Lib Dems motion calls to scrap domestic violence charges

The Oldham council Liberal Democrat group are proposing a motion at the full council meeting on Wednesday 12th July 20167 which will be calling on the council to join the campaign to scrap domestic violence charges.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Saddleworth North, Garth Harkness who is proposing the motion said:

“It is traumatic enough for a domestic violence sufferer as it is. Some have gone to domestic violence centres with little. Recent legislation changes mean in order to access legal aid series in domestic violence cases, evidence from a GP letter is required. Reports of charges for GP letters have been around £75 but as much as £175 as it is outside the NHS contract. Having to find a fee for a GP letter is unreasonable and many victims will not have it. This is not acceptable. We need to support domestic violence sufferers not put up barriers”.

Seconder of the motion, Liberal Democrat Councillor, Julia Turner, Crompton said:

“Reports of domestic violence are on the increase. The government need to let innocent suffers of domestic abuse access legal aid support without the requirement to provide written evidence which will cost them money to obtain it they don’t have.. Whilst we push for the government to change the requirements we need to ask our local GPs not to charge for letters until the requirement is scrapped

“There were 1.3 million females and 600,000 males who were victims of domestic violence in 2014/15. On average 100 women and 30 men are killed every year from domestic violence. We need to support victims to get justice not hinder them”

Councillor Garth Harkness added “The council should support the campaign “Scrap the Fee” launched by Whythenshawe Safe Sports and Labour MP, Tom Watson. A stance for no fees for a letter to be used as evidence in domestic violence case is supported by many Police and Crime Commissioners across the country. They know that it has a significant impact in ensuring justice. It is time Oldham council join the campaign”

Motion Reads: Scrap the Domestic Violence Charge Fee

This Council:

  • Notes that in 2014 / 15 there were an estimated 1.3 million female victims and 600,000 male victims of domestic abuse and that, on average, 100 women and 30 men a year are killed in situations involving domestic abuse.
  • Remains totally committed to opposing domestic violence in all its forms, to supporting its victims, and to working for a society where all members of our community treat one another with compassion, kindness and respect.
  • Believes that Government should share these priorities and is therefore bitterly opposed to Conservative Government proposals requiring victims of domestic violence seeking legal aid to provide a prescribed piece of evidence to prove they have been subjected to abuse.
  • Notes that such evidence can include a letter from a General Practitioner for which some GPs charge a fee of up to £75, as this sits outside of the NHS contract.
  • Believes that it is totally unreasonable to expect the victims of domestic violence to pay such a fee; that many such victims will struggle to find the fee.

Council resolves to

  • Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Minister of Justice outlining this Council’s opposition to the imposition of a requirement for victims of domestic violence to produce letters or similar evidence of abuse to access legal aid and asking the Government to scrap this requirement.
  • Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Borough’s three Members of Parliament and the new Mayor of Greater Manchester asking them to support this position.
  • Ask the Health and Well-being Board and the Domestic Violence Partnership to contact local GPs asking them to make a commitment not to charge victims for letters until such time as this requirement is scrapped.
  • Register as a supporter of the ‘Scrap the Fee’ campaign established by Tom Watson MP and Wythenshawe Safe Spots.

Commend our Emergency Services Heroes Call to Oldham Council

Councillor Chris Gloster, Oldham Council Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet Member for Health and Well-being, is calling on Oldham Council to commend the staff of the emergency services and local hospitals who responded with “courage, professionalism and dedication” to the recent Manchester Arena Bombing.

Councillor Gloster has submitted a motion for discussion at the next meeting of Oldham Council on Wednesday 12 July.

Being himself a former police officer of 35 years-experience, Councillor Gloster knows all too well the pressure and expectations placed upon staff in the emergency services when they are required to respond to major incidents of this nature:

“It is to their tremendous credit that although the majority of first responders had never faced an incident of such mass violence and brutality, or dealt with injuries of this type, they acted selflessly without hesitation and in so doing saved many lives that otherwise would have been lost.”

“Also in our hospitals, National Health Service staff at Accident and Emergency Units across Greater Manchester unflinchingly pulled together to treat the injured, saving lives and in some cases limbs, of those most seriously injured, and here I must particularly praise the staff of the Royal Oldham Hospital who dealt with many of the casualties.

Cllr Gloster wants the Council to recognise the extraordinary efforts of police officers, ambulance teams, fire crews and medical staff on the night of the bombing, and afterwards, but his motion also praises staff at Victoria Railway Staff for their work in minimising the disruption to public transport and the public for their response.

