I am intrigued (Deal “delusions”, Letters, March 21) to know how Labour councillor Sandy Fraser expects readers to believe that he knows more than myself about a “behind-the-scenes private deal between the Greens and the ruling Lib-Dem administration”.

Either Coun Fraser is the one who is deluded, or he has been tapping my phone conversations and emails prior to the budget meeting.

It is bizarre for him to suggest these to be “no more than a figment of (my) imagination”.

However, it may well be true that the disastrous decision of the Lib Dems to accept the unspecified cuts in the Tory amendment will have severe implications for council jobs and services. Shamefully, the Labour proposals would have seen deliberately longer delays in filling council posts, cuts to library hours, closure of York’s busiest public toilet, etc.

For this reason, the Green councillors felt while we must vote against the Tory amendment, neither could we support the Labour amendment.

Coun Fraser will have every justification for condemning the Tory- initiated cuts in the coming months. But readers should have no illusions that Labour have any answers themselves.

The Greens have vision and have at least got several proposals into this year’s budget, which is more than Labour achieved. The Greens will work with any of the parties represented on the council that are prepared to be open-minded in seeking solutions for York’s economic and environmental challenges.

Sadly, that is evidently not the case with Coun Fraser, who seems more concerned with denigrating his opponents than serving his constituents and their long-term future.

Coun Andy D’Agorne (Green Party)
Fishergate ward, Broadway West, York.