News – Page 2 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

15Mar 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Nearly 1,000 Northern Care Alliance patients left waiting more than two months to start cancer treatment

New figures reveal that more than half of all cancer patients in Oldham are having to wait more than two months for vital treatments. New research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that 913 people were stuck waiting for more than two months before receiving treatment with Northern Care Alliance (NCA), the NHS Trust that covers Oldham. The shocking figures mean that, in 2022, 52% of patients had to wait more than two months for treatment to start. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Northern Care Alliance has not hit the target of 85% of patients receiving a first treatment for cancer within 62 days of an urgent GP referral since 2020. These figures are absolutely horrifying.” Nationally, more than 66,000 patients were forced to wait…

09Mar 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Sykes warns council bosses of “cyber-security risks”

Borough news

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has warned council bosses of the increased risk councils face from cyber-attacks. Councillor Sykes said, “Experts in cyber security have been telling us for some time that councils are at risk from cyber threats. Some councils have already fallen victim to attacks, resulting in the loss of cash and interrupting essential services to vulnerable residents.” A freedom of information response made available to Oldham Liberal Democrats has revealed that there was an attempted cyber-attack against Oldham Council in 2020. Councillor Sykes said: “The risk will only increase the longer the government and council bosses go without acting on these warnings.” In January, MPs heard from victims of cyber-crime at a meeting of Parliaments’ joint committee on national security strategy. In some cases,…

06Mar 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats hit out at Labour and Conservatives in fiery budget meeting

Borough news, fairer council

Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has hit out at Oldham council’s Labour leadership after they voted down vital cash-injections, set out by the Liberal Democrats for safer streets, road maintenance, children’s social care and district funding. Councillor Sykes said, “We have a Labour controlled council which fails to get the basics right on road safety and maintenance, environmental crime and cleaning up our green spaces. Time and again, they choose to prioritise vanity projects in Oldham Town Centre at the expense of fairer funding for all our districts and communities across Oldham Borough.” Speaking after the Liberal Democrat plan was rejected by an alliance of Labour and Independent councillors, Sykes said, “Our Liberal Democrat proposals would have prioritised the things that residents want to see from the…

02Mar 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Save families in Oldham from £500 energy bill rise

Borough news, Parliamentary news

Oldham’ Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has demanded the Government cancel plans to hike the average household energy bill by £500 in April. Sykes, who represents Shaw and leads Oldham Council’s Opposition Group, says it’s time to tax the “billion-pound profits of energy companies to pay for real support for families.” The Liberal Democrats calling for cuts to people's bills combined with a new energy support package for businesses, leisure centres, schools and hospitals across Oldham. Councillor Sykes said, “In April the Conservatives are planning to hike the energy price guarantee by £500. The Liberal Democrats plan would mean that in Oldham, the average household would be £439 better off. We would save families more than £41,000 across the Borough.” “If the government doesn’t change course, their new…

28Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councillor Sykes backs Church of England calls for ‘universal’ social care

Borough news, Campaigns, health and social care, Parliamentary news

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has supported a recent intervention by England’s most senior church leaders, who have called for social care to become a ‘universal entitlement’, on par with the NHS. Councillor Sykes said, “If we were building the NHS from scratch today, it would be obvious to everyone that we need a national health and social care service. We have an ageing population and we’re living with increasingly complex physical and mental health needs in our old age. Everyone deserves access to great healthcare and dignity in old age. Universal social care is the step we need to take now, to make sure that our health service is fit for the future.” The Archbishops of Canterbury and York called for a ‘national covenant’ with a…

28Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats to set out plan for “Fairer futures in a safer, cleaner and greener Oldham”

Borough news

New funding for ’20 is Plenty’ streets New parks and recreational spaces fund More cash to tackle crumbling roads and footpaths 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. Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “New funding for ’20 is plenty’ on residential streets, more cash for our parks and green spaces, real action on environmental crime and a new children’s social care residential home.” “We’ve listened to our communities and our priorities reflect what people expect from the Council. Our plan would make Oldham Borough a safer, cleaner, and…

25Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Council slammed as number of littering and fly-tipping fines fall

Borough news, environment

New figures revealed by Oldham Liberal Democrats show a drastic fall in the number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) that Oldham Council is issuing for littering and fly-tipping offences. Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat representative for Shaw councillor Howard Sykes MBE has slammed Oldham Council for “completely failing on the basics.” A Freedom of Information answer provided to the Liberal Democrats confirms that the council issued only 64 littering fines in 2022, down from 194 in 2020, when covid restrictions were still in place. The Council also confirmed that fewer fly-tipping fines were meted out – 33 in 2022, down from 50 in 2020. Councillor Sykes said, “Here we have another stark example of the Labour administration completely failing on the basics. The Council has issued fewer fines…

21Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

“Abuse of any kind is never acceptable” Sykes issues statement on July 22nd council meeting

Borough news

Following the news that an individual has been found guilty in connection to the sorry events at the Full Council meeting on July 22nd, Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes issued the following statement. “Abuse of any kind is never acceptable in any walk of life. Intimidation and assault of staff and members of the council have no place in Oldham Borough. This individual has been taken to court and punished accordingly, and I welcome that.”

21Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

“Burnhams’ broken promise” slammed as PCSO numbers drop by 39% across Greater Manchester since 2015

Borough news

Leader of Oldham Councils’ Liberal Democrat Opposition councillor Howard Sykes MBE has hit out at Labour’s Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham after government figures confirm that Greater Manchester has 112 fewer Community Support Officers than in 2017, when Mr Burnham took office. Councillor Sykes said, “When it comes to policing in Oldham and across Greater Manchester, the buck stops with Mayor Burnham. He is ultimately responsible for policing. He has promised a PCSO for every ward in Greater Manchester, and he has failed spectacularly.” The Conservative government has a target to deliver 20,000 new police officers by 2023. But analysis of Home Office data commissioned by the Liberal Democrats reveals that Greater Manchester PCSO numbers have fallen by 316 since 2015, a reduction of 39.3%. Councillor Sykes said, “Far from more…

16Feb 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Conservatives plan to strip £1.29 million from fund for hardest hit blasted

Borough news

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Shadow member for Finance councillor Chris Gloster has blasted Conservative councillors after they brought forward plans to cut cost-of-living support in Oldham by £1.29 million. Councillor Gloster said, “The Conservative Group is bringing proposals to Council next month that would hammer any hope we have of offering meaningful cost-of-living support to the most vulnerable people in Oldham. During the worst fall in living standards for decades, the Conservative’s plan is to cut cost-of-living support by £1.29 million is simply callous.” Oldham Council’s Policy Overview and Scrutiny committee met the other week to consider Opposition budget amendments ahead of March 1st, when councillors will vote on the council’s budget plans for 2023/24. Conservative proposals came under fire after it was revealed that their costings included an…