Q1 Introduction of the National Living Wage

In December 2013 the Liberal Democrat Group brought a motion to Council proposing that Oldham Council become a National Living Wage Employer by April 2014.

The Leader will doubtless recall that in response to the motion that he made a personal commitment to ensure that every employee of this authority would be paid at least the National Living Wage by April 2015.

During the last Council Budget Meeting the Leader rightly paid tribute to the hard work and commitment of our employees, but in becoming a National Living Wage employer, this authority will commit itself to rewarding them fairly for their efforts and we will also set an example for other progressive employers in this Borough to follow.

My first question to the Leader tonight is two-fold – can he confirm that his commitment to introduce the National Living Wage for all staff will be honoured from today?

And can he also confirm whether home care workers and staff employed by contractors engaged by this Council will also receive the National Living Wage?

Q2 Renovation of Union Street West Footbridge

I am pleased to see that the much-hated Manchester Street footbridge is now finally demolished.

The Leader will recall that I made reference to the need to demolish this footbridge in a question to Council last year, but in my question I also referred to the dilapidated state of Union Street West Bridge which links the town centre and the Sixth Form College to Coppice.

This £900,000 bridge was opened in 2000, but it has always been plagued with broken glass panels, caused by the natural movement and flexing of the structure as pedestrians use it.

Because of this the bridge is ‘tinned up’.

This causes two problems – the metal barriers obscure vision, which has led to instances of vandalism and out-of-sight attacks on passers-by.

It also crosses one of the main arterial roads in Oldham – the Oldham Way – it is an eyesore to the many motorists that daily pass by it. Not the sort of gate way feature any of us would want I am sure?

I am sure the Leader will agree that the risk to the safety of residents and the less than favourable impression of Oldham created by the current condition of footbridge are both reasons to find a solution as soon as possible.

I was pleased to hear that the Department for Transport has recently awarded Oldham Council £3.16m to upgrade parts of the A62 and the Oldham Way, including carrying out vital structural repair works to the Oldham Way Bridge over Middleton Road.

Please can the Leader tell me tonight whether any of this money from the Department of Transport will be used by this Administration to fix the Union Street West Bridge as it too spans Oldham Way and if so when?

If not these funds from the Department of Transport what is being done to tackle this eye sore?

Q3 E-on and Elected Members

At February’s Council, the Leader responded to a question from my colleague, Councillor Dave Murphy, about the strained relationship between E-on and Elected Members in Shaw and Crompton.

In his question, Cllr Murphy made specific reference to the fact that E-on had refused point-blank to send a representative in response to a specific invite to attend a meeting of the Shaw and Crompton District Partnership.

In the Leader’s response he rightly expressed his “disappointment” that relations have not improved despite this issue being raised on several occasions in this Chamber and promised to send a letter to both the Community Lighting Partnership and to E-on to “make it absolutely clear that Ward Members need to be taken seriously”.

Could a copy of that letter be shared with all Elected Members please?

Like Cllr Murphy and the Leader, I too am disappointed at the service received by residents and the responses received by their Councillors from E-on and the Community Lighting Partnership and I too want to see something done about it.

Members of the public concur with this view judging by the number of letters and emails we continue to receive from irate constituents.

This contract is costing the council-tax-payers of Oldham many millions of pounds and we have the right to expect more from the contractors so I am sure that Councillors and constituents alike will be keen to hear whether the promised letter has been sent and what if any the reply was.