Red tape and complications

Why does everything have to be so complicated?

At least yesterday got off to a good start. I met with the Town Centre manager from Macclesfield to discuss some of the ideas for immediate improvements for our shopping centre. We made good progress and whilst there's plenty of logistical items to overcome there is a definite desire to improve things.

But in other news we've got delays on the Children's play area on Earlsway due to complications regarding Section 106 agreements. This is a major disappointment, as every week that goes past is another day closer to a spring where the kiddies won't have their roundabout.

To cap it all off I went to see the legal department regarding a request I made to see a copy of the agreement between Wilson Boden and MBC. This was very interesting...I was subjected to a 10 minute monologue about FOI, issuing information to councillors and "need to know". Humphrey from Yes Minister couldn't have done a better job if he'd tried.

Basically they don't want to give it to me and are looking for an reason why they don't have to.

This all smells a bit funny. What's in the agreement that makes it so secret? What is it about a council handing over all their land to a private developer that is considered not something that a Councillor would need to know about?

One thing is for sure...the more trouble it is to get hold of, the more I'm interested in what's in it.