DETAILS of the Labour “offer” (The Press, May 21) confirm the Lib Dems were right to choose a joint administration with the Conservatives.

It is worth remembering that the Lib Dems backed a “rainbow coalition”. Only when other groups came out against this (The Press, May 16) did they focus on talks with the Conservatives on one side and Labour/Greens on the other.

By refusing to rewrite the Local Plan or guarantee cross-party working, Labour effectively ruled themselves out as an option. Perhaps this was a deliberate tactic by Labour to ensure they could rebuild from the comfort of opposition for four years?

The “deal” the Lib Dems eventually struck with the Conservatives is nevertheless a good one for residents: Yearsley Pool saved, no cuts to grey bin collections, ward committees back and a new housing plan.

However, it is the new cross-party policy committees which might be the most important change. These enable all opposition councillors to have their say on policy whilst it is being developed. They should stop a repeat of mistakes like the Lendal Bridge debacle.

No system is perfect, but this new structure might just ensure the council starts getting more things right than wrong in the future.

Richard Hill, Lowther Street, York.