He added: “The many selfless acts that took place at the time of the attack and since the attack from members of the public from all walks of life, who have come together as a community to help people whom they do not know and have never met, are truly astounding. It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to the organisers of the local vigils and the wake held at Tandle Hill and Alexandra Park, and to everyone involved in the tremendous fund-raising efforts.”

“The public’s actions demonstrate that we really are stronger as a Greater Manchester community when ‘We Stand Together’.”

The Motion reads: The Manchester Arena Bombing

 Council notes with revulsion that, at 10.31 pm on Monday 22 May 2017, a terrorist attack took place at the Manchester Arena when a 22 year old British Muslim man detonated an improvised explosive device within the confines of the arena killing himself and 22 innocent adults and children and injuring a further 119 adults and children, 23 of them critically.

Although any deaths or injuries in such a terrorist outrage are horrific, the Council and people of Oldham were especially saddened to hear that amongst the dead were two women from Royton, Alison Howe and Lisa Lees.

The perpetrator of this atrocity, Salman Abedi, claimed to have performed this act of terrorism in the name of Islam.

This Council condemns terrorism in any form, and does not recognise or believe that this horrific act had anything to do with Islam, but was committed by a deranged man who had been radicalised into the mistaken belief that he would be going to a better place, when in fact his only achievement was to bring death to himself and others and worldwide condemnation of his actions from people of all religions, creeds, beliefs and people of no faith alike.

This Council recognises, and commends:

  • The courage, professionalism and dedication of the many members of the Emergency Services at the scene and in local hospitals.

Although the majority of first responders had never faced an incident of such mass violence and brutality, or dealt with injuries of this type, they acted selflessly without hesitation and in so doing saved many lives that otherwise would have been lost.

In our hospitals, National Health Service staff at Accident and Emergency Units across Greater Manchester, unflinchingly pulled together to treat the injured, saving lives and in some cases limbs, of those most seriously injured.

Council notes that many of these casualties were treated at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

  • The many selfless acts that took place at the time of the attack and since the attack from members of the public from all walks of life, who have come together as a community to help people whom they do not know and have never met.

Council especially commends the local vigils held and the tremendous fund-raising effort to support the victims of this tragedy and their families.

  • The work of staff of Transport for Greater Manchester, Metrolink and bus and rail companies in seeking to minimise the disruption to public transport services resulting from the closure of Victoria Station.

In recognition of these efforts, this Council directs the Chief Executive to write to:

  • The Chief Constable, Greater Manchester Police
  • The Chief Constable, British Transport Police
  • The Chief Fire Officer, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
  • The Chief Officer, North West Ambulance Service
  • The Chief Executive, NHS Pennine Acute Trust
  • The Chief Executive, Transport for Greater Manchester

To extend the gratitude and admiration of Council for the efforts of their staff both on the night and post incident.

Furthermore, Oldham Council places on record its admiration for the general public of Greater Manchester in facing up to the enormity of this tragedy; the public’s actions have demonstrated that we really are stronger as a Greater Manchester community when ‘We Stand Together’.

101 – police non-emergency number

Response to our recent letter about this.

Subject: GMP 101 Service complaint letter.

Ms Williamson,

Good afternoon.

I have been passed a complaint letter that you have sent to the PCC’s office on the 15th June. Apologies for the delay in response, it has come via a few other avenues to get to me.

The complaint regards the length of time waiting for 101 calls to be answered and police investigation.

I cannot comment on the police investigation side of things, other than an investigation will only take place if a police incident has been created that requires investigation.

Before that of course, a phone call from a member of the public needs to be answered by GMP to take their report.

GMP analysts look back at the last two years of data to be able to forecast the number of calls we might take at any time of any day, down to 15 minute segments of information. Knowing the forecasted number of calls, allows us to know how many staff we need on that hour. The National Service Level Agreement for answering 999 calls sits at 90% to be answered within 10 seconds.

There is no National Service Level Agreement for answering 101 calls.

We do compile and keep data on all responses, and yesterday for example the average wait time for a 101 call to be answered was 3 minutes and 9 seconds and we answered 87% of our 999 calls within target.

If I take another example as the day you have written in, 15th June.

As mentioned above, we can analyse how many calls we expect to take on a date and are normally to within 3%.

On 15th June we expected to take 1376×999 calls and 2316×101 calls.

We actually took 1714×999 calls and 2641×101 calls.

Well before 15th June analysts would have looked at how many staff we need on that day, per hour, as number of calls per hour varies with the busier times being an evening. Taking a set time of 9pm at night, on that night, I needed 33 call-handlers on duty to manage the expected demand. I had 29. This is what we call “minus 4 for the hour.”

