Tonight’s Town Council meeting lasted just over 30minutes. I’d expected that 3 items would stimulate some debate involving the whole Council. I managed to get to speak on and second the motion supporting refugees, but the Mayor didn’t allow any discussion of a short report back on a recent Town and Parish Council Liaison meeting nor something on a Calderdale Council Scrutiny Panel (relating to Flooding, I think) citing the decision taken by Labour Councillors (in the majority) at the last Council meeting rejecting our proposition that there should be a regular “Councillors reporting back” item on the agenda of each full Council meeting.

A member of the public, interestingly, asked why Committee meetings finish at 9pm. Why, indeed ? The recent General Purposes Committee started 10 minutes late and the Chair insisted on closing it at 9pm with a long list of business outstanding. I’m used to meetings doing whatever business is necessary. The Mayor’s response was something about letting staff go home …..