At a meeting of Oldham’s Full Council on Wednesday (07/09/22), a Liberal Democrat initiative to provide food and warmth support for residents of Oldham Borough was passed by councillors.
The proposal aims to set up ‘warm banks’ across Oldham Borough in libraries and community centres as ‘Warm Banks’ to offer residents a place to stay warm without racking up high energy bills at home. The Liberal Democrat motion also called for free school meal funding to be reinstated across Oldham after it emerged that the Borough’s schools had faced real terms funding cuts of over £212,000.
Speaking after Wednesday’s Full Council meeting, Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “It’s shameful that one in every three children live in poverty across our Borough. Oldham’s primary schools are facing a funding cut of £212,797 from infant free school meals budgets. Families are also braced for energy price rises of up to 80% in October. Liberal Democrat councillors have set out a plan for food and warmth this evening which will reverse of the cuts to free school meals; and which calls on the Council to step up its cost-of-living support by working with local food banks.
“Britain is the fifth richest country in the world so it’s a disgrace that we need food banks to begin with. But local food banks do a brilliant job and are a lifeline for many residents of our borough. Our local food banks deserve support from Oldham council as we look towards winter and a worsening cost-of-living crisis.
In a speech outlining the Liberal Democrat plan, Crompton Councillor Louie Hamblett said, “To think in the 21st century, people are struggling with the choice of whether to heat or eat; and gameshows are offering to pay people’s energy bills as a prize. We can make a real change to our residents by ensuring that public are buildings open, warm, and ready to welcome anyone who needs them.”
Seconding the motion, Councillor Alicia Marland of Saddleworth West and Lees said, “It is vital that the government reinstates the uplift to Universal Credit and returns Free School Meal funds to proper levels. I want to challenge this Council to do more to champion Oldham Foodbank through communications campaigns. The nights are getting darker and colder so now is the time to tell our residents that foodbanks are open and available to them in every ward and every district in our borough.”