COUN Anna Semlyen celebrates York moving from 18th under the Lib Dems to 17th under Labour in The Centre for Cities economic ‘competiveness’ table (Letters, January 17), but she provides no background.

In 2002, the year before the Lib Dems took charge from Labour, York was the 33rd most competitive city in the UK – behind Preston, Newcastle and Leeds. Between 2003 and 2011, York climbed the rankings to become the second most competitive city in the north behind only Manchester.

This happened as a result of the Lib Dem Council working with the private sector to help create an environment where business could flourish. Indeed the ‘Future York’ report, drawn up in 2006/7, was led by business to set out steps the council could take to help the economy because we had a dialogue with the people creating jobs.

This approach saw the rapid expansion of higher education in York, multimillion-pound investment in the local economy from companies such as Nestlé, and the growth of tourism after the creation of Visit York. It also led to significant steps to reduce inequality in the city.

My message to Labour would be: don’t squander the inheritance.

Coun Ann Reid, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Grassholme, Woodthorpe, York.