THE internal Labour Group briefing paper, obtained by the Evening Press, raised a number of concerns about the operation of the new executive structure of City of York Council (August 3).

Earlier this year the council undertook a public consultation exercise regarding modernisation proposals. They were obliged to do so by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), before submission of the council's modernisation proposal to the department.

Because the executive option was the one preferred by the two main groups on the council, this will therefore have formed the basis of the submission to the DTLR. How illuminating it would be to now compare that official submission with the leaked private briefing paper.

At the time of the General Election, much concern was raised about the level of cynicism and apathy among the electorate. The election turnout, and the level of response to the council's consultation exercise on modernisation, indicates that apathy is widespread.

However, is it the cynicism exhibited by politicians whose portrayal of issues does not match what they know to be the facts that results in an apathetic electorate.

Did York residents consider it pointless responding to a consultation exercise when councillors had already decided upon and implemented the option they wanted? In the light of this leaked document, the question now is why did councillors prefer the executive option?

Richard Lamb,

Greystoke Road,

Rawcliffe, York.

Updated: 10:38 Wednesday, August 15, 2001