Liberal Democrats offer cautious welcome to independent investigation

The announcement that Oldham will be one of five pilot schemes for reviews into grooming, backed by national funding, and based on the Telford review, has been cautiously welcomed by the Oldham Liberal Democrats.

Exact details for what this entails have still to be brought out, but the announcement of the inquiry is a significant move towards the type of inquiry that the Liberal Democrats have been demanding for over five years. 

Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Oldham Howard Sykes MBE said: “I am pleased that the Government has seen some sense, and is now looking more realistically at a wider review of the situation in Oldham.

“Proof of how good this will be is in the delivery. People have lost a lot of trust over the failure of Labour to deliver an effective review in the past, and their long-time refusal to ask for more to be done. 

“There is a lot of bridge building to be done to show that this investigation will be independent, transparent and effective. They will need to ensure that survivors, that people from across Oldham, and people from across the political spectrum are consulted and kept informed throughout the process.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also said that a timetable would be laid out for implementing the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA). 

Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani added: “We have had too many inquiries that have delivered too little. People have been put through the trauma of investigations, of providing testimonies, to too little effect. 

“They need to know that things can change, and implementing the IICSA recommendations is an critical first step in that.

“Oldham deserves better than has happened in the past, and we will continue to campaign for justice for the survivors, to confront the traumas of the town’s past, and to build a better future, alongside the many others who have campaigned for these changes.”

“No clue and no urgency”: Oldham Council slammed for silence over collapse of leading voluntary sector organiser

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has slammed council bosses for have “no clue” over the collapse of the Greater Manchester Centre Voluntary Organisations (GMCVO). 

Details of the organisation’s financial collapse were uncovered in early December, but Greater Manchester councils including Oldham have been slow to comment.  Councillor Sykes has previously written to council bosses asking for a briefing on the impact for Oldham.

Councillor Sykes said, “No update has been given to councillors or staff.  I was promised a reply at a recent council meeting, but nothing has been forthcoming.  I am concerned that the council has no clue what the GMCVO collapse means for us in Oldham or for the future of schemes that relied on the GMCVO for support.  They aren’t showing any urgency over this at all.”

In Oldham, it is understood that the GMCVO supports a range of employability projects.  The organisation also provides considerable administrative support and advice for new voluntary and community start-ups. 

Councillor Sykes said, “With council budgets completely hammered, the role of the community voluntary sector has become more important with each passing year.  These organisations fill the gaps that have been left as other services keep getting cut back.”

“While we wait for the Cabinet Member to reply in detail, there are volunteer projects across Oldham Borough who will be nervous about the future and about where to go for advice and support.”

Sykes writes to Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance following the collapse of the GMCVO

11/12/24

Councillor Abdul Jabbar
Deputy Leader of Oldham Council
Cabinet Member for Value for Money and Sustainability

Dear councillor Jabbar,

RE: The impact of the GMCVO moving into administration

I am writing to you in your capacity as the Cabinet Member for Finance regarding the recent announcement that the Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation (GMCVO), the key body dedicated to supporting social and economic development across our region, has entered administration.  This news has raised significant concerns regarding the continued support for essential projects and services in Oldham Borough, particularly those reliant on GMCVO funding and administrative assistance.

In light of this development, I would like to request your urgent clarification on the anticipated impact on Oldham’s community and voluntary sector.  Specifically, I would be grateful if you could provide a comprehensive breakdown of the following:

1. GMCVO-Funded Projects in Oldham Borough: Please outline which projects within Oldham currently receive funding from the GMCVO and explain how their operations are expected to be impacted during the financial years 2025/26 and 2026/27.  This information is vital for understanding the scale of potential disruptions and planning any necessary interim support.
   
   
2. Administrative Support for Projects in Oldham Borough: Identify the projects in Oldham that benefit from administrative support provided by the GMCVO, such as bid writing and other forms of assistance critical in securing additional funding and resources.  I request that you detail the measures your administration is taking to ensure that these projects continue to receive the essential support they require to maintain their operations and pursue their objectives.
   

This situation is deeply concerning as it could have far-reaching consequences for the social and economic wellbeing of our communities at a time of unprecedented challenge and need in the voluntary sector.  It is essential that we assess the situation comprehensively to safeguard the continuity of valuable services and programs that depend on GMCVO’s involvement.

Your timely response to these queries will be greatly appreciated, not only to inform the Opposition but also to provide reassurance to the community organisations and residents of Oldham who may be directly affected by this significant change.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your detailed response.

Best wishes

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE 

Labour Council held up for ridicule as ‘robot bins’ break down in town centre

Oldham’s Labour controlled council has been held up for ridicule by residents and opposition councillors after newly purchases electric bins in Oldham town centre broke down, leading to piles of rubbish on pavements. 

Liberal Democrat councillor for Crompton Ward Louie Hamblett said, “I have no idea why Labour have gone for these electric bins.  What’s wrong with a normal bin?  Why did the council feel the need to spend money on a bin that can breakdown?”

The bins – located in Oldham town centre – are no longer opening due to a fault with the mechanic flaps, leading to piles of rubbish mounting up on the pavement. 

Councillor Hamblett said, “It’s just a bad joke.  People think this sort of thing is ridiculous.  I mean robot bins in town centres?  Just get the basics right, that would be a start.  This is just such a waste of money at a time when we need every penny.”

“Corridor care” the new normal say Liberal Democrats as more than half a million people faced record waits in A&E

A staggering 518,213 people across England waited 12 hours or more to be seen in A&E in 2024, new researched commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

The record-breaking figures follow news that one NHS hospital has advertised for “corridor care” nurses to care for patients waiting for a bed. 

