IT IS gratifying that the Labour Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has written to council leaders because it suggests Labour has finally decided it would be good to support small businesses.

Quite clearly our Labour council has either not received the letter or are ignoring it. One of the background reports commissioned by the council in drawing up proposals for the Local Plan (produced by Driver Jonas Deloitte) states that the priority must be to address the city centre first.

The report then goes on to consider issues and conclusions, none of which are highlighted in the consultation document to any great degree.

No priority is given to the city centre; so much for a report costing rather a lot of your money and ignoring the Opposition, who now are supporting Conservative policies.

Coun John C Galvin, Conservative, Bishopthorpe ward.