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Statement from Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council about Rod Blyth

The statement is issued following recent comments on social media and follows the original one made in December 2017.

On the 7th September 2017, Rod Blyth was suspended from the Liberal Democrat Group of Oldham Council following information that he had been arrested. The suspension was immediate and continued whilst GM Police conducted their investigation.

The Liberal Democrat Group has never been informed by GM Police of the nature or details of the allegations involving Mr Blyth and this has remained the situation to date.

The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council was informed that Mr Blyth had resigned for personal reasons with immediate effect on AM Saturday 9th December 2017. Mr Blyth also resigned from the Liberal Democrats on the same date.

We are aware that Rod Blyth has been convicted of offences relating to indecent images. At that time, he was a private citizen. He was no longer a councillor nor a member of the Liberal Democrats.

Note – copy of previous statement from 11 December 2017 below

Date: 11 December 2017

Statement from Cllr Chris Gloster, Chairman of Oldham Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council

The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council have been made aware that Cllr Rod Blyth has resigned from his position as a Borough Councillor for the Shaw Ward on Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council for personal reasons with immediate effect on Saturday 9 December 2017.

The Group have also been made aware that Cllr Blyth is subject to an ongoing police investigation.

The Liberal Democrats are unaware of the details of that investigation. The Liberal Democrat Council Group as a consequence of that information did immediately suspend (as a neutral act) Cllr Blyth from the Liberal Democrats, as per our rules about such matters.

There will be no by–election as it is less than six months to when this seat (3 May 18) would be up for election. Until that time the other Liberal Democrat Borough Councillors for Shaw and Crompton will cover all duties such as ward surgeries and casework so local residents are not disadvantaged.

No further comment will be made at this time whilst the matter is subject of a police investigation.

Lib Dems propose Lowering Drink Drive Limit to Save Lives

The Oldham Liberal Democrats will propose a motion to Council (12^th July) that England’s drink drive limit be reduced to bring it into line with Scotland and many European countries.

Proposing the motion, Shaw Lib Dem Councillor Chris Gloster said:

“I spent thirty years in the Police service, twenty five of which were spent as a roads policing officer at different levels. My final role was as a senior officer investigating road collisions where tragically there had been deaths or serious injuries.

“I have seen first-hand the misery that drink-driving brings to families, and continues to bring them every day; yet there are mixed messages for motorists. The Government tells motorists not to drink and drive, but then advocates two pints and you are likely to be ok to drive. The message should be none for the road and the limit should be reduced to be in line with the majority of Europe at least”.

The current limit in the majority of the United Kingdom is 80 microgrammes (mg) per 100millilitres (ml) of blood. This is the highest limit in Europe, shared only by Malta. Scotland has however recently reduced its drink drive limit to 50mg per 100ml of blood mirroring the limit in many European countries, and Northern Ireland is currently considering the same measure.

Cllr Gloster explained the rationale for the reduction: “A lower limit will make people think twice about that extra drink. Everyone has different tolerance levels to alcohol and the current level can make someone unfit to drive, even though they are not over the legal limit of 80 microgrammes of alcohol in their blood. I am confident that a lower limit will save lives”.

In 2014, on average 5 people a day were killed and 62 seriously injured on Britain’s roads. Statistics show that on average nearly 1 in 6 collisions that result in a fatality, the driver is in excess of the legal alcohol limit for driving.

New statistics show that older motorists are drink-driving in record numbers. The number aged 65 and above involved in smashes rose from 1,295 in 2005 to 1,435 by 2015. Those involving drivers under 19 fell from 6,744 to 1,436.

The motion is backed by the Cllr Gloster’s Shaw colleague, Lib Dem Leader Cllr Rod Blyth: “I am grateful to Chris for bringing this important issue to the attention of full Council.

“The current position is illogical in law, and must be bewildering to the motorist, when a driver under the legal limit in England, can be immediately prosecuted once they cross the Scottish border.

“We need consistency in our treatment of drivers wherever they consume alcohol within the United Kingdom. Scotland has reduced the limit, Northern Ireland is considering following suit, so it seems sensible for everyone to adopt the lower limit.

“And there are clearly road safety grounds for having a lower limit in place in any case.

“It is frightening that in 1966, there were 7,985 fatalities on Britain’s roads, yet by 1980, this figure had halved and by 2014 halved again. Although modern cars contain many safety features, much of the reduction is due to the introduction of the breathyliser in 1967, to Government road safety campaigns around drink-driving, and to changing public attitudes about its acceptability.

