about who sits on a particular committee (Letters, November 10).

That’s why I’m pleased that Opposition councillors have worked together recently to stop a number of her party’s proposals.

Opposition councillors backed a Lib Dem motion calling for Labour’s Local Plan to be halted amid concerns over use of Green Belt land. And then they worked together to stop Labour’s plans to close Castlegate because of concerns over the impact on vulnerable young people in York.

But the Castlegate rethink only happened because of the very committee changes which Cllr Funnell opposes – in a refreshing change from Labour’s “command and control” regime, their policies can now be properly scrutinised.

For instance, the damning report into Labour’s botched Lendal Bridge trial has only come to light through the actions of a new opposition scrutiny chair, Cllr Andrew Waller.

This is what “democratic balance” is about – it’s certainly not Labour’s autocratic rule of the past three years, where decisions (often taken behind-closed-doors) have been bulldozed through.

At least we now have the opportunity for proper debate and examination, with some chance of a rethink.

Cllr Ian Cuthbertson, Earswick Chase, York.