Oldham Council 14 December 2016 – leaders questions from Councillor Howard Sykes

questions-to-ask-your-LASIK-doctorLeaders Question 1 – Greater Manchester Spatial Framework

Mr Mayor, my first question of the Leader tonight again relates to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

I make no apology for it, Mr Mayor, because in my part of the world this is undoubtedly the single most important local issue to our citizens.

I was surprised by the response of the Leader last time.

She talked of the need for more homes in our Borough and more aspirational homes in our Borough – something I do not disagree with – but there was no recognition that the growth and pain should be shared across the Borough, rather than concentrated in one corner of it!

Mr Mayor, I would like to reiterate that the land earmarked to build an awful lot of these new homes is in Shaw, in Crompton and in Royton.

It may be that only three percent of the Borough’s Green Belt is being lost, but the lion’s share of that amount is being lost is in the wards represented by myself and my colleagues for Shaw, Crompton and Royton.

Under the proposals outlined under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, over 3000 new homes will be built on green field sites in Shaw and Crompton alone!

Vast swathes of Green Belt stretching from the rear of Dunwood Park to Burnage will be lost forever to bricks, concrete and tarmac.

3,000 new homes built in two wards in which, as a consequence of the withdrawal of local facilities or underinvestment, we have primary schools that are already overcrowded and full; a secondary school that is falling apart; a dilapidated health centre that is near cardiac arrest; no swimming facilities or dry leisure provision; precious few youth facilities and no municipal tip.

3,000 new homes that are built for growing families will need more primary and secondary school places; more GPs and dentists; and new highways and more buses and trams to get them about their daily business.

And doesn’t the decision not to replace the Crompton Pool and Gym now look a little short-sighted given the number of new young residents that will need to learn to swim and the number of adults that will want to keep fit?

More and more of my constituents are frankly getting more and more fearful and angry about these proposals.

This frustration was reflected in the fact that more than 200 residents turned up recently to a public consultation and we have had to organise a second event tomorrow, Thursday 15 December.

My question tonight Mr Mayor is in three parts.

  • I would firstly like to ask the Leader whether she really is convinced that there is a need for such a large land grab of Green Belt to build so many homes and such an increase in industrial provision in our Borough?
  • And if the answer is yes, why is it that the lion’s share of that burden is placed upon Shaw, Crompton and Royton rather than apportioned out with other parts of the Borough having a Fair Share?
  • And lastly would the Leader agree with me that we first need to develop on brown field land, on land with existing planning permission for housing and on unloved derelict sites, and also bring back empty homes into occupation and convert empty factories and mills into flats, before we look to touch any part of our precious Green Belt and Green Spaces?

 

Leaders Question 2 – Promoting the Borough’s Real Ale, Music and Comedy Scene

 In July 2013, I asked the then Leader of the Council to join me in backing Oldham’s live music and comedy scene.

At that time, the former Castle Pub, a well-known music venue, had just closed on Union Street but there was still a vibrant music scene with six venues for live performances in the town centre.

With the recent bad news that Marks and Spencer will not be joining us at Prince’s Gate, we need to highlight the positive things that Oldham has to offer.

With the opening of the new Cinema complex and a new Coliseum Theatre complex on the way, our night-time leisure offer is being transformed.

No longer is Yorkshire Street and Union Street like the Wild West by night – instead we have cafes and bars that are safe for families and couples to visit after dark.  So let’s celebrate that.

This presents us with the opportunity to showcase the best of what Oldham has to offer – shopping or a visit to our Gallery or Museum during the day, a bite to eat in the early evening in the restaurants in Parliament Square or the Independent Quarter, a performance at the Theatre, and then maybe the opportunity to stay on into the late evening for a drink or two in a real ale pub and the chance to listen to some live music or a comedy show.

Oldham potentially offers the perfect day out and; with the Metrolink network now being even more extensive and trams more frequent; it is possible for people to visit this Borough from every part of Greater Manchester.

We need to shout about that.  So now is the time to revisit how we promote the Borough.

As part of a new tourism strategy can I ask the Leader to ask officers to produce a brochure, or brochures if one is not enough, of real ale pubs and live music and comedy venues around the Borough with their links to public transport?   And that this information is made available in print, web and an app.

Graduated and want some real life work experience?

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Do you know someone who has graduated in the last 18 months and wants the opportunity to get some real life work experience and develop project management skills?

http://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/bbor/pages/vpa-programme

Groundwork’s Volunteer Project Assistant (VPA) programme has helped over 2,000 unemployed graduates to kick-start their first steps into professional careers. The programme started in the early 1990’s as a way to provide unemployed graduates with real project management experience and to break the cycle of no job = no experience = no job.