“The Oldham Liberal Democrats now feel that we need to take the drink drive limit lower to further reduce road deaths; every one of which is an individual tragedy.”

Notes:

A 50mg limit would mean an average man would be limited to just under a pint of beer or a large glass of wine and women to half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine.
The Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia have introduced a zero-tolerance policy
Germany has a 50mg limit – but for new drivers, the limit is 0.

Source: European Transport Safety Council

The Motion reads: Lowering the Drink Drive Limit

On average 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year in drink drive collisions on Britain’s roads.

Nearly one in six of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal alcohol limit.

Council notes that:

The current permitted limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood
In Scotland the limit was reduced in December 2014 to 50mg

This Council believes that, as a contribution towards a further reduction in road deaths, the drink drive limit should be reduced across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to 50mg per 100ml of blood to bring it into line with Scotland.

This Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Transport, The Rt. Hon. Patrick McLoughlin MP, to outline this Council’s position and to ask him to introduce this measure as soon as is practicable.

Lib Dem Opposition Leadership Team for 2017/18 announced – Oldham Council

Following a Group meeting on 15 May, the Oldham Borough Liberal Democrat Group has announced their appointment, unanimously and un-opposed, of Councillor Howard Sykes MBE as their Leader and Councillor John McCann as their Deputy Leader.

Councillor Sykes has also announced the appointment of his Shadow Cabinet Team for 2017/18.

Councillor Howard Sykes said: “I am delighted and honoured that John and I have once again received the unanimous support of our party colleagues. The Liberal Democrats remain the only effective opposition holding Labour to account on Oldham Council.”

“Under my Leadership, and with the support of my Shadow Cabinet Team, we will continue as a group to speak up and work hard for the residents of this Borough, particularly those who are marginalised or disenchanted with Labour, who want to hear an independent, common sense voice speaking out for them for better and more accountable public services.”

“As the Liberal Democrat Opposition, we shall oppose further central government cuts on Council finances and help fight our corner in negotiations with the new Greater Manchester Mayor and devolved authority so that Oldham gets its fair deal.”

“In June, we shall face a difficult General Election. The Liberal Democrats are a growing party of over 100,000 members with a dynamic leader in Tim Farron and a radical policy agenda for a stronger economy and a fairer society, including more financial support for local government. We also want to see the right deal in place on Europe that preserves cross-Channel trade on fair terms and leaves us on friendly relations with our continental neighbours.”

“I am confident that everyone in the party will be fighting hard to return as many of our Liberal Democrat colleagues as possible. I wish all of our Liberal Democrat candidates well in the forthcoming battle, especially those fighting the three Parliamentary seats in our Borough.”

Notes: details of positions are below.

The Lib Dem Group:

Leader – Cllr Howard Sykes;
Deputy Leader – Cllr John McCann;
Group Chair – Cllr Chris Gloster;
Group Vice-Chair – Cllr Rod Blyth;
Political Secretary – Cllr Garth Harkness;
Treasurer – Cllr Derek Heffernan;
Group Secretary – Cllr Diane Williamson

Shadow Cabinet (Shadow Executive Members):

Howard Sykes Economy and Enterprise (Opposition Leader);

Julia Turner Education and Early Years;

Garth Harkness Employment and Skills;

Rod Blyth Social Care and Safeguarding;

Chris Gloster Health and Well-being;

Diane Williamson Neighbourhoods and Cooperatives;

Dave Murphy Environmental Services;

John McCann Finance and HR.

GM Fire and Rescue: Cllr Derek Heffernan

Transport for Greater Manchester: Cllr Howard Sykes

Audit Committee: Spokesperson – Cllr Garth Harkness

Overview and Scrutiny Board: Spokesperson – Cllr Diane Williamson

Performance and Value for Money Committee: Spokesperson – Cllr Rod Blyth

Planning Committee: Spokesperson – Cllr Rod Blyth

Licensing Committee: Spokesperson – Cllr Chris Gloster

Standards Committee: Spokesperson – Cllr Diane Williamson

Health and Well-being Board: Spokesperson – Cllr Rod Blyth

Petitions and Traffic Regulation orders: Spokesperson – Cllr Chris Gloster

District Executive: Shaw and Crompton – Chair Cllr Diane Williamson;

Saddleworth and Lees – Spokesperson Cllr Garth Harkness.

