07Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Budget proposals set out for fair futures in a safe, clean, and green Oldham Borough

Borough news, environment, fairer council, health and social care, road safety
New funding for ’20 is Plenty’ streets  New parks and recreational spaces fund  More cash to tackle roads, footways, and public footpath More action on enviro crimes (litter, fly-tipping, dog fouling) New children’s social care residential home Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Opposition Group have set out their alternative budget proposals ahead of a crucial Council vote on 1 March, where councillors will agree to spending plans.  Prior to that Council meeting the proposals go to scrutiny on Tuesday 7 February. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Shadow Executive Member for Finance and Low Carbon, councillor Chris Gloster said: “The Liberal Democrats’ priority is to make Oldham Borough a safer, cleaner and greener place to be for all of us, but especially for the next generation. “In the future, Oldham must be able…
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03Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani
<strong>Levelling up: cash for Conservative heartlands “while the rest of us bid on the scraps” </strong>

Levelling up: cash for Conservative heartlands “while the rest of us bid on the scraps” 

Borough news
Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats councillor Howard Sykes has slammed the governments latest “levelling-up” offer, accusing the government of offering “handouts to Conservative councils in the south, while the rest of us bid on the scraps.” The recently announced round of levelling up grants saw Oldham awarded £20m towards business and cycle infrastructure, but a bid to secure a further £20m towards the redevelopment of the Lyceum Theatre and the Old Library was unsuccessful.  Councillor Sykes said, “The Conservatives have been promising to level up deprived parts of the country for years now.  Oldham is one of the most deprived towns in the country.  But when it comes to stumping up the cash, Oldham got less money than Rutland, one of the least deprived areas that submitted a bid.” Prime Minister…
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03Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Sykes slams Arts Council England as Oldham Coliseum snubbed in favour of London venues

Borough news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has slammed Arts Council England bosses for “shameful neglect of Northern heritage” after their decision to cut funding for the Oldham Coliseum. Councillor Sykes said, “The decision to withdraw all funding from the Coliseum is particularly hard to take given that venues in London and the South are still attracting tens of millions of pounds, despite having their funding reduced.” “No reductions here in Oldham though. The Arts Council has completely pulled the plug instead. The Coliseum is a treasured institution with a stellar regional and national identity. This is shameful neglect of northern arts heritage.” On Monday, the Fairbottom Street venue announced it would cancel all programming after March 26th after its bid for continued Arts Council funding was rejected, bringing…
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03Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

255 pubs, restaurants, and cafes in Oldham face cost of living cliff edge

Borough news
255 hospitality businesses in Oldham are facing a combined energy bill increase of more than £1M (£1,091,860) once Government support is slashed in April, new analysis from the Liberal Democrats has revealed. The analysis shows that the average bill increase for each business is likely to be £4,282. Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Our pubs, restaurants and cafes have endured so much already in recent years, so for them to have support withdrawn by the same Conservative government that has caused this cost-of-living crisis? That will come as an insult to people who are working flat out just to stay afloat. They are also a lifeline for those who use them in terms of their mental well-being amongst other things.” The Government initially capped the cost…
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03Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ctrl-alt-deliver: councillors get computers for Air Training Corps

Ctrl-alt-deliver: councillors get computers for Air Training Corps

Borough news
A new suite of computers is being delivered for the 2200 (Oldham) Squadron Air Training Corps following a successful bid to Oldham’s Local Improvement Fund from the Grotton, Springhead and Lees councillors. The computers will enable the volunteers at the Squadron to better deliver the vast range of training they give to the cadets, which includes the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, leadership skills and radio communications.  Flight Lieutenant Joe Lord, the OC (Officer Commanding) for the squadron, said: “Getting this grant is amazing. We train cadets to succeed in many areas; providing them with skills to support our local community, and developing them both for the world of work and further education. “These computers will help us to continue delivering this training at a high level. The skills developed…
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03Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lees ecohub ‘makers and creators’ scheme backed by councillors

Lees ecohub ‘makers and creators’ scheme backed by councillors

Borough news
An innovative weekly ‘makers and creators’ sessions at Lees Ecohub is starting soon, offering free community classes for young people in the area, with the backing of a successful Local Improvement Fund bid from the local councillors, Alicia Marland, Mark Kenyon and Sam Al-Hamdani Organiser Karen Flowers said: “There is no current after-school club like this in the area. It will be a warm, safe space for young people in the area to feel welcome, while learning about how they can make a difference in their area and be part of the community. “We’ll provide warm drinks and snacks, and educate young people from all backgrounds in recycling and reusing items in a creative way. In addition, they’ll learn about food: how it grows, cooking and nutrition. “We can’t wait…
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25Jan 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Greater Manchester leaders must ‘think inside the box’ for new-born babies

Borough news, health and social care
Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw representative councillor Howard Sykes MBE has called on Greater Manchester leaders to adopt a new support strategy for new-born babies across the city region. The ‘baby box’ was trialled in Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Trust in 2018 but councillor Sykes says it should be put into place across the whole of Greater Manchester. Councillor Sykes said, “The early years are so crucial and new parents feel the stress of trying to provide the best possible start for their children. We know that child poverty is on the rise in Britain, and it’s made worse by the cost-of-living crisis.” Across England, one in every three babies are born into poverty. However, in Oldham, rates of infant poverty are even higher - closer to four in ten…
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19Jan 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Voter ID “chaos” slammed as postal voters are exempt from identity checks

Voter ID “chaos” slammed as postal voters are exempt from identity checks

fairer council, Parliamentary news
Voters will have to produce photo ID before they will be allowed to vote in May’s local elections, but a loophole means that people who vote by post will not be subject to ID checks. Liberal Democrat councillors in Oldham say the change will lead to “chaos” at polling stations. Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “The government is making it harder to vote by forcing people to bring photo ID with them to the polling station – something thousands of people in Oldham will not have.” “It couldn’t be clearer that there isn’t the time to implement this before May and most importantly, there isn’t the time to tell people about it. Regrettably, this will probably lead to voters being denied their right to vote and being…
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19Jan 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Renewed calls for scrutiny of Northern Care Alliance after “appalling” discharge figures and 12-hour A&E waits

Renewed calls for scrutiny of Northern Care Alliance after “appalling” discharge figures and 12-hour A&E waits

health and social care
Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrat opposition have renewed their calls for greater scrutiny of the Northern Care Alliance (NCA), which runs NHS services in the Borough, after it emerged that only 4% of those who were fit enough to be discharged were actually leaving hospital in early January. Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw representative, councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “The added pressure these appalling discharge figures are placing on our health service is coming at a time when our A&E services are failing. Nearly 800 people waited more than 12 hours in hospital waiting rooms in December. People can’t get an appointment with a GP. It’s a terrifying time for a lot of people.” At a council meeting in December, councillor Sykes called for a ‘joint scrutiny panel’ to be created…
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17Jan 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani
No “paws for concern”: Dogs set to be allowed on trams permanently

No “paws for concern”: Dogs set to be allowed on trams permanently

Borough news
Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats councillor Howard Sykes MBE has said he is “delighted” that the move to allow dogs onto Greater Manchester’s trams could be made permanent as early as this Friday (13th January). The trial period for ‘none-assistance dogs’ ended in October but as continued until Greater Manchester’s Transport could reach a final decision. The committee is due to meet on Friday and is expected to vote in favour of permanently allowing dogs on trams after an overwhelmingly supportive response to a public survey on this issue. Councillor Sykes – who is a long-standing advocate of the policy – said, “I’m delighted that the trial period has been such a success and that the feedback from passengers has been overwhelmingly positive.” “This will be a great step towards…
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