Placements are available at all three Groundwork Trusts in Greater Manchester: Bolton, Bury, Oldham & Rochdale (BBOR); Cheshire, Lancashire & Merseyside (CLM); and Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside & Trafford (MSSTT).

The closing date for this first round of applications is 5pm on Friday 6th January 2017.  Interviews will take place in Oldham on Wednesday 18th January 2017.

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

pavementparkingAt the full Council Meeting on Wednesday 14th 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

Liberal Democrats call for less packaging and more recycling

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Liberal Democrat councillors Garth Harness (Saddleworth North) and Diane Williamson (Crompton) will be proposing a motion to Oldham council on Wednesday 14th December 2016 calling on the council to help reduce packaging and improve recycling.

Councillor Garth Harkness said “ There are 2.5 billion paper coffee cups thrown away each year and hardly any of them are recycled. There are specialist facilities that can be used but only about 0.25% are. There is too much packaging on food products that can’t be recycled and we need to do more to work with these companies across Greater Manchester to address the issue”

A co-ordinated effort needs to be explored to cut the resources of providing our food and drink

Councillor Diane Williamson said “WRAP look at improving resource efficiency. We should consider the merits of the council being a signatory of WRAPs’ Courtauld Commitment 2025. The aim is to get better value and reduce waste involving food production. ASDA, Aldi and Boots are among a number willing to commit already”.

Councillor Garth Harkness added: “We need to work with local coffee outlets to encourage them to adopt recyclable cups, provide on-site recycling facilities, and offer discounts to customers bringing their own cup.  The production of bottled water necessitates wasteful processing, bottling and transportation, and when its consumption leads to the discarding of millions of plastic bottles.”

Councillor Diane Williamson ended “We should look at promoting the provision of public drinking fountains and free drinking water in all catering outlets and schools.”

Council 14 December 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business – Reducing and Recycling Food Packaging

This Council is proud to be a member of the Sustainable Food Cities Network and as a member is committed to “Reducing waste and the ecological footprint of the food system”.

Council notes that with concern that this commitment will be more difficult to achieve when:

  • Most beverage cups dispensed by coffee outlets cannot be recycled
  • The production of bottled water necessitates wasteful processing, bottling and transportation, and when its consumption leads to the discarding of millions of plastic bottles
  • Much of the packaging used for food products cannot currently be recycled

Council aspires instead to reduce food packaging and promote recycling across the borough whenever possible.

Council further notes that these aspirations are compatible with the aims of the initiative, the Courthauld Commitment 2025, where signatories pledge to work to reduce  “the resource needed to provide our food and drink by one-fifth over ten years.”

Council therefore resolves to:

  • Ensure that drinking cups at water and coffee machines in Council buildings are all recyclable and are recycled
  • Work with local coffee outlets to encourage them to adopt recyclable cups, provide on-site recycling facilities, provide multi-use cups, and offer discounts to customers bringing their own cups
  • Promote the provision of public drinking fountains and free drinking water in all catering outlets and schools
  • Work with local food producers, processors and retailers, and with the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority, to adopt food packaging that can be recycled
  • Ask the relevant Cabinet Member and officers to investigate the merits of becoming a signatory to the Courthauld Commitment 2025, and report back on their findings no later than six months from now.

http://www.wrap.org.uk/content/courtauld-commitment-2025?gclid=CjwKEAiAj7TCBRCp2Z22ue-zrj4SJACG7SBE3zTgNQWf-bssxt893rVju12k-Bpn0l6ntztb5jHSmhoCNN7w_wcB

IMPROVING RAILWAY STATION ACCESSIBILITY

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The motion for debate at Oldham Council on Wednesday 14 December is about IMPROVING RAILWAY STATION ACCESSIBILITY.

The motion is about the failure of the railway system in general to adapt to the needs of the 21st century especially regarding the less agile elderly, those with young children and those with baggage or disabilities.

Indeed Councillor Sykes points out that ” about half of the railway stations across Greater Manchester still require work to make them fully accessible, in stark contrast to the Metrolink system which is notable for the care taken to cater for all.”

Taking a more ‘local’ look at Oldham’s only railway station: Greenfield

Councillor McCann states that ” whilst the station now has an information system, a staffed booking office (wonderfully helpful staff) and a toilet, there is still no way a disabled person can get to the platform for trains to Huddersfield and beyond or indeed get from Manchester to Greenfield due to the long, steep flight of steps to the bridge used as the travelers crossing.” 

