23Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Building a future for our youth in a post-virus world

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE is calling for more youth services in our communities – both youth workers and youth centres.  The Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Oldham Borough Council highlighted work done by parliament on knife crime.  Studies by a group of MPs showed that schools and youth centres play a central role in keeping children and young people safe.  These services should be granted necessary funding.  Local Liberal Democrat Councillors in Shaw and Crompton have repeatedly invested their limited local funds in youth services to offset government cuts. Currently, UK schools are underfunded.  Youth services have declined by 69% over the last decade.  On average councils have reduced spending on services such as social clubs and youth workers by 40%.  Some Authorities have seen funding plummet by 91% over…
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02Nov 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Anti-Bullying Week 2019 gets a special mention from Liberal Democrats

Borough news, Campaigns
This year's Anti-Bullying Week has the theme “Change Starts With Us”.  The awareness event is happening from Monday 11th November - Friday 15th November 2019.  Oldham Borough Liberal Democrats are seeking to refresh the Council’s anti bullying policy and raise awareness at the 6th November 2019 Full Council Meeting.  People of all ages are bullied because of their race, culture, faith, appearance, sex and identity.  Councillor Garth Harkness, who is also a teacher, says this bullying can take place in person but often happens online.  He wants to focus on the root problem in local schools and at the Council itself. Councillor Harkness states: “Bullying infiltrates every level of society.  Even in government.  This Council needs to communicate with schools in Oldham Borough about the packs released to schools for anti-bullying week.” “These…
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25Oct 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Shock study shows Oldham Council losing war against deprivation

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE says there is one league table Oldham do not want to rise up the ranks of which is the Indices of Deprivation.  A recent report by the Government, the Indices of Deprivation 2019 (IoD 2019) provides very detailed information on how well an area is doing.  This assessment is based on income, employment, education, health, crime, housing and living environment.  In terms of a real change, Oldham Borough has slid backwards and is not improving.  Liberal Democrat Councillor Sykes is demanding better from the Council in the work that must be done on local deprivation.  Oldham Borough has risen from the 27th most deprived local authority in England to the 16th most deprived area.  This is in only four years (2015 to 2019).  Oldham Borough is in the…
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17Oct 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Stop the threat of fracking in Oldham

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE and the Oldham Liberal Democrats have consistently campaigned on environmental issues, locally and nationally.  At a time when climate change activists are taking to the streets to campaign against the negative effects of climate change.  Councillor Sykes MBE reveals the Council’s weak policy when it comes to shale gas extraction (also known as Fracking).  Councillor Sykes MBE has challenged Council Bosses on their Fracking position. Oldham’s Fracking policy within the 2013-2020 environmental strategy is incredibly vague.  Within the document, shale gas extraction is mentioned as something the Council will consider. There is a possibility fracking can take place locally.  No Fracking currently takes place in Oldham Borough, but this weak policy means it might happen soon. “We have green countryside and a stable water table in…
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15Oct 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Millions missing from electoral register could mean less cash for councils and other public services

Borough news, Campaigns
Research published by the University of East Anglia says there is no efficient tool to know if people are missing from the electoral register.  The report notes that up to eight million people could already ‘be missing’ from the register in the UK.   Councillor Howard Sykes MBE fears thousands of pounds will be lost by Oldham Council and other public services like health, police and fire.  Population and electoral register figures have a huge say on how much money public bodies can receive or access.  Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE wants to know how many electors the Oldham Council thinks ‘are missing’ from the electoral register in the Borough. Councillor Sykes MBE says: “If we appear to have less population in the eyes of the Government, this will leave…
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08Oct 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat conference outlined ambitious UK strategy on climate change, young carers and business reforms

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has welcomed plans agreed by Liberal Democrat Conference (14–17 September 2019), which he attended, to tackle economic, social and environmental problems. The conference held last month in Bournemouth debated net zero-carbon emissions in the UK by 2045.  It also aimed to tackle the ever-growing number of Young Carers who are still missing out on important life skills due to heavy care responsibilities.  Conference voted to draw clear support guidelines for Young Carers and declare a series of initiatives to combat the UK’s carbon footprint. The Liberal Democrats also backed a radical tax shake up for businesses.  Liberal Democrats have already brought the issue forward locally in Oldham Borough at the July 2019 Council meeting.  They want big companies to pay their fair share just like everyone else…
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06Aug 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

New Saddleworth School can finally happen

Borough news, Campaigns, Saddleworth News
Now that the period to call a judicial review is over the building of a Saddleworth school can finally happen. This was met with delight by Saddleworth Liberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness. He said “I am delighted that a new school can now be finally be built. I have always been clear from day one that I want a new school, wherever the Education Funding Agency saw it as appropriate. It has been clear for some time that that place was Diggle. “There has been a lot of strong feeling about this and at times I have been met with abuse. We now need to move on from this.” The process has gone on for over seven years and has seen a series of delays including a Judicial Review on…
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06Aug 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Liberal Democrats reveal extent of ‘criminal’ Conservative police cuts

Borough news, Campaigns
The true extent of ‘criminal’ Conservative police cuts in Greater Manchester have been revealed by local Liberal Democrats. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE commented on a Liberal Democrat analysis of new Home Office figures released recently.  They revealed that the Conservative Government cut funding to Greater Manchester by 6.3% in real terms between 2015–16 and 2019–20. According to data from the Home Office statistical bulletin: ‘Police funding for England and Wales 2015 to 2020,’ total government funding to all 43 forces in the UK (in 2019-20 prices) fell from £8.48 billion in 2015–16 to £7.99 billion in 2019–20.  32 of the 43 forces across the country experienced cuts of 6% or more.  Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “Across the country, we are seeing rising crime and falling police numbers.  Far too many…
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12Jul 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Diane says “Change and Check”

Borough news, Campaigns
Last Thursday I sat in a meeting at Oldham Council – the Performance and Value for Money meeting – and we were talking about Staff Absences and that 7% of the Council's staff are absent due to Cancer. Which got me thinking about the Campaign that I have seen every morning on ITV for so many weeks and thought it might help in some small way.   It was on Lorraine Kelly's ITV morning program where she and her former Producer Helen Addis (who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 39 years old last) spoke passionately about the campaign. So on Friday of last week I wrote to the CE of Oldham Council, the Principal of Oldham College and Oldham Community Leisure, asking them to look at whether Oldham Council could do more to…
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26Jun 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats support Public Space Protection Order on Saddleworth Moor

Borough news, Campaigns, Saddleworth News
The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group supports Oldham Council’s proposal to consult on the establishment of a Public Space Protection Order on Saddleworth Moor to help combat moorland fires.  Commenting, Saddleworth North Liberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness said: “Like many residents of this borough, I have been distressed to witness the devastating fires on Saddleworth and Crompton Moors over Easter and before that.  I know these concerns are shared by my Liberal Democrat colleagues in Saddleworth West and Lees, Shaw and Crompton.” “These fires are now a regular occurrence when the weather gets hot and the ground is dry.  Some are doubtless ignited by natural causes, but, in all too many cases, they are the malicious work of arsonists or caused by irresponsibility on the part of day-trippers using portable disposable…
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