A call-handler is expected to take just over 6 calls an hour, the average call length is over 6 minutes a call with most calls requiring “after call work” – this can range from updating intelligence to passing to other areas of the business meaning a call-taker should be available to take a call 70% of the hour.

Back to 15th June at 21:00. We were forecast combined (101 and 999) calls of 209 calls, we took 274. I was already at minus 4 staff, so 4 staff x 6 calls the hour each is 24 possible calls missed already, out of a difference of 65 extra expected calls as it was. This shows how much demand can vary. The weather is always a feature of calls made too. Nice weather prompts more outside activity, youths playing out, music from gardens, drink related calls and other types of call.

Essentially the reduced capacity in answering 101 calls is down to the priority of 999 calls being answered as a HMIC target and reduced staffing via the austerity measures. On Friday night this weekend there will be hours when we are minus 12 to minus 14, that’s 14 call-handlers under how many we should have to take the expected number of calls. That’s at least 88 calls per hour we are probably going to struggle to answer in a timely manner.

Whilst not assisting your constituents in their request to get calls answered sooner, I hope the above goes someway to showing the challenges we are currently facing in reaching demand. GMP are committed to providing an excellent service to the public, which is why as part of my role we are always looking at ways to improve contact management.

Please feel free to contact should I be able to provide further assistance.

Regards,

Neil Smitham

OCB Call-Handling Manager

Poo Watch Letter sent to the Oldham Chronicle

Dear Sir,

Graham Wilcock (Letters June 13 – Lay Off Dog Walkers) is ‘barking up the wrong tree’ in thinking I have something personal against the responsible dog walkers who use High Crompton Park.

My issue is not with responsible dog walkers, and not specially with any dog walkers in High Crompton Park, rather it is with the IR-responsible dog walkers who fail to clear up after their dogs wherever this may be in the Borough.

I made no specific reference to High Crompton Park, in fact the reference was made by a Council senior officer.  So why he berates me for it I have no idea.

I should have thought that Mr. Wilcock with his stated concern for maintaining the reputation of responsible dog walkers would welcome my suggestion that the Council employ modern technology so that responsible dog walkers and other citizens can help it police dog fouling by reporting instances promptly and accurately.

It works in Worcester so why not here?

In that way, we can all enjoy cleaner parks without the threat posed to public health and the blight to public spaces caused by dog fouling.

If Mr. Wilcock wants to read exactly what I said it is on my website: https://howardsykes.mycouncillor.org.uk/ and it is crystal clear I do not mention High Crompton Park.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE

Liberal Democrat Councillor

Shaw and Crompton Family Fun weekend this weekend 24 and 25 June

Fun and events for all ages and the whole family.

Please note Market Street will be closed during the day over the weekend and some additional parking restrictions will be in place to accommodate the Fair and other activities.

The Car Rally is on Sunday on Market Street and the drive round Shaw and Crompton takes place between 12noon and 1.00pm.

This event is marshalled and some minor disruption to traffic can be expected for short period at various junctions on the route.

If you see the ‘convoy’ give them a wave or a toot on your horn, which I am sure they will appreciate.

Liberal Democrats welcome Revision of Green Belt Land Grab Plan

The Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, have written to the new Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham to welcome his rethink of the controversial Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.  The newly-elected Mayor has appointed Salford’s Mayor Paul Dennett to oversee a rewrite of the proposals.

Cllr Sykes said: “Much of the Green Belt land in Oldham that was proposed for housing development is located in the two wards represented solely by six Liberal Democrat Councillors, namely Shaw and Crompton.  Over three thousand new homes are proposed in these two wards.  Local residents are rightly up in arms, fearing that not only will the current plan mean that their precious Green Belt will be lost forever under a carpet of concrete, but also that the existing medical, school and leisure infrastructure, which is already severely stretched, will be completely swamped with the extra demand.”

The Liberal Democrats have a clear aspiration for future housing development in Greater Manchester.  Cllr Sykes explained: “Development should be on brownfield sites first, particularly sites with outstanding planning permission, coupled with mill and factory conversions to housing and a drive to bring existing empty homes back into occupancy, whenever this is practicable.”

In his letter, Cllr Sykes has made the new Mayor an offer: “I am pleased to say that the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council enjoyed a cordial and constructive relationship with your predecessor.  We look forward to establishing a similar relationship with yourself so that we might together work to make Greater Manchester, and its ten constituent local authorities, greater still.”

“We hope that you will offer us the opportunity to work with you and Mr Dennett to establish a revised plan that is acceptable to local ward members and our constituents, which mirrors our aspirations for housing and economic development in Greater Manchester.”

