Oldham Liberal Democrats call on council bosses to get tough on contractors for Fair Tax Week 2023
Liberal Democrat councillors in Oldham are marking Fair Tax Week 2023 (8th – 18th June – inc Tax Justice Sunday 11 June) by calling on Council Chiefs to “get tough” on partners and contractors.
Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats, councillor Sykes MBE said, “Oldham Council passed a Fair Tax Declaration in 2019. But four years on, the Council still can’t give a clear answer on whether its contractors are abiding by the fair tax practices we have pledged to support.”
Councillor Sykes has written an open letter to the council’s Chief Executive, Harry Catherall and Council Leader councillor Arooj Shah calling on the Council’s leadership to provide a progress report, four years on.
In his letter, councillor Sykes calls on Oldham Council to “lead by example” on fair tax policies.
Councillor Sykes said, “Fair Tax Week 2023 is an opportunity for Oldham Council to reaffirm its commitment and lead by example. Liberal Democrats are proud to have put ‘Fair Tax’ on the Council’s agenda four years ago and we are continuing to ensure that Oldham’s leaders live up to the commitments they made in the Council chamber. We can do this by ensuring that the contractors we employ properly adhere to fair tax practices.”
NOTES
Original motion that was passed in July 2019
Councillor Sykes’s letter
Councillor Arooj Shah
Leader of the Council
Harry Catherall
Chief Executive
Dear Councillor Shah and Mr Catherall,
You will be aware that, in July 2019, Oldham Council adopted the Fair Tax Declaration. Oldham Council is listed alongside other local authorities and organisations that have also signed up to ‘Fair Tax’ principles and practices.
With ‘Fair Tax Week’ 2023 fast approaching, businesses and councils across the country will soon declare support for the invaluable contribution that fair taxes make to the economy. This is an opportunity for Oldham Council to re-affirm its commitment and lead by example.
The motion passed by Full Council on 10/07/2019 committed the council to ensuring that Oldham’s contractors implement IR35 legislation robustly. It is essential that Oldham lives up to the commitments we make in the council chamber.
I am writing to request that the leadership of Oldham Council provide a progress update on the implementation of Fair Tax policy pledges – as outlined in the July 2019 motion – particularly regarding our dealings with contractors and other partners.
I look forward to your reply.
Best wishes,
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE