Oldham Council is changing its approach to recording Cabinet decisions after local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani raised concerns over a lack of transparency when making commercially sensitive decisions.

Until last month, when decisions were made using information from reports which were not put in the public domain, the minutes of the decisions simply showed “that the recommendations as contained within commercially sensitive report be approved”.

Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “That is simply not good enough. That report is not made public, so that minute simply doesn’t tell the public what the Cabinet has agreed to do, and they have no means of finding out.

“We work for the people of Oldham, and all the decisions that we take should be transparent. No-one should have to hunt to find out what we are doing.”

Having written to Chief Executive Harry Catherall, the Council has now agreed to change their process, and from the next meeting, there will be a clear record in the minutes of exactly what decision was taken.

Councillor Al-Hamdani added: “I am pleased that the Chief Executive has responded so quickly to my concerns. There will be updated training, and the minutes will be changed from the next Cabinet meeting.

“All decisions should be being taken in the best interests of the borough, and the Council should be clear and open about decisions that are taken. There have been a lot of conversations about trust between the Council and residents – taking practical steps to build that trust, even relatively small ones like this, are needed now more than ever.”