The present station arrangement is down to the age of the station and lack of national rail will and finance to modernise stations to enable full access for all.

So when a multi million pound project is announced to electrify the line with all the major works this entails including bridge rebuild at Greenfield then says Cllr. McCann “one would think that whilst doing major works the chance would be taken to include disabled access in the actual works; a position fully supported by Oldham council who have fought with local groups to facilitate this approach.

It makes sense on financial, efficiency and fairness grounds. But there has not been any indication that common sense has penetrated the depths of the rail planners.” 

Council 14 December 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business – Motion 3 – Improving Railway Station Accessibility

This Council notes:

  • The Government’s stated commitment to encourage people with disabilities to return to paid employment
  • The important role of railways in getting people to and from their places of work
  • That, in contrast to Metrolink, disabled people still face difficulties in accessing some rail services
  • The importance of the £102 million Department for Transport ‘Access for All’ programme in funding adaptations to railway stations to make them more accessible
  • That around half of all of the 96 railway stations across Greater Manchester still require more work to make them accessible, including the only railway station in the borough, Greenfield Station

This Council notes with concern:

  • Proposals within the recent Hendy Report to defer half of the ‘Access for All’ projects until the period 2019-24 meaning unacceptable delays in the adaptations to stations
  • That any delay to the adaptation of a station means that rail services there will not be accessible to all which is contrary to UK equalities legislation

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to:

  • Write to the relevant Secretary of State asking him to reject the proposed re-phasing of Access for All projects and to instead, wherever possible, undertake more station adaptations at the current time
  • Write to the Chair of Transport for Greater Manchester Committee and the Lead member on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority for Transport Tony Lloyd urging them to consider how more funding can be made available to bring our region’s railway stations up to the high accessibility standards of Metrolink

Proposed by: Councillor John McCann

Seconded by: Councillor Howard Sykes MBE

Beal Lane traffic

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I have been contacted and observed myself the recent traffic issues with HGVs on Beal Lane.

I have pursued this matter with Council Officers – see below.

Photo of Beal Lane at 11.30 today.  The vehicles are not moving.  The queue stretched back to Crompton Way. It took 45 minutes to clear. Most vehicles were for Yodel.

This is not the first time in the last few days and people have been told it will be like this for a few weeks a yet.

I understand it is a busy time for Yodel and JD Williams but they cannot log jam a road a road like this on a daily basis, they should hold the wagons elsewhere until they have a clear run into their facility.

Something needs to be done about this and soon.

I have now received a response from Sarah Robinson, Traffic Engineer, shared herewith for your information.

Dear Cllr Sykes

Further to my e-mail to the Police, a police officer has been to visit the Transport Manager at Yodel to discuss the congestion problems being experienced along Beal Lane.  Further to the Police visit Yodel has now confirmed the following:-

Measures have been taken to prevent re occurrence of the problems experienced last week. Inbound goods have been diverted away from the Beal Lane site to a centre in the Midlands. These measures have significantly reduced the amount of traffic coming into Shaw.

Yodel has also adjusted the inbound times on some of the other collections so the spread is throughout the day thus preventing pinch points and the potential for congestion.

The above appears to be working well and doing what was intended.

Should you get any reports that the congestion problems have occurred again please let me know and I will try and resolve the matter either through the Police or with the assistance of Yodel.

Regards

Sarah Robinson

Traffic Engineer, Traffic and Network Management

 Unity Partnership Henshaw House, Cheapside, Oldham OL1 1NY

T  0161 770 4377 | F  0161 770 3411

E sarah.robinson@unitypartnership.com | W  www.unitypartnership.com

Hopefully this should help with the problem.

Dementia guide for carers and care providers

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purple speech bubble

NHS Health Education England have produced a Dementia guide for carers and care providers.  It’s a Comprehensive guide for everyone who cares for someone with dementia.

The guide:

  • Shares information that will help support the journey of those with dementia, once they have been diagnosed
  • Acts as a tool for carers and care providers, working together and using the guide establish greater knowledge and understanding of what is required when a person is diagnosed with dementia
  • Answers questions from carers and care providers about services that will be required to support them and the person they are caring for
  • Provides information in a language that is understandable to all, highlighting that dementia is everyone’s business, emphasising that the person with dementia is central and that they should receive the advice and support they need to live well.

Read more at: https://hee.nhs.uk/our-work/person-centred-care/dementia/dementia-guide-carers-care-providers