Do you have limited or no computer skills?
Would you like to know how to
Starts 10th November 2015 for 6 weeks
Tuesday 9.30am to 12.00 noon
At Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre, High Street, Shaw
Call in for details to enrol
*proof of benefits (letter of entitlement) and Driving Licence or utility bill are required when you enrol
Display the attached posters to welcome or deter trick or treaters.
Why not also ask if your ‘older’ neighbours would like one of these to display.
Half term activities 8-18 year olds Shaw
For more information contact Lynda Winrow: 07930 925 233
lynda.winrow@oldham.gov.uk
The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has again written to Councillor Barbara Brownridge and Sue Dearden renewing his call for the Labour Administration to work with him to establish a Food Poverty Commission for Oldham.
Councillor Brownridge serves as Cabinet Member for Communities and Councillor Dearden is Chair of the Health and Well-being Board, Councillor Sykes first wrote to them on this matter at the end of July.
Commenting, Councillor Sykes said: “As I know well, Councillors, especially Cabinet Members, are busy people with many calls on their time so it is probably an oversight that I have as yet, received no formal response to my initial letter.”
“I am sure that every elected member shares my concern about the level of food poverty in our Borough and the need for the Council, with its responsibility for public health and well-being, to take an active lead in addressing it, so I thought it timely to send a further reminder in advance of our November Council meeting.”
“As the letter was sent very soon after World Food Day, I am sure that it will receive swift attention.”
In the letter, Cllr Sykes welcomed the recommendation to the Overview and Scrutiny Board on 13 October that they seek to establish a new Community Shop, alongside a FairShare food distribution centre, in Oldham. Councillor Sykes first raised the possibility of a community shop in a question to the Leader of the Council in February 2015, and he wants to see it become an “immediate strategic priority for the Council.”
In his letter, Councillor Sykes also identifies specific groups at risk of food poverty:
The Oldham Lib Dem Group is calling on the Council to establish more breakfast clubs, school holiday food clubs, community cafes, lunch clubs for the elderly and a home delivery service for the housebound. They also want to see residents in need being able to access cookery courses; simple, affordable and nutritious recipes; and cooking facilities for those who do not have them, coupled with budgeting support to those on low incomes.
Cllr Sykes explained: “I do recognise that, in the current financial climate, the authority is not in a position to itself shoulder the financial burden for all of these activities, but these are all activities that should form part of joined up comprehensive strategy which we would like to see developed and delivered by a Food Poverty Commission. This would comprise the Council and key partners working together to put practical measures in place so no Oldhamer goes hungry.”
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, who is a member of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee (TfGMC), has written to its Chief Executive Dr Jon Lamonte asking the Transport Executive to support two campaigns of the RNIB (the Royal National Institute for the Blind) to meet the needs of blind and partially-sighted passengers.
Cllr Sykes said: “On Thursday 8th October we marked World Sight Day, an annual occasion which provides cause to reflect on the needs of blind and partially-sighted people. Given their condition, most are reliant on public transport to get about and it is important that all of the services funded by Transport for Greater Manchester are responsive to their needs.”
The RNIB (the Royal National Institute for the Blind) has two ongoing campaigns in support of the rights of blind and partially-sighted passengers:
Cllr Sykes has asked Dr. Lamonte to identify which bus operators in Greater Manchester have committed themselves to supporting the objectives of both campaigns; what TfGM is doing to encourage them to do so; and what otherwise is being done to champion the rights of blind and partially-sighted bus passengers.
Cllr Sykes added: “With Disability Month coming up in December, now is the time to review current operating arrangements to be sure that they follow best practice and the recommendations made by the RNIB.”
“I look forward to receiving Dr Lamonte’s response and to raising this issue with colleagues from local authorities across Greater Manchester at future meetings of the committee. I hope that we can make progress in making Greater Manchester a welcoming and inclusive destination for passengers who are blind or partially sighted”.
The Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has pledged the support of Oldham Liberal Democrats for the Fair Deal Devo campaign launched by the Manchester Evening News, Bolton News, Wigan Evening Post and Oldham Evening Chronicle.
Cllr Sykes: “Although the Chancellor has talked a lot about devolution and about the fabled Northern Powerhouse, the Government has yet to prove that it is sincere in its intention by offering a fair funding deal for Greater Manchester.”
“Liberal Democrat Councillors in Greater Manchester are ready and willing to accept the challenge and responsibility of devolution to make our region still Greater, but we need to have the cash to make it happen. This is why we welcome and are backing the Deal Devo campaign.”
The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group has been calling for fair transport funding for the region to close the gap between London and Greater Manchester, and is opposed to further Police and local authority funding cuts and the government proposals to close both of the borough’s courthouses.
Cllr Sykes added: “Devolution represents an exciting opportunity for local authorities across Greater Manchester to work together to transform the lives of the region’s residents and to make service improvements that reflect local needs and that create local jobs. But it will not work if Government money does not follow the transfer of power, and we will not accept any attempt by Government to merely pass on responsibility for carrying out difficult cuts.”
The Oldham Liberal Democrats are firmly committed to seeing transparency in the work of the new Combined Authority – where all the Greater Manchester councils work together using the devolved powers and budget.
“It isn’t enough just to tell people what’s going on. The new Combined Authority will be assuming responsibility for a massive devolved budget amounting to many billions of pounds and will be taking on board new areas of work affecting the lives of millions of people.”
“The Liberal Democrats do not believe in telling people what we will do and then doing it for them. We want to actively involve Greater Manchester residents in making the decisions that affect their lives and in shaping the services that their taxes pay for. And we want to work with people and communities to deliver those services more effectively and in a more responsive and accountable way.”
“So we want information to be in plain English, and available on-line and on demand, and we want all meetings to be open to the public and to be webcast so taxpayers can call their representatives to account. That’s real democracy and that’s what as Oldham Liberal Democrats we aspire for in the new structure for the Combined Authority.”
The Friends of Jubilee Colliery are having our first annual event on the 31st October between 11am & 2pm at the Jubilee Nature Reserve/Colliery, Jubilee Bend, Milnrow Road, Shaw, OL16 3SY.
All welcome
Councillors Diane Williamson and Howard Sykes MBE are delighted that a defibrillator has been installed on the Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre, High Street, Shaw.
Councillor Williamson, Shadow Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives, speaking for her colleagues, said: “Absolutely delighted that this has happened. Over the last year, the Liberal Democrats have been proactive on the Council in asking for a number of initiatives, which include first aid training for all school children and defibrillators to be installed in Council buildings. The Lifelong Learning Centre is such a prominent location that it was a no brainer when deciding on the location.”
Approximately 100,000 people a year die after having a sudden cardiac arrest with the survival rate for out of hospital cardiac arrest being less than 10%. If a defibrillator is used in conjunction with CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), then this can increase the survival rate to over 70%”.
Local Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes, added “Whilst anyone can use an AED*, because you are talked through how to use the device, the staff at the Centre will also be trained how to use it and what to do in an emergency”.
*Automated External Defibrillator is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm.
With simple audio and visual commands, AEDs are designed to be simple to use for the layperson, and the use of AEDs is taught in many first aid, certified first responder, and basic life support (BLS) level cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes.
Shaw and Crompton Councillors Advice/Ward Surgeries: September: 3, 10, 17, and 24
All at Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre, High Street, Shaw. From 7:30pm to 8:30pm
Councillors: Sykes, Blyth, Gloster, Williamson, Murphy and Turner
NO APPOINTMENT NECCESSARY
Learn this age old technique and help preserve walls on the Moor.
Meet at Brushes Clough car park.
Anyone interested please contact:
Marian Herod on marian.herod@btinternet.com to confirm numbers.