Shaw branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland

Customer Relations Manager, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Freepost, PO Box 594, Chatham ME4 9DP

Dear Sir or Madam,

Re: Reduction in opening hours at Shaw branch

Further to our letter of 19^th March, we do not appear to have received a response and so we write to you again on behalf of the residents of Shaw in Oldham, to voice our concerns around the proposed reduction in opening hours of the Shaw branch of RBS.

RBS have recently stated in an interview with Oldham Evening Chronicle that you “have to continually adapt to meet our customer needs”.

The proposal to close the branch on Thursdays, Shaw’s Market day, does not seem to be in keeping with that commitment.

We would like to request that the opening hours are reviewed and that the bank is kept open on Thursdays.

Keeping the bank open on a Thursday is very important to local businesses, residents and visitors to the area and closing on such a key day will inevitably cause problems for many.

We, as the Elected Members for Shaw, strongly urge you to reconsider this proposal.

If you could please provide a response to this letter which you are happy for us to share with the concerned residents of Shaw, we would be grateful.

Yours sincerely

Councillors Chris Gloster, Rod Blyth and Howard Sykes

Members for Shaw Ward

Shaw Royal Bank of Scotland opening hours – letter from local councillors

10 March 2017

Customer Relations Manager, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Freepost, PO Box 594, Chatham, ME4 9DP

Dear Sir or Madam,

Re: Reduction in opening hours at Shaw branch

We are writing to you on behalf of the residents of Shaw in Oldham, to voice our concerns around the proposed reduction in opening hours of the Shaw branch of RBS.

RBS have recently stated in an interview with Oldham Evening Chronicle that you “have to continually adapt to meet our customer needs”.

The proposal to close the branch on Thursdays, Shaw’s Market day, does not seem to be in keeping with that commitment.

We would like to request that the opening hours are reviewed and that the bank is kept open on Thursdays.

Keeping the bank open on a Thursday is very important to local businesses, residents and visitors to the area and closing on such a key day will inevitably cause problems for many.

We, as the Elected Members for Shaw, strongly urge you to reconsider this proposal.

If you could please provide a response to this letter which you are happy for us to share with the concerned residents of Shaw, we would be grateful.

Yours sincerely

Councillors Chris Gloster, Rod Blyth and Howard Sykes

Members for Shaw Ward

Linney Lane and Scarr Lane resurfacing starts 13 Feb and 20 Feb 2017

I wanted to inform you of the latest information I have received from the Council regarding the road surface of both Linney Lane and Scarr Lane.

A number of you have been in contact with me regarding the pot holes and the general condition of the road surfaces on Linney Lane and Scarr Lane over the last couple of years or so.

As some of you will already be aware, my colleagues Rod Blyth, Chris Gloster and I, have been trying to get some action to remedy the poor quality of the road surfaces. I have sent numerous communications to the Highways Department along with attending a significant number of meetings to try and progress this matter.

I can confirm that the work will definitely be going ahead. Since receiving confirmation of the work I have been pursuing the Highways Department for a start date and this is the most up to date information I have received.

Highways have informed me they are planning this work on the following dates: Monday 13^th February 2017 (Scarr Lane) 1 week, and 20^th February 2017 (Linney Lane) for 2 weeks.

Please note that these dates are not set in stone as yet; these are the proposed dates which have been put into the tender documents to the contractors, so assuming they have availability on these dates, the work will hopefully start around the dates specified above to fit in with School Holidays. If these dates change I will do my best to inform you of the new ones.

Oldham Liberal Democrats call for enforcement of offences relating to Pavement Parking

At the full Council Meeting on Wednesday 14^th December 2016 Oldham Lib Dems will call for action on pavement parking.

Cllr Chris Gloster, Lib Dem spokesperson for Highways said: “One issue that brings me a lot of complaints from residents relates to vehicles parked on the pavement causing inconvenience to residents and footpath users alike.”

“There is currently no specific legislation outlawing parking on the pavement per se. Instead Police officers are forced to use the offence of unnecessary obstruction when dealing with these incidents, and on a scale of priorities, these types of calls fall to the bottom of the list for Greater Manchester Police to resource, as like every other public service, they are stretched to the limit due to under funding and under staffing.”

“When the Police can respond, it is usually in the shape of a local police community support officer who can only speak to the offenders and advise, as they are not empowered to deal with the matter by means of fixed penalty notice, unless they are a Traffic PCSO, which our community PCSOs are not.”

