The call for a “residents first” planning approach by new council leader Arooj Shah has been called “deeply ironic” by local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani.

In recent years the Labour Council has changed the rules around being able to challenge planning applications, making it increasingly difficult for them to be heard in public.

With just one resident allowed three minutes to speak, it has left residents feeling more and more excluded from the planning process, especially on contentious applications, such as the recent application from 256 houses at Knowls Lane in Lees and Springhead.

Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “I would love for there to be a ‘residents first’ planning approach in Oldham. That would mean changing the system to better engage with residents, and to make sure their voices are heard.

“Time and again, I have heard from residents responding to the Knowls Lane application that they just want a fair, transparent decision. They certainly don’t feel that we have a ‘residents first’ planning approach.”

With constant pressure on Councils to meet national targets for housebuilding, and less funding for brownfield developments, people increasingly feel that they are locked out of a planning system which ignores their interests.

“It’s not good enough to call for a ‘residents first’ planning approach only when it suits the Labour councillors. People must have a forum to be part of the planning process all the time.”

“The recent proposals to change the planning process by the Conservative Government will strip the public of its voice even further.

“When it comes to giving people the chance to speak, Labour and the Conservatives are both the same. We need a planning system which builds in the public voice, and makes fair, transparent decisions with the public, in full view.”

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Chair and Chief Executive of the Peak District National Park Authority calling upon them to reinstate the volunteer ranger service at Dovestones Reservoir.

Commenting councillor Sykes said:  “The volunteer rangers freely gave their time and commitment to looking after our countryside and wildlife, and keeping visitors safe.  At a time when we have seen more moorland fires and increasing visitor numbers at Dovestones, it must defy common sense to abolish a service, which must cost the Parks Authority very little financially, but which represents a lot of extra  ‘boots on the ground’ looking out for fires and for people.  I hope that my letter provokes a rethink and that we shall see the volunteer rangers back in post soon.”

The introduction of new standing orders for Saddleworth Parish Council has delivered a promise from Saddleworth’s Liberal Democrats to increase public involvement and transparency in the way the Council works.

They have scrapped a clause from the previous standing orders which required members of the public to submit questions to the Council in writing two working days before the date of a meeting. With Council meetings taking place on Mondays, that meant that questions would in practice have to be submitted on the Wednesday of the week before.

This meant that it was virtually impossible for urgent matters to be brought to the Council to be addressed.

Sam Al-Hamdani, the leader of Liberal Democrats on the Parish Council, said; “Councils must be as close to the communities they serve as possible. They should be accessible, and allow members of the public to ask questions about what is happening.

“This shows what happens when Liberal Democrats are in a position to control a Council. While others talk about transparency and openness, we deliver. We said that we would increase public participation and we have put that in place.”

The new standing orders were introduced at the Annual Meeting which took place on May 24.

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to Andy Burnham asking the Mayor of Greater Manchester to immediately publish a long-awaited report into the management and performance of Greater Manchester Police.

Mayor Burnham delayed publishing the report before his mayoral re-election, claiming that it would be inappropriate to do so before the new Police chief was in post.  Chief Constable Stephen Watson QPM has now been sworn in, and councillor Sykes wants the Mayor to keep his promise.

“Now the new Chief Constable is in post, there really is no longer an excuse to delay the publication of this report,” said councillor Sykes.  “From what I have heard the report is damning, with serious criticisms about the culture, management and performance of Greater Manchester Police that go to the very top.  Now it is ready, it is only right that the public should be able to see it as they paid for it.”

Councillor Sykes added: “This is not the first time Greater Manchester Police has come in for criticism.  Last year, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary was also condemnatory in its findings, particularly about the failure to record over 80,000 reported crimes. We have also seen the fiasco over the new Police computer system, iOPs.”

“The new Chief Constable and Mayor Burnham, as Police and Crime Commissioner, must now come up with a credible plan of action to bring about radical improvements at Greater Manchester Police and restore public confidence in their police service.”

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Oldham and Saddleworth Liberal Democrats are fearful that the announcement in the Queen’s Speech that the Conservative Government intends to press ahead with its proposals for new planning legislation will favour developers and mean an end to local people and councillors having a say in planning decisions.

Under Conservative plans, central government will designate whole swathes of the country for ‘growth’, meaning that developers will have ‘planning permission in principle’.  Conservative ministers claim it will eliminate ‘red tape’ but the Liberal Democrats fear that it abolishes any meaningful involvement of local councils and residents in planning matters.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said: “The Conservatives claim that this legislation will speed up the planning process.  In reality it kills off any opportunity for local people and their elected representatives to have their say in whether a proposed development meets local needs or is compatible with the existing natural and built environment.”

“At present, planning applications are judged against local planning criteria by officers.  Local people and councillors are invited to comment on the plan and officers then make a recommendation to the Planning Committee which has the final say on the most contentious matters.  Committee meetings are open to the public who are invited to elect a spokesperson to address members.”

Councillor Sykes added: “Under this legislation once an area is designated for ‘growth’, developers coming forward with plans for new houses or offices for example will be assumed to have planning permission automatically and there will be minimal involvement from officers, and none from the public or councillors, prior to development taking place.”

“The irony is that the legislation is unnecessary as nine out of 10 housing applications are already passed by councils – the real problem is that housebuilders are not building out on the land upon which they already have planning approval.”

Prompt enforcement action on the “box home” that had been advertised for rent in Oldham town centre sets a standard for enforcement that must be continued.

The cramped room with a chemical toilet, which was advertised as a home for rent on social media, has been inspected by the Environmental Health team at the Council, and formal notice is being served to prevent it from being rented out.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani followed up the incident with officers. “I was pleased to hear that they were already taking action. It is important that the enforcement teams do their job, and are seen to be doing it.”

The shadow cabinet member for housing had said that the “home” was one of the worst examples he had ever seen of substandard housing. It had barely enough room for a fold out bed and a chemical toilet.

He continued: “There are many good landlords about, but not enough are up to those standards, and this example shows what could have happened. I hope that the teams continue to set this kind of standard in combatting housing that is not fit for human habitation.

“Too many people in Oldham are struggling to make ends meet, and they need to know that their Council and their Councillors are fighting every day to make sure they are not taken advantage of.