15Apr 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Council urged to use powers to punish fly-tippers as Government scraps ‘Tip Tax’

Council urged to use powers to punish fly-tippers as Government scraps ‘Tip Tax’

Borough news
News that the Government plans to scrap charges for the disposal of DIY materials has been welcome by Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader and Shaw councillor, Howard Sykes MBE. “Placing the financial burden of waste disposal onto residents who are trying to do the right thing was wrong and it’s right that the charges should be axed. The ‘Tip Tax’ has created more problems than it has solved as residents have been turning to private collectors. In many cases fly-tipping has increased because of these unregulated operators,” stated councillor Sykes. “This will be welcomed as even more people than usual are doing DIY due to the cost-of-living crises. But fly-tipping will continue to be an issue in our communities unless the Labour council gets tougher with offenders,” councillor Sykes explained. Under…
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01Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Taxpayer left with £10bn bill for ‘criminal’ PPE waste

Taxpayer left with £10bn bill for ‘criminal’ PPE waste

Parliamentary news
The National Audit Office has reported that last year the Department of Health and Social Care had £1.3bn of spending not signed off by the Treasury whilst almost £10bn was wasted on unsuitable and unusable PPE. The damning report states that: “The Department was not able to manage adequately some of the elevated risks, resulting in significant losses for the taxpayer.” Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “Losing £10 billion of taxpayers' money on PPE isn’t just careless, it’s criminal. “With billions being lost to fraudsters, and now this, it’s plain to see that this Tory government cannot be trusted with our money. "Sajid Javid must now come before Parliament, explain how his government ended up throwing good money after bad and what he's going…
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31Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Day-burning lamps a waste of money

Day-burning lamps a waste of money

Borough news
Liberal Democrat Councillors have hit out at waste of money with an increased number of daylight burning lamps. Councillor Garth Harkness said: “During summer I witnessed and reported several daylight burning lamps across a variety of villages in Saddleworth. I know Liberal Democrat colleagues in Shaw and Crompton have done the same. “When the PFI contract was awarded to EON some years ago the Liberal Democrat group was rather critical about the process. At the time one of the many things we questioned was daylight burning lamps. We were told that these lamps would burn for about the first 24 hours and then would not be a problem. Clearly they are and wasting money and energy.” Liberal Democrat Councillor Diane Williamson, Crompton, said: “We were told that in the unlikely event of a daylight…
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28Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats baffled at Labour refusal to stop clothing waste and oppose modern slavery

Borough news
Liberal Democrat councillors Diane Williamson and Garth Harkness were left baffled when Labour councillors voted against their motion at the full meeting of Oldham Council on Wednesday 15th July 2020.  Councillor Harkness’s and Williamson’s motion asked Oldham Council to work with representatives from the clothing manufacturers and retailers; the trades unions in these sectors; and campaign groups to develop a strategy to end clothing waste, meet clothing need and tackle the exploitation of garment workers in this Borough. Councillor Williamson said:  “Across the country there are schemes where people donate clothing and the third sector and local authorities then direct people, who are in need, to these places so that they can get clothing for a special occasion, as well as job interviews.  People are given vouchers and some organisations put a…
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23Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

When will new computer system finally be an asset to GM policing?

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council, has written once more to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham with his concerns about the continued shortcomings of the new iOPS (Integrated Operating Policing System).  Councillor Sykes originally wrote to Mayor Burnham on this issue in October 2019 after a number of police officers contacted him about the failings of the new system, and he also met recently with the Mayor and raised the issue with him in person. iOPS replaced three existing computer systems in July 2019 after a 16-month delay and at an unknown cost, stated at various times to be between £27 and £60 million. The system has been plagued with technical faults and has so far failed to…
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13Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Stop clothing waste, meet clothing need, say Oldham’s Liberal Democrats

Parliamentary news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillors Garth Harkness and Diane Williamson are concerned that a culture of ‘fast fashion’ prevails in the UK which leads to the over-production and over-consumption of clothing At the same time, they can also see that people on low-incomes in the Borough are sometimes unable to afford the clothing that they need for themselves and their families, and that workers in the clothing trade are badly exploited. At the next meeting of the full Council (15 July), Councillors Harkness and Williamson are proposing that Oldham Council works with representatives from the clothing manufacturers and retailers; the trades unions in these sectors; and campaign groups to develop a strategy to end clothing waste, meet clothing need and tackle the exploitation of garment workers in this Borough. Councillor Garth…
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18Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems slam Government’s £900k makeover of RAF Voyager as “absurd waste”

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the Government is set to spend £900k to repaint RAF Voyager in the colours of the Union Jack flag, Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson, Jamie Stone MP said:  “This absurd waste of nearly £1 million at a time when so many families are struggling to put food on the table and so many are worried about their job security is insulting. “The country is facing the biggest crisis in generations but Boris Johnson is concerned with the colours of his plane. “This government continue to astound with their posturing. It is disgraceful. They should halt these plans and use the money to help those who need it most right now instead.”
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06May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat victory as tips are slowly reopening

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Liberal Democrat and Opposition Leader Oldham Council recently wrote to Council bosses to reopen local waste sites in Oldham Borough.  This is now being done in a safe and sensible manner in line with social distancing.  Council leaders have now started to reopen these sites but following strict safety guidelines.  There had recently been a spate of fly tipping locally.  New measures being introduced will hopefully solve some of the issues surrounding waste during the Covid-19 pandemic. “I’m very glad we have started to drift back towards normality.  I think this will solve some public health issues associated with the lockdown. Less fly-tipping and piles of waste on our streets means a healthier Oldham Borough,”  said Councillor Sykes. These calls to reopen waste sites came after…
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23Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats call to safely reopen Oldham’s waste site

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Liberal Democrat and Opposition Leader Oldham Council, has written to Oldham Council Bosses to reopen local waste sites in Oldham Borough. “Other authorities across the UK are still providing these services.  Wigan Borough Council has now reopened its refuse facilities why can the rest of Greater Manchester (GM) Councils do the same,” asks Councillor Sykes. He wants Oldham Council to follow suit in a safe and orderly manner.  These calls have come following a month of lockdown closures from the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic.  There has also been a severe spike in fly tipping across the region. “If it is good enough for Wigan then it is good enough for Oldham, stated Councillor Sykes.  “I really do hope these pleas are listened to and actioned…
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25Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems produce Bill to properly tackle plastics crisis

Parliamentary news
Today, Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Environment, will present his Plastic Pollution Bill to Parliament. The Bill will set targets to help fix our plastics crisis and require the Secretary of State to publish a strategy for the reduction of plastic pollution. The Bill has been backed by a cross-party group of MPs as well as Friends of the Earth and the Women's Institute. Ahead of presenting his Bill, Mr Carmichael said:“Plastic pollution is the scourge of our oceans. The Government must start taking action to reduce our plastic to change our throwaway culture. The answer will need international cooperation but the UK can give a lead for other countries to follow. “The Government’s approach has been about grabbing headlines on easy parts of the agenda – banning cotton buds and plastic…
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