“In a town like Oldham, it is a difficult call to introduce local by-laws banning pavement parking outright, particularly in built up areas with on street parking and narrow roads, and the Liberal Democrat Group have resisted making that call in the hope that a sensible solution that targets the selfish and inconsiderate, but works for the wider community, can be achieved.”

Cllr Rod Blyth, who will second the motion stated: “Selfish pavement parking is a hazard for pedestrians, especially those with sight loss, parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users and other people with disabilities. Night-time is also a big issue with emergency vehicles unable to access some of our streets due to the narrowness that inconsiderately parked vehicles cause. A robust approach to enforcement is needed”.

Cllr Chris Gloster will propose a motion asking the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police asking the force to enforce the legislation in relation to obstructive pavement parking and to empower local police community support officers to issue fixed penalty notices where appropriate.’

Council 14 December 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business – Enforcement of Offences relating to Pavement Parking

This Council notes:

Pavement parking can pose a hazard to pedestrians, especially people with sight loss, parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users and other disabled people.
People with sight loss are especially at risk as they can be forced into the road and faced with oncoming traffic that they cannot see.
Pavements are not designed to take the weight of vehicles and so surfaces can become damaged or subside, presenting a further hazard for pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities.

Council notes that there are currently offences in law where vehicles are driven over the footpath or where vehicles cause an unreasonable obstruction on the footway; regrettably these offences are frequently left unenforced.

This Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police to request:

Greater Manchester Police enforce the legislation
That Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) be empowered to issue fixed penalty notices to offenders

Save Community Pharmacies say Oldham Liberal Democrats

Shaw Councillor Chris Gloster, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet Member for Public Health, will be proposing a motion to next Wednesday’s meeting of Oldham Council (9 November) calling upon the Government to abandon plans to cut the budgets of community pharmacies which could lead to the closure of many thousands of pharmacies across the country.

Councillor Gloster said: “People rely upon their local chemists for their prescriptions and to buy a wide range of over-the-counter medicines, but pharmacies offer more than a simple dispensing service. Pharmacists are highly trained and able to answer many of the questions that patients have about their health conditions and the appropriate treatments for them.”

“And many pharmacies also offer a much valued collection and delivery service where they collect prescriptions from GP’s surgeries on behalf of patients, dispense the medicines in-house and deliver them door-to-door to the patient. This is especially necessary where the patient is housebound, whether elderly, disabled or temporarily too ill to leave their home.”

“By threatening to drastically reduce funding for community pharmacies, the Government is making a false economy as patients will simply be forced to call further on our over-pressed NHS services for the answers to their questions and the medicines that they need.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor Rod Blyth also represents Shaw. He is backing his colleague Councillor Gloster in calling for a Government re-think:

“The Oldham Liberal Democrats believe strongly that pharmacies need to be locally-based and embedded within the communities which they serve. Cutting community pharmacies will simply put more pressure onto already overstretched GP surgeries and our hospital Accident and Emergency Department when winter is approaching and patient referrals peak.”

“We need Government to abandon these foolish plans. Our motion asks the Council Chief Executive to make our concerns clear to Government Ministers and also calls on our local MPs to fight to keep the community pharmacies in our borough open.”

Council 9 November 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business – Motion 3 – Funding for Community Pharmacies

This Council notes:

The £170million reduction in NHS funding for community pharmacies announced on December 17^th 2015 which could put many out of business

The announcement made by the Government on September 5^th 2016 of the delay to the cuts which were originally due to be introduced in October 2016

The scrapping of plans to introduce a “hub and spoke” model for community pharmacies

This Council believes that:

The Government’s plans threaten patient access to pharmacies and pharmacy services in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham and that the recent announcements are causing uncertainty about future investment in pharmacy services

Our local pharmacies are at risk of closure or being forced to cut services such as free delivery of prescription drugs, family planning advice and advice on medicines

This will put more pressure on GPs and hospitals and impact social services and is at odds with the local Clinical Commissioning Group’s desire to increase the use of pharmacists to ease pressure on GPs.

This Council resolves to:

Request that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State responsible calling for the Government to abandon these cuts, rather than just simply to postpone them, and to make a commitment to maintaining a fully-funded community pharmacy service

Request that the Chief Executive also writes to the Borough’s three Members of Parliament and to the Chair of the NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group asking them to make similar representations on this matter to the Secretary of State.

