08Jul 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government leaves local councils £10 billion short for social care costs

Borough news, health and social care
Oldham’s Liberal Democrats have slammed Conservative ministers after research from the Conservative dominated County Councils’ Network revealed that the governments planned social care reforms would leave a £10 billion funding gap in the sector. Government Ministers had previously said that local councils would have to find their own ways to raise funds. Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “While Conservative MPs worry about who the next Prime Minister will be, the real issues like social care funding are being side-lined. The government is telling councils to cover the costs when everyone knows the money isn’t there. All the while, the social care sector is haemorrhaging staff and the government won’t even listen to their own Conservative colleagues in local government.” In the wake of the pandemic and…
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02Jul 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Out with the old – what about the new

Out with the old – what about the new

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
At this week’s [27/06/22] meeting of full Council, GM Mayor Andy Burnham said that former Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was replaced because of a lack of progress in providing information to the CSE inquiry in Oldham.  This contradicts the statements put out at the time that he had resigned because of the police being put into special measures.  It also fails to address the subsequent 11-month gap between his resignation and ANY information being provided to the CSE inquiry, and fails to explain why information was only provided on one of the 11 cases under review – with that one showing serious failures on the part of GMP. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Sam Al-Hamdani said: “This is an absolute failure. “GMP has been warned about failing victims of domestic abuse repeatedly…
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02Jul 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Great news as Shaw and Crompton Health Centre redevelopment now back on track

Great news as Shaw and Crompton Health Centre redevelopment now back on track

Borough news, health and social care
The Oldham NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have announced that plans to redevelop Shaw and Crompton Health Centre are back on track after the decision to pull the plug on the development sparked interventions from local Liberal Democrat councillors. Shaw councillor Howard Sykes MBE said on behalf of all his Shaw and Crompton colleagues that the announcement from the CCG was: “long overdue and was after hours of work behind the scenes to thrash out the problems that had held the project up". Councillor Sykes continued: “This is great news for Shaw and Crompton. Access to modern healthcare facilities is a top priority for the people we represent. They deserve the security of knowing those services will be there when they need them. What we’ve had is a long and…
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02Jul 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must support no charging Clean Air Zone says councillor Sykes

Government must support no charging Clean Air Zone says councillor Sykes

Borough news, environment
Oldham’s Liberal Democrats are calling for the government to support a no charging Clean Air Zone as new plans emerge for the next phases of CAZ today. Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw councillor Howard Sykes said: “Common sense has finally prevailed on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. We welcome the proposals for a no charging Clean Air Zone. The government must not impose charges on Greater Manchester that would hurt jobs during the cost-of-living crisis.” Councillor Sykes also said that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Andy Burnham had questions to answer. Councillor Sykes said, “Why has it taken so long to get to this stage? It was clear that a no charging zone was the common sense approach from the outset. So why has Mayor Burnham spent time and…
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20Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham’s Child Sexual Exploitation report to be released Monday – reaction

Oldham’s Child Sexual Exploitation report to be released Monday – reaction

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence, fairer council
Oldham Liberal Democrats have said that due care must be taken with responses to the independent inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Oldham, to be released on Monday, and it “must be viewed in the knowledge of the terrible and lasting impact CSE has had on the lives of many of this borough’s most vulnerable young people”.  The report is being released with a background of serial failings of the senior management of Greater Manchester Police, including the botched introduction and inadequacies of the now-abandoned iOPS computer system, and the force being placed into special measures. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Sam Al-Hamdani said: “People must know that Oldham Council, the police, and the services that they rely on have changed, and will continue to change, so that others will not have…
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17Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Foster carers left months without reply as Oldham Council slammed for inaction

Foster carers left months without reply as Oldham Council slammed for inaction

Borough news, health and social care
Oldham’s foster carers have been left waiting months for a response after raising concerns about the cost-of-living with senior council figures. Shaw representative and Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE called the situation “shameful” as he and his colleagues called for answers on behalf of local foster carers. Oldham Council has so far been unable to provide answers to foster carers in the Borough who have raised concerns about making ends meet during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. (See attached letter which is one of many councillors have received at the end of March/early April). Councillor Sykes said: “This is an incredibly stressful time for foster carers who are rightly raising concerns about Oldham Council’s policy towards supporting them financially. Other local councils offer foster carers reimbursement through council…
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15Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Save Our Rivers: Liberal Democrats call for Sewage Tax on river polluters

Save Our Rivers: Liberal Democrats call for Sewage Tax on river polluters

Borough news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat councillors have called on government ministers to tax water companies responsible for over 750,000 sewage dumps over the last two years. Last year the Environment Agency found that every river in England suffered from pollution. All local rivers including the Beal, Irk, Medlock and Tame rivers failed the most recent chemical pollution tests carried out by the agency. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and Leader of the Opposition councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “It’s despicable that the Conservative government has allowed these harmful sewage dumps to happen in the first place. The very least a responsible government would do is to make these polluting companies pay for the clean-up. This pollution has a lasting effect on eco-systems for aquatic, bird and insect life not to mention the effect…
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15Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Bees under threat: Liberal Democrats call for pesticide ban

Bees under threat: Liberal Democrats call for pesticide ban

Borough news, environment
Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw representative councillor Howard Sykes MBE is campaigning against the use of pesticides that are harmful to bees. Pesticides containing neonicotinoid thiamethoxam are known to be extremely damaging to bees and other insect life. Last year, the government overturned a ban on pesticides containing neonicotinoid thiamethoxam. Use of thiamethoxam had previously been banned within the European Union but Britain’s departure from the EU paved the way for the ban to be lifted. Councillor Sykes said, “British Bees are already in danger and that makes the government’s decision to overturn this ban so disappointing. Bees are essential to the local environment as pollinators and conservationists are clear that the use of this pesticide will threaten not only bees, but also wildflowers and the human population itself as…
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13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
‘Keep Clean Air Zone free’ say Oldham Liberal Democrats

‘Keep Clean Air Zone free’ say Oldham Liberal Democrats

Borough news, environment
Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has called for common sense as Andy Burnham’s war of words with the government over the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) continues. The Greater Manchester Mayor is locked in a bitter stalemate with Conservative ministers after he rejected Government proposals to limit the Clean Air Zone to Manchester City Centre only. Councillor Sykes said, “It’s about time we had some common sense instead of bickering between Mayor Burnham and the Conservatives. The Liberal Democrats want to see people’s jobs and income protected at a time when many are struggling. Keeping CAZ free is the best way forward if we want to protect jobs during the cost-of-living crisis. “If the Conservative government force a charging zone on Greater Manchester then the area affected by…
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13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Conductors on trams needed tackle anti-social behaviour and restore user confidence

Conductors on trams needed tackle anti-social behaviour and restore user confidence

Borough news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat councillors have renewed their calls for Metrolink conductors/staff presence to be put in place on the Rochdale – Oldham line after it emerged that fear of anti-social behaviour preventing people using Metrolink, something the Liberal Democrats have said for several years now (2018). Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Shaw representative councillor Howard Sykes said, “The Metrolink is a huge asset for our communities. The continuing failure of Metrolink and Oldham’s Council to tackle anti-social behaviour has led to residents telling us that they are afraid to use the tram.” Last month, a report from Onward UK gave a damning insight into the realities of travelling around Oldham by tram. One respondent to the Onward UK study confessed they felt as though “you take your life into…
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