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Frontline NHS services are now spiralling out of control.  It is beyond dangerous.” 

“In Oldham our NHS facilities are crumbling and the repair bill is climbing.  Ambulance wait times are soaring and people can’t get a GP appointment.  These figures should be a national scandal, but they won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has had to visit hospital lately.”

In 2024, 518,213 waited 12 hours or more to be seen in A&E.  A drastic 25% increase on 2023, when the figure was 415,000.

Councillor Sykes said, “This government appears to be asleep at the wheel.  They don’t seem to have a plan.” 

“We need an urgent expansion of the number of hospital beds to get back to safe levels and a pandemic-style emergency recruitment campaign to bring staff out of retirement and back into the workforce.”

Sunday Times: Hospital advertises for ‘corridor care’ nurses to ease NHS crisis. Available here
The data from the NHS can be found here (Source). Monthly data can be found here
Deaths in A&E – Royal College of Emergency Medicine here
RCEM analysis – Beds data for December 2024 shows: 

• 100,480 beds were available, which is 331 beds more than November 2024 and 1,289 more than December 2023.
• Bed occupancy stood at 93%, which is 1.1 percentage points lower than the previous month but unchanged from December 2023.
• It would require 9,471 more beds to bring occupancy down to the safe level of 85%.

Don’t touch our landmark say Lib Dems

Shaw and Crompton Liberal Democrats have flatly refused to support a scheme to bulldoze over the well renowned big lamp roundabout and a welcome to Shaw and Crompton rock.  They are pledged to fight it tooth and nail.

Shaw Ward Councillor and Liberal Democrat Howard Sykes MBE said: “Big Lamp Roundabout is such a prominent location and the entrance to Shaw and Crompton from Oldham and for Mayor Burnham’s Transport for Greater Manchester to even come up with a scheme of more than £3 million is eye watering and try to destroy such a focal and well-loved landmark it beggars belief along with a cycle path that lead to nowhere either some cul-de-sac or Kershaw carpark.”

Fellow Liberal Democrat and Crompton Councillor Louie Hamblett also raised concerns about the sheer disruption this will cause and the how much the roads are getting pulled up as it is he said “I am getting a lot of complaints about how much the roads and footpaths are getting pulled up either by the council or by utility companies it seems you can hardly turn down a road without a temporary traffic light on them and this will only make things worse.”

Additionally Liberal Democrat Crompton Councillor Dave Murphy added by saying: “they told us that the scheme would help to improve the safety of highway and help to reduce incidents, we have already done much of that work already working partner agencies such as highways and GMP I really can’t see who this can improve it any more myself”

Finally Liberal Democrat Crompton Councillor Diane Williamson finished with: “During the meeting I ask the question who made this decision? Yet the officer who gave the response didn’t make sense or just couldn’t come back with a reasonable answer, I honestly cannot think how they cannot see how they can justify something like this and I really could not support it.”

Above are the crazy plans Liberal Democrats will be fighting tooth and nail.

Blue bin collection – Shaw

I have been informed due to some rather challenging conditions (Icy pavements & frozen bin contents) for our crews on Friday, unfortunately the rounds have just taken too long, therefore they have not managed to quite complete all Blue bin collections in Shaw and Crompton.

They are aiming to collect those outstanding streets on Monday 13th.

Oldham Council finally updates information for dealing with stray dogs   

Liberal Democrat Group Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has welcomed updates to Oldham Council’s policy for dealing with stray dogs.  Residents had been complaining that support and information available via the council’s website was outdated or incomplete.    

Councillor Sykes said, “It’s about time this was put right.  It’s frustrating for residents trying to do the right thing if the information is not there.  What are you supposed to do if you want to report a stray dog?  These are basic help pages that should always be up to date.”  

How to report a stray dog in Oldham Borough
You can report a stray or lost dog to Acorn Kennels on weekdays (Monday to Friday), between 8am and 3.45pm.

• Acorn Kennels – report a lost dog
• Phone: 01948 662931
  

Where you can take a stray dog
You can take a stray or lost dog to the following collection centre on any day of the week, between 9am and 4pm.
Address:
Manchester Dogs Home
Crofters House,
Moss Brook Road,
Harpurhey, Manchester
M9 5PG.

Councillor Sykes has criticised Oldham Council for failing to provide an out of hours service.  The Council points to a lack of funding for weekend provision. 

Sykes said, “What happens if you encounter a stray dog at ten to four on a Friday?  Considering several other Greater Manchester councils are using this service, surely something can and should be done for the weekends. 

The Oldham Council advice page for stray dogs can be found here.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

Happy Hanukkah.

Progress made on new health centre for Saddleworth

The first steps towards a new health centre for Saddleworth have been taken after extensive lobbying by Liberal Democrat councillors.

A business case for a centre is being developed to attract the funding needed, with a board being put together including all the relevant stakeholders.

Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “This is a significant first step in the project. We have worked hard with the local Integrated Care Board in particular, who have long acknowledged the need for a centre in Saddleworth.

“The current GP building is way over capacity. It can’t accommodate any extra services which we should have locally, so residents currently end up travelling to the hospital or other centres unnecessarily.”

In the new year, the councillors will also be meeting with the Northern Care Alliance to ensure that it is committed to moving healthcare services into the district so that any new building is used to its full potential.

Councillor Helen Bishop, who already led negotiations to save the Greenfield GP Practice, said: “This is another piece of significant progress on healthcare that we are delighted to have delivered.

“It’s probably the number one thing that local residents bring up on the doorstep. We need to make sure people can get health services locally and access GP appointments when they need them.”