Oldham Lib Dems call for Action on Haulage Tractors on Public Highways

At next Wednesday’s Council meeting (Wednesday 9 November), Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors Rod Blyth and Howard Sykes MBE will propose a motion calling on the Government to regulate the use of agricultural tractors hauling loads on public highways and for urgent action to curb this practice in Shaw and Crompton and elsewhere in Oldham Borough.

Councillor Blyth, proposing the motion, explained: “For many months, our constituents, and those of my Liberal Democrat colleagues in Crompton, have been complaining about the noise and disturbance caused by large agricultural tractors pulling large trailers containing spoil along the roads of Shaw and Crompton.”

“These tractors are travelling constantly backwards and forwards from early in the morning until late at night making a racket and putting the fear of God into people.

They should be in fields and not in our streets. They are often seen speeding and being driven recklessly and local Councillors are worried that the lives of local people are being needlessly put at danger.”

Councillor Blyth added: “We have asked the Police for action, but nothing so far seems to be happening. This motion is a call for action and we want it now.”

The motion specifically calls for roadside checks to be carried out by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency to make sure tractor operators in Oldham are operating safe and road worthy vehicles.

Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader and Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE is backing the motion. He explained that the real solution to the problem lies with the Government:

“If these tractors and trailers were Heavy Good Vehicles they would be covered by a commercial vehicle operator’s licence and other legislation that would control their environmental impact on local residents; but at present agricultural tractors are exempt. Irresponsible operators clearly know of this loophole and are exploiting it. They do not care about the inconvenience and danger caused by their actions. So our motion also calls on the Government to make tractors used for road haulage subject to the same rules that apply to trucks and we are asking our local MPs and the Local Government Association to back us in this.”

Council 9 November 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business – Motion 1 – The Licensing of Agricultural Tractors used for Road Haulage

This Council notes that:

Over many months, residents in this borough, particularly residents in Shaw and Crompton, have experienced noise and disturbance from large agricultural tractors pulling large trailers containing spoil on public highways from early in the morning until late at night

In addition, these vehicles are at times driven recklessly and at speed, posing at danger to other road users and pedestrians

If these tractors and trailers were HGV’s they would be covered by a commercial vehicle operator’s licence and other legislation that would control their environmental impact on local residents

At present they are exempted from licensing requirements

Council believes that tractors used for the purpose of road haulage should be covered by the same licensing requirements as apply to other goods vehicles.

Council resolves to:

Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State asking the Government to sponsor a change in the Goods Vehicle (Licensing of Operators) Act to make tractors used for this purpose subject to the same licensing and legislative requirements as apply to other good vehicles.

Ask the Chief Executive to copy in the Local Government Association and the three Members of Parliament for this borough and request that they also make representations to the Secretary of State on this matter.

Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Executive of the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency asking for any assistance they can provide in carrying out road side checks to make sure operators in Oldham are operating safe and road worthy vehicles.

Linney Lane and Scarr Lane resurfacing

I wanted to inform you of the latest information I have received from the Council regarding the road surface of Linney Lane and Scarr Lane.

I have earlier reported Scarr Lane will be resurfaced.

A number of you have been in contact with me regarding the pot holes and the general condition of the road surface on Linney Lane over the last couple of years or so. As some of you will already be aware, my colleagues and I, have been trying to get some action to remedy the poor quality of the road surface. I have sent numerous communications to the Highways Department along with a significant number of meetings to try and progress this matter.

Whilst it has been a long battle I finally have some good news to share! I have received this following information from the Highways Department.

We are proposing to resurface the full length of Linney Lane and Scarr Lane. There are no other streets in Shaw and Crompton included on the current programme. At present Linney Lane and Scarr Lane are still in the planning stages and Unity are still some way off being in a position to deliver the works. As such I am not in a position to be able to expand any further on the proposed works at this stage.

Unity generally inform Ward Councillors about resurfacing works once they are in a position to deliver the scheme and have obtained all necessary permissions to carry out the works.

Every effort will be made to respond to specific enquiries as in this instance and Unity will be in touch with the full details of the scheme once it is available.

Regards, Daniel Meadowcroft – Highways Asset Client Manager

As I am sure you will agree this is long overdue, the battle now is when the above will happen. Rest assured, I and my colleagues Rod Blyth and Chris Gloster will continue to chase the Highways Department for a start date and as soon as I have this information I will share it.