The insolvency of social enterprise Incredible Futures in April 2020 cost ratepayers over £140,000 in financial aid; a mistake the Liberal Democrat Leader is adamant must not be repeated.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Main Opposition, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, was dismayed to receive the news in the reply to his recent request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.

Incredible Futures went into liquidation, owing over £44,000 to creditors, despite receiving over £200,000 in financial aid, including £140,000 directly from the coffers of the local authority, and being paid over £100,000 for services rendered.  Incredible Futures also benefitted from the use for two years rent-free of premises in Manchester Chambers leased to them by the Council.

Councillor Sykes said:  “This is sadly not the first time that a Council-backed social enterprise has failed at great cost to the Oldham ratepayer.  In 2015, the retailer Our House also went bankrupt after only a few months despite receiving nearly £125,000 in Council support and the personal backing of then Council Leader”.

“I have written to the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance asking for reassurances that lessons have been learned from the Incredible Futures debacle and to identify what additional measures are now in place to ensure greater scrutiny when large Council grants are given to help prevent such a situation happening again.  We do not want to be a third time unlucky in backing failure with ratepayers’ cash.”

In their response to the consultation on the Oldham Local Plan, Liberal Democrat Councillors have called on Oldham Council to get tougher on HMOs, or houses of multiple occupation, by seeking an Article 4 direction, a legal device which will require all HMOs to have planning permission.

HMOs often involve conversions of former pubs and shops, with occupants each having bedrooms, but sharing bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces. Currently smaller HMOs providing less than six bedrooms do not require planning approval.  A borough-wide Article 4 direction would withdraw these ‘permitted development rights’ and mean that all HMOs need planning permission.

Shaw Councillor Chris Gloster recently spoke at a meeting of the Planning Committee, opposing a proposal to convert the former Weavers Answer pub in Shaw into a HMO. He said: “HMOs are very controversial; local people are concerned about anti-social behaviour, noise, litter and blight.  Requiring every HMO to have planning approval will mean that residents, neighbouring businesses and ward councillors will have the chance to have their say whenever an HMO is proposed in a neighbourhood, and some will be refused permission because of their representations.” 

The Liberal Democrats also want to see every HMO application include a Statement of Community Engagement, outlining how the applicant will consult with the local community in the period between planning approval and the completion of the project; a risk assessment, identifying how any risks associated with operating the HMO, such as anti-social behaviour will be managed; and a long-term commitment to consult with the host community.

“We believe these are reasonable expectations that any responsible landlord operating an HMO will readily take on board”, added Councillor Gloster. “HMO operators need to establish a partnership with their neighbours and ward councillors if they are to work, and not become a blight and a nuisance for those who live around them”.

The next Oldham Prince’s Trust 12 week personal development programme, will start on Monday 13th September 2021.

The team will be based and run from Shaw and Crompton Parish Council, 1 Kershaw Street East, Shaw, OL2 8AB.

The programme is Full Time and runs Monday to Friday 9.30 am – 4 pm.

The 12 week programme is open to any unemployed young person aged 16 – 25 yrs old, over the 12 weeks the young people work on different key skills whilst working together to carry out a variety of challenges.

Included in the programme are 4 days of team building activities around the Peak District, activities include abseiling, rock climbing, caving, mountain walking, problem solving and bush craft.

The young people will be returning home after each daily activity. Transport will be provided for each team member to participate in the daily activities, all food, drinks and equipment will be provided for each young person.

The team also plan and carry out different fundraisers to pay for materials for their Community Project, the community project takes place over weeks 4 ,5 and 6, this is when the team will improve an area in the local community of Oldham. The young people also get the opportunity to carry out a work placement, plan and carry out a team challenge, which involves working with a disadvantaged group in the community, the team then plan and carry out a formal presentation, where the young people invite their parents, friends, support workers and other people / organisations that have directly worked with the team over the programme.

They are holding a very informal Registration Day, this allows any young person to come along and to find out more about the programme, they are able to bring family, a friend, family friend or support worker for morale support if they wish.

My Registration Day will take place on Wednesday 8th September 2021 from 11 am until 3pm at Shaw and Crompton Parish Council, 1 Kershaw Street, Shaw, OL2 8AB. 

The whole programme is FREE, we provide a weekly travel voucher and in most cases the benefits will not be affected.

We also provide support with Literacy and Numeracy over the programme.

Please note that any young person 19+ does have to be in receipt of benefit to access our TEAM programme.

