BILL HEPPLE commented (Letters, September 26) about Uber taxis in York, plus the lack of a bus service via Naburn. He suggested that that the “city councillor in charge” seems not to be flavour of the month.

I suspect that local authorities may not have the legal powers to ban Uber from our city, unless regulatory complaints arise. If readers with greater knowledge than myself on this subject, can either confirm or refute this, we will all be the wiser.

As for Naburn’s buses, this village is served by a YorkSelby route with significant financial support from North Yorkshire County Council.

It just happens to enter our unitary authority area at one end of its route. Whether or not City of York Council contributes to it on that basis, I likewise do not know.

Following the recent collapse of Sherburn-based Utopia buses, a skeleton service via Naburn is being operated by Arriva, in conjunction with North Yorkshire County Council.

Readers will surely be aware that many decisions taken by councillors are led by officer recommendations.

These in turn reflect local, regional and national guidance and legislation. Councillors are often not free to do as they please, and should in fairness not be automatically blamed.

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, Holgate, York

Taxpayer should not pay for police at demo

WHY is the tax payer paying for large numbers of police to “facilitate” Third Energy’s deliveries to KM8?

Should these costs not be born by Third Energy and entrusted to their own security, the (reduced) police presence required only to ensure the protection of demonstrators involved in their lawful pursuit of slowing down the entrenchment of an industry established in the quest for profit?

This industry is rejected by an overwhelming majority of those who cared enough to voice their opinion, on grounds economic, prophylactic, practical, environmental and, not least, moral.

In the situation prevailing at present, it is only the demonstrators who need protection: they pose no threat, as evidenced by the atmosphere at the gates and the character of those involved, particularly those brave women prepared to lock themselves in for hours on end at the frack site, and this on our behalf.

David Cragg-James, Rose Cottage, Stonegrave, York

Labour now under control of hard left

AS THE Labour conference has indisputably shown, that party is now totally controlled by the hard left Momentum faction.

For all Jeremy Corbyn’s emollient rhetoric and the avuncular manner he has adopted since his leadership success, Labour’s move to the extreme wing means that there is such a gap between them and the Tories that in future elections there will be a clear choice for the electorate.

Labour’s prospects could be harmed by the fact that their political position on that left wing is crowded, with the Lib Dems, the Greens and the Communists sharing the same pasture. Labour’s dillydallying on Brexit, trying to be all things to all men, could well be their Achilles heel in their thirst for power.

Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington

Facing facts on EU accounts audit myths

I AGREE with Phillip Roe and A.P Cox (Letters, September 15 and 12) that the issue of whether the EU accounts have been signed off is a little confusing.

However, going back to check it out I find that the EU accounts have been “signed off ” by the auditors every year since 2007.

Prior to that the budget was subject to a cash-based accounting method: an improved system was introduced in 2005.

The auditors gave qualified approval before 2007 as the accounts were mostly reliable with some errors.

The main causes of errors are missing supporting documents or incorrect application of procurement rules.

This does not mean fraud or waste.

As the majority of EU spending is administered by member states, most errors occur at national level, including Britain, rather than in Brussels.

The error rate in 2013 was 4.7 per cent and 2014 was 3.8 per cent.

For comparison the equivalent figure for the UK government spending is over five per cent.

I hope this is useful. There is a lot of misinformation in the media and it helps us all to be able to discuss this.

Mary Kendall, Wheldrake, York