Mr Mayor, it is an honour to be able to second the nomination of the Reverend Jean Hurlston as this year’s recipient of the Civic Appreciation Award.

I am always very proud to be the elected representative of a Borough in which there are many citizens who selflessly carry out acts in their own time and without pay, which transform the lives of their fellow citizens in so many positive ways – and amongst these many unsung heroes and heroines, Jean is both a shining light and an inspiration to many.

I think many people will have heard of, or indeed seen first-hand, the excellent work that is done by Jean and her fellow volunteers at the organisation, Street Angels, that she founded in 2011 to help keep our town’s party-goers safe.

As the former Leader of this Council, I inherited a situation where Oldham’s night-time economy was described in the national press as the ‘Wild West’ and where regrettably violence and loutish behaviour, sometimes ending in tragedy, was commonplace.

This crisis was something that cabinet members and officers expended a great deal of energy to address, and it is to their great credit that Jean and her team of steadfast volunteers were always there until the early hours of the morning, whatever the weather, to lend visitors to our town centre a helping hand to ensure they were safe and reunited with friends – making a great contribution to public safety.

Whether it was handing out flip-flops to young women who had discarded their footwear, making a brew for people who had taken a little too much to drink, clearing broken glass from the street, offering medical treatment to the injured, or providing a word of reassurance, the Street Angels are just that – Angels.

I have read recently, Jean; that you have also started taking deliveries of hot pies for distribution to the homeless.

I understand that when a recent Latics – Southend United home fixture was cancelled because of the weather, leaving catering staff with a mountain of pies, you rushed to the rescue and redistributed them to rough sleepers and to the One World Cafe.  Another example of two of the many great qualities you possess – practicality and compassion.

I believe that you now have plans that are well-advanced to establish a night shelter for rough sleepers, offering shower facilities and food to those most in need.

Homelessness is an issue that members from across parties have in this chamber raised in recent months so I am sure that all Councillors will join me in calling upon all Oldhamer’ s with compassion to support this venture to ensure its success so that no-one need sleep out in the cold.

Mr Mayor, this award is well deserved tonight and I am very pleased to second this nomination – I wish Jean and her team every success in continuing their wonderful work and I hope this award will help you to secure more support for the many worthy causes that you champion.