If you work with or know of any young people who would benefit from this unique 12 week programme, please give me a ring on 07739 978791 or email me on joanne.shaw@groundwork.org.uk alternatively please contact Shiny Rahman Prince’s Trust assistant team leader on 07715 619 519 or email him on shiny.rahman@groundwork.org.uk and we will arrange to meet the young person.

We are available to complete a home visit or if they prefer they can come to the team room.

Thank you very much for your time in reading and please do share my email with any of your colleagues that may know or work with any young people who maybe benefit from the programme.

Please do feel free to contact me if you would like any further information.

For real time information: https://oldham.roadworks.org/

Transforming Oldham’s economic fortunes should be the number one priority of Oldham Council, which is why it is alarming that the local plan consultation has failed to update the Business Employment Areas from the previous local plan, says Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Kenyon.

The shadow cabinet member for economy and enterprise highlighted the inclusion of the new Saddleworth School site in the list of Saddleworth Employment Areas – which was taken directly from the previous local plan without being updated.

“There are locations across Saddleworth, and the wider borough, which have thrived in the years since the previous local plan, and we should be identifying those for support, as well as those locations which will be the next successes in the local economy.

“The economic landscape of Oldham has changed so much since its industrial heyday, which is why it is vital the mills policy is at the heart of its regeneration. That could be using those sites for new housing, or transforming it into new employment sites.

“I’m wondering how much real focus there is on local employment and businesses when a designated employment area has actually been earmarked for housing for at least ten years – did no one notice?”

As well as calling for new Business Employment Areas to be identified to replace those which have already been turned over to new uses, the Liberal Democrats have responded to the consultation calling for an expansion in the number of target areas.

Mark continued: “Whilst our industrial heritage is something that we should be proud of, pride doesn’t pay the bills so the local plan must help the next generation of businesses thrive. There are growing industries, such as environmental technologies, which are huge opportunities for towns such as ours.

“The Liberal Democrats put forward plans for a coalmine heating system which would see the town at the forefront of this technology worldwide. Putting forward innovative technology like that requires a thriving support network of businesses. Let’s drive forward innovation as a Council by taking forward these schemes, and by providing a platform for local businesses to take advantage of them.”

Oldham Liberal Democrats are disappointed that promised government cash to replace the development grants previously provided by the European Union is too little and still hasn’t arrived.

In the last round of European funding (2014-2020), the ten Greater Manchester authorities received £322.75m [European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) (£176.78m) and the European Social Funding (ESF) (£145.97m)].  Over each of the six years this represented £53.8m per year.

In 2017, the Conservatives promised to replace these funds with a new UK Shared Prosperity Fund once the UK exited the European Union.  Ministers now say they plan to launch this in 2022 and in the meantime have made only £220 million available this year through a stopgap UK Community Renewal Fund.  Local authorities have been invited to bid, with those councils in greater need being invited to apply for up to £3 million and given priority.

Councillor Howard Sykes, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, has described this as ‘short-changing Oldham’.  He explained why: “The Prime Minister may talk a lot about ‘levelling up’ but for all his talk he has done very little.

If before Brexit each of the GM authorities received an average of £5.4 million per year in EU funding, we have now been invited to ‘bid’ for £3 million, clearly much less than before in Oldham where we have been seriously ‘short-changed’ by austerity.  In a bidding war nothing is guaranteed, and we have yet to see any cash.” 

As the humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Afghanistan, Government have announced the UK is looking at a “bespoke arrangement” for Afghan refugees, with full details to be set out in due course.

A new resettlement scheme will be aimed at helping those most in need – including women and girls – to come to the UK.

In Oldham, the council are working with MHCLG, housing providers, and other partners locally and nationally to ensure that we do all we can to help refugees fleeing the desperate situation in Afghanistan.

Housing providers are seeking to identify suitable accommodation that could be used to house refugees, and this information will be provided directly to Government.

We also know that people across the borough are keen to help in any way they can, and ensure that clothes, food, toys, toiletries and other essentials are provided.

Current needs include:

• Men’s clothes (including warm clothes)
• Men’s shoes (ideally trainers)
• Underwear (must be new)
• Unlocked smartphones and tablets

All donations should be good quality, washed and clean (or new where possible)

Care4-Calais have agreed to take a lead across Greater Manchester on coordinating donations and offers of funds. This link provides a map of where donations of goods can be dropped off https://care4calais.org/thedropoffmap/.  

And up to date needs can be found on their social media: https://twitter.com/Care4Calais

For real time information: https://oldham.roadworks.org/