AHEAD of a key “special meeting” tomorrow which will aim to realign the bias on committees said to have been in place since Labour took power, can I make a plea for rational and constructive engagement between all parties in the talks.

Public opinion of politics at a national and local level has never been lower, and now that the totalitarian regime of Labour in York has been broken there has never been a better chance of restoring a vestige of respect for local politicians and pursuing an agenda of listening to public concerns and acting on them.

Whatever political colour councillors may wear, they need to remember that local politics is essentially about making local residents’ quality of life the best it can be – whether by preserving existing vital services for vulnerable youths; funding for local community centres or protecting community pubs.

Council meetings and committees are often is seen as an extension of Westminster, with its intrinsic climate of spite, where people constantly look to point score and discredit rather than find common ground.

Tomorrow’s meeting is the best chance for some while to change that.

Nick Love, Deangate, York.