Morley Town Deal Board Welcomes New Members

The recruits will join existing board members in bringing together a range of stakeholders to make Morley a better connected, more environmentally friendly, and greener place to live and work, using funding from a £24.3 million grant from the national Towns Fund*.

Welcoming the new members, Mukesh Patel, Lalit Suryawanshi, Christine Hirst, and Daniel Merrick, Morley Town Deal Board chairman, Gerald Jennings said:

"I am delighted to be able to welcome Mukesh, Lalit, Christine, and Daniel to the Morley Town Deal Board.

"Each of the new members brings a diverse range of experience, expertise, and knowledge, and they will be great assets to the board and the projects they undertake.

"The new board members join us at an exciting time, with the preparation to submit project details to secure final project funding being a priority, a task each of them will play an important role in delivering."

Commenting on the new appointments, Cllr. Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council's Executive Member for Infrastructure and Climate, said:

"I would like to congratulate Mukesh, Lalit, Christine, and Daniel on their appointment and thank them for volunteering their time, knowledge, and expertise.

"There is still a lot of work to do in delivering the vision for Morley set out in the Town Investment Plan, and I look forward to working closely with the new members to make that vision a reality." 

Daniel Merrick, a strategic development manager at the University of Leeds and a new board appointee, said:

"The Town Investment Plan brings great opportunities, and I'm particularly looking forward to applying my knowledge and expertise in education, culture, technology, and significant experience with events, venue management and service development to support the Town Centre and Visitor Economy project aim."

Lalit Suryawanshi, who co-foundered a Leeds-based medical technology company, said of his appointment to the board:

"With my experience and expertise in digital technology and entrepreneurship, I will support commerce, technology, and the Skills, Education and Employment Working Group.

"I strongly believe in a diverse, multi-skilled Morley community, and as a member of the board, I will support a reduction in skills and employment gaps.

"I strongly believe local people should be leading local causes, and I will help to represent the wider Morley community's opinions on the board."

Speaking of her ambitions as a board member, Christine Hirst, said:

“As a lifetime Morley resident, I can bring my own unique, local perspective to bear on the challenges that we all face.  I have over the years worked in every facet of our local community, from a fundraiser to organiser of local veteran’s clubs, and even as a Beaver, Cub and Scout Leader in the past!

“I have, and always will be a champion for local people and local causes and, I strongly believe the Town Deal Board will be an excellent catalyst, and driver for change and innovation that serves the community and its people. I very much look forward to the challenge ahead and continuing to serve the people of Morley.”

Pharmaceutical Consultant, Mukesh Patel, added:

"As a proud Morleian of many years, I feel both privileged and excited to be able to influence positive developments in our town."

Leeds City Council and the Morley Town Deal Board worked to produce a Town Investment Plan to secure a £24.3 million grant allocation from the Government's Towns Fund.

Morley Town Deal will deliver on key priorities identified through public consultation, including greenspaces, jobs, skills, and improving cherished buildings.