 Attached letter to Mayor Andy Burnham

22 May 2017

Mr. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, GMCA, Churchgate House, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 6EU

Dear Mr. Mayor,

Many congratulations on your recent election. I am pleased to say that the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council enjoyed a cordial and constructive relationship with your predecessor. We look forward to establishing a similar relationship with yourself so that we might together work to make Greater Manchester, and its ten constituent local authorities, greater still.

We welcome your recent commitment to revise the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and your appointment of Salford’s Mayor Paul Dennett to oversee the rewrite.

We hope that you will offer us the opportunity to work with you and Mr. Dennett to establish a revised plan that is acceptable to local ward members and our constituents, which mirrors our aspirations for housing and economic development in Greater Manchester.

The original plans for Oldham proposed that 13,700 new homes be built and almost 700,000 square metres of land made available for new factories and warehouses in the borough. Approximately 3000 were to be located in sites in Shaw and Crompton, and other tracts of land were designated for industrial development.

To the six Liberal Democrat Councillors representing Shaw and Crompton, this plan represented a massive and inequitable land grab in our area with the loss of our much-loved Green Belt and OPOL (other protected open land).

Our constituents have rightly been up-in-arms about it, and have participated in demonstrations at Tandle Hill Park and in Albert Square to protect their Green Belt. As their elected representatives, we have supported their aspiration not to see any development of the Green Belt.

Labour colleagues representing Royton and Chadderton are also upset at plans to devastate Green Belt in their areas and I know they would also welcome the chance to participate in a dialogue with Mr Dennett and yourself.

It is the view of the Liberal Democrat Group that there is no justification for the construction of a large number of properties (or indeed any properties) on Green Belt or OPOL land before new homes are first built on Brownfield sites, on sites where planning permission for housing development has already been granted and upon the many derelict and the unloved sites in our town centres and districts.

We also believe that every empty mill and factory should be converted used for housing and that the large number of empty homes across Greater Manchester should be brought back into use.

We also wish to see the apportionment of housing and commercial development across every ward within every borough rather than the disproportionate imposition of development on a few wards such as ours.

It is our belief that Shaw and Crompton lacks the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of the residents of more than 3,000 new homes. Our primary schools are full and overcrowded; we have 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.

New homes with growing families need primary and secondary school places; more GPs and dentists; leisure and shopping facilities; and new highways and more buses and trams to get them there.

Mr. Mayor, I hope that in light of these facts that you will wish to engage the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group in the re-write and, with this hope in mind, I look forward to hearing from you,

Yours sincerely

Howard Sykes

Council response ‘Poo’ says Sykes

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has described as ‘poo’ the disappointing response eventually received from Oldham Council to his suggestion that the successful PooWatch scheme be introduced to Oldham Borough.

Councillor Sykes wrote to senior Council officers in January 2016 about the PooWatch scheme just then introduced in Worcester.  He explained: “PooWatch is a free web app for smartphones, tablets and personal computers.  Through the Poowatch app, residents can record any dog litter they spot in the city.  The information they provide helps identify dog litter hotspots so action can be targeted in areas of greatest need.”

After ten months, a report was finally brought to the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board in November 2016.  Promisingly, the Board was informed that:

“Here in Oldham the use of a GIS system and a GPS locating mechanism for a device as a reporting facility is currently being explored.  When this has been finalised it is proposed to examine the potential to link in a reporting mechanism for dog fouling that could mirror the Worcester example.”

“Once timescales and resources are highlighted officers will be able to make more meaningful contact with equivalents in Worcester to expand our knowledge as to how they have supported the technology with resources and if there are any lessons learnt that will allow Oldham to improve its reporting mechanisms for residents.”

Councillor Sykes was therefore disappointed to hear early this month that moves towards the introduction of a PooWatch scheme in Oldham have been stifled.

After asking for a progress report Councillor Sykes received an email from Ray Ward, Executive Director, Corporate and Commercial, he was informed that the Council is championing an Environmental Health project “developing online reporting for a number of transactions including fly tipping and noise nuisance.  This is due to go online in the next three to six months.   This does not currently include dog poo as other high volume transactions have been prioritised by the service.”

Councillor Sykes described the decision not to tackle dog fouling as a priority as “Poo”.

He added: “Local Councillors get more complaints from the public about dog fouling than most other issues.  PooWatch empowers the public to take action by using a smart phone to report real incidents of dog fouling in real time to enable prompt action to be taken against irresponsible dog owners and to contribute to both a more co-operative and a cleaner Borough.  It has proven to be a value for money, effective solution in Worcester so why can’t we have it here?”

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.