At a meeting of Oldham’s Full Council on Wednesday (07/09/22), Liberal Democrat Councillors will set out a plan to tackle the rising cost-of-living in the borough.
In Oldham, one in every three children live in poverty according to charities such as ‘End Child Poverty’ – the average across the UK as a whole is one in five. Yet Oldham’s primary schools are facing a funding cut of £212,797 from infant free school meals budgets. Families across the borough are also braced for energy price rises of up to 80% in October. The Liberal Democrats have tabled a motion calling for a reverse of the cuts to free school meals as well as for the Council to step up its cost-of-living support by working with local food banks.
“The party is also calling for Oldham Council to set up local libraries and community centres as ‘Warm Banks’ to offer residents a place to stay warm without racking up high energy bills at home,” stated councillor Alicia Marland.
Councillor Louie Hamblett said, “The pressures facing people in our Borough our immense and people are already struggling. Our child poverty rates are shameful, with 10 children out of every classroom of 30 living in poverty. The price cap rises currently planned for October will quiet simply be devasting for many. The Government and the Council must step in, our Liberal Democrat group is highlighting the areas where a real difference could be made for our residents.”