Yesterday evening, I went to Morley Town Hall to attend the quarterly meeting of TCP. Not TCP the antiseptic, but MTCP, the Morley Town Centre Partnership). I was lured there by updates on the Literacy Festival, but as it happened, the old one was reported on but no mention was made of the future. Indeed the Chairman scarpered at that point so I couldn’t talk to her afterwards.

So, what is a Town Centre Partnership?

“The Partnership meets quarterly to discuss items concerning the town centre. All businesses and interested groups are welcome.”

So like all things, it ends up being self-selecting. The Chamber of Commerce is there (which is seeing a revival after years in the doldrums, although a new broom seems to be sweeping familiar old dust), a few interested traders, some the more active councillors and others there for purposes unknown.

We have a town centre manager, or more accurately, half of one, as we share him with nearby Rothwell. He has brought some fresh ideas into the town, but at the end of it, the local authority can express desires for what direction Morley should go, but unless traders seize the opportunity (if there is one) then it ends up as rhetoric.

During the meeting, it was clear that there was confusion as to what powers and responsibilities various people had. Some of the traders were calling for compulsory  purchase and another questioned whether decisions on changing car parking rules were already a done deal. (More of that on another occasion).

Luckily, I had had enough forethought to bring some magzines with me so I happily browsed articles whilst familiar topics were raised and familiar voices responded with familiar broken records. I need to go to this type of meeting occasionally to remind myself  why I decided to stop being a useful idiot and give up being a bottom feeding local politician. I resisted the temptation to stand up and shout “What is your legitimacy?”