IN the planning system there has for many years been a presumption in favour of development, except in the case of green belt or open countryside.

When a planning application is submitted the applicant is entitled to permission unless there are genuine planning reasons to deny it. Reasons that can be substantiated at appeal.

What we need in York is a similar presumption in favour of publication of all information held by the council unless there is a legitimate reason to keep that information confidential.

The grounds for withholding that information should be tightly defined and vigorously restricted.

And the next thing we need is an appeal procedure with a scheme for an award of costs where it is found that the withholding of that information was unjustified and unreasonable. Preferably with those costs coming out of the remuneration paid to the officer and/or elected member responsible for that unwarranted secrecy.

If this system was in place we might at last have an authority that was truly open and transparent.

Matthew Laverack, Lord Mayors Walk, York