SO Jon Barry thinks the best way for Labour to oppose Independent policies that we disagree with is to join the cabinet to help implement them. Simple soul that I am, I think the best way to oppose policies you disagree with... is to oppose them. Future events will tell who is right. However I cannot allow Councillor Barry to distort the record about what already happened.

He says the city council Labour group supports a policy of incineration as means of disposing of waste. Not true. In March the city council's environmental policy committee adopted Labour resolution, moved by me, that advised "the county council that incineration... should be the least favoured option." The Greens were happy to support that resolution. Equally, I was happy to support second a Green resolution that the county council should postpone any decision on incineration until 2010 at the earliest.

Then he says that we supported the Independents in selling off the land at the Navigation. What I successfully moved at finance & corporate policy in October was that the council "negotiate with all future developers... to ensure the continuation of the Navigation as part of the site." It's not the policy but the failure of the council to implement it that is the cause of the present difficulties. Incidentally. only one vote was recorded against this resolution. I cannot recall if it was Cllr Barry or not, but, if it was, he didn't get the support of the other Green councillor on the committee.

The Labour group is opposed to incineration as a means of waste disposal. Labour wants to see the Navigation retained. Cllr Barry should check his facts.

Cllr Ian Barker

Deputy Leader

Labour Group

Lancaster