A Few Words re Former Mayor Joe Farquhar – Oldham Council 28 March

Mr Mayor, I rise to say a few words of tribute to former Mayor and Conservative Councillor Joe Farquhar who recently passed away.

Joe was larger than life.  He was always a man with a presence – you always knew when he was in the Chamber – and when he made a speech you could not help but listen.

Joe served the people of Royton South for two terms from 1984 to 1988 and from 1992 to 1996, sitting as a member on six committees during this time.  He was also elected for a four year term to the former Greater Manchester County Council, playing a vital role in advocating the Oldham case at the city region level.

In his final year in office, Joe became Mayor of this Borough, and his service became a family affair with his mother – Sarah – serving alongside him as Mayoress.

Joe was an active member of the United Reformed Church, and along with his mother Sarah he was a regular at the Union Street Church, and before that at Heyside.  His faith was important part of his life and that of his mum.

Joe also played a prominent role in other areas of civic life within the Borough – he was a Magistrate and a JP, and, for over 20 years, he was President of the Oldham Branch of the Royal British Legion, being an ex-Lancashire Fusilier himself.

Although I may have had differences of outlook and opinion with him, this did not mean that I did not respect him and I felt that he was always a ward councillor who took a great interest in the affairs of Royton, and was an effective and independent voice and advocate for his constituents in this Chamber.

He will be sadly missed and my personal and the Liberal Democrats condolences to his family.

Oldham Council 28 March 2018 – Civic Appreciation Award – Reverend Jean Hurlston

Mr Mayor, it is an honour to be able to second the nomination of the Reverend Jean Hurlston as this year’s recipient of the Civic Appreciation Award.

I am always very proud to be the elected representative of a Borough in which there are many citizens who selflessly carry out acts in their own time and without pay, which transform the lives of their fellow citizens in so many positive ways – and amongst these many unsung heroes and heroines, Jean is both a shining light and an inspiration to many.

I think many people will have heard of, or indeed seen first-hand, the excellent work that is done by Jean and her fellow volunteers at the organisation, Street Angels, that she founded in 2011 to help keep our town’s party-goers safe.

As the former Leader of this Council, I inherited a situation where Oldham’s night-time economy was described in the national press as the ‘Wild West’ and where regrettably violence and loutish behaviour, sometimes ending in tragedy, was commonplace.

This crisis was something that cabinet members and officers expended a great deal of energy to address, and it is to their great credit that Jean and her team of steadfast volunteers were always there until the early hours of the morning, whatever the weather, to lend visitors to our town centre a helping hand to ensure they were safe and reunited with friends – making a great contribution to public safety.

Whether it was handing out flip-flops to young women who had discarded their footwear, making a brew for people who had taken a little too much to drink, clearing broken glass from the street, offering medical treatment to the injured, or providing a word of reassurance, the Street Angels are just that – Angels.

I have read recently, Jean; that you have also started taking deliveries of hot pies for distribution to the homeless.

I understand that when a recent Latics – Southend United home fixture was cancelled because of the weather, leaving catering staff with a mountain of pies, you rushed to the rescue and redistributed them to rough sleepers and to the One World Cafe.  Another example of two of the many great qualities you possess – practicality and compassion.

I believe that you now have plans that are well-advanced to establish a night shelter for rough sleepers, offering shower facilities and food to those most in need.

Homelessness is an issue that members from across parties have in this chamber raised in recent months so I am sure that all Councillors will join me in calling upon all Oldhamer’ s with compassion to support this venture to ensure its success so that no-one need sleep out in the cold.

Mr Mayor, this award is well deserved tonight and I am very pleased to second this nomination – I wish Jean and her team every success in continuing their wonderful work and I hope this award will help you to secure more support for the many worthy causes that you champion.

Liberal Democrats proud of Oldham Connection with Trades Union History

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE is proposing an amendment to a Labour motion about the centenary of the Trades Union Congress that will be discussed at this week’s meeting of Oldham Council (Wednesday 28 March).  The amendment seeks recognition for the fact that an Oldham Trades Union Council was established one year before the TUC itself and that the Oldham connection to trades unionism history should be properly celebrated.

Councillor Sykes said: “We support the motion – the 150th anniversary of the TUC is worthy of commemoration.  Trades unionism has brought immense benefits to working people and their families, in terms of improving their pay and workplace conditions, but also in campaigning for improvements in safety.  However I was a little surprised that the Labour motion makes no mention of Oldham’s proud record in trades’ union history?  The Oldham Liberal Democrats are therefore pleased to be able to rectify this with our amendment.”

He added: “For the record, one year before the establishment of the TUC itself, the Oldham Trades Council was born, clearly demonstrating that unions in our Borough were already organising themselves to speak and act as one local voice in seeking improvements to pay and conditions in local mills and factories, and ultimately to secure political representation.  Not only that but Annie Kenney, the Springhead mill worker we are now celebrating as a pioneer in the fight for women’s suffrage, was also in fact the first elected female delegate to this body.”

The amendment is backed by Councillor Chris Gloster.  Councillor Gloster commented: “I am pleased to say that some crucial ephemera from the early years of the movement have survived. A banner from 1890 has been displayed at Gallery Oldham as part of the Oldham Stories exhibition, and a banner earlier than this, and mistakenly dated 1857, was restored by dedicated staff at the People’s History Museum.  In addition, early records from the Trades Council were saved when the former Oldham TUC Centre for the Unemployed closed in 1993 and these were transferred to the Working Class Movement Library for safe keeping.  Perhaps some of these items could be used as part of the celebrations?”

Councillor Sykes ended: “The Oldham Trades Union Council still exists so the organisation should be fully involved in this year’s celebrations.”

Cannes you believe it?  £10,000 would be better spent fixing our crumbling roads or providing care for our vulnerable children or elderly citizens rather than on French Seaside Spree, says Liberal Democrat Leader

The Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes, MBE, has questioned the value of Oldham Council spending more than £10,000 + VAT to send two Council officers to the French Riviera resort of Cannes at a time when Council services have been cut to the bone.

The two officers were representing Oldham Council at the three day Marché International des Professionnels d’Immobilier (MIPIM) property conference earlier this month.  Oldham Council was one of at least nine around the UK that the national press reported were sending representatives at public expense.

Commenting Councillor Sykes stated:  “The attendance by these Council officers at this conference at this time; at such expense sends; out all of the totally wrong signals when the Council is cutting services to the bone or just stopping them because of swingeing cuts in central government funding.”

He added:  “I am not suggesting that this simply amounted to three days of sunshine and champagne.  I am sure these officers were also meeting with potential investors in Oldham, but many residents in our Borough; who are struggling to pay their Council Tax bills; will rightly ask why this money could not have been spent on fixing potholes on our crumbling roads or providing care for our vulnerable children or elderly citizens rather than on jet travel and hotel bills for staff going to the French Riviera.”

Councillor Sykes is also still investigating whether this £10,000 bill represents the full cost to the Council, and he has an outstanding enquiry with officers in the Chief Executive’s team.