Help for those in need

THE CHANCELLOR delivered the Government’s ‘Emergency Budget’ in Parliament last week, with budget details including further welfare reform changes.

The budget detail is likely to include further welfare reform changes which won’t just hit those of our residents who are most in need, but will also have a big impact on our overloaded public, voluntary and community sector partners.

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

Citizens Advice has been an integral part of Oldham communities for more than 75 years and in the last month alone we’ve helped more than 900 residents with 1,600 enquiries.

Welfare reforms are having a large impact on families and are generating the majority of issues.

Debt and housing problems also account for a high proportion of our work. Benefit sanctions, Universal Credit and delays in processing claims and appeals are having severe knock-on effects for families such as not having any food to eat, falling behind with rent payments and potentially being homeless.

In total last year we helped 9,000 people and increased income in Oldham by £4,443,572 and rescheduled or wrote off £5,200,000 of debt.

People are often in a high state of stress and desperation by the time they seek our help – and we have seen a definite increase in those suffering from mental health issues as a result of their problems.

We work closely with a number of partner agencies such as the Food Bank, First Choice Homes, Age UK and the Welfare Rights service to ensure the best possible remedies that look to alleviate the longer-term issues as well as short term need.

We also work hard to raise awareness of current and future issues in order to prevent or at least minimise impact. We campaign to change laws and policies and their application where we realise they are unfair. Recently this has resulted in changes in the regulations for pay-day lenders and greater scrutiny of how sanctions are applied to job seekers.

If you have an issue that is likely to get worse if you continue to leave it, please contact us. We can be reached on our Adviceline on 03444889622, or you can access our advice and self-help tools on our website oldhamcab.org.uk where you can also find details of our many drop-in surgeries that are available across Oldham in community locations and most libraries. You can also phone our Adviceline service from the Council’s Freephone access points in libraries and Access Oldham at the Civic Centre.

Oldham Foodbank

Last year saw yet another increase in the use of Oldham Foodbank. We provided food for 3,716 adults and 1,620 children (Whilst the majority of people only access the Foodbank once, this figure does include people who may have needed our help on more than one occasion).

The people who use the Foodbank are from every ward across the borough. The major reason for people needing the service is because of benefit changes and delays – few people realise that a new claim for the new Universal Credit takes five weeks before the first payment is made(!).

We also have families who struggle to make ends meet during school holidays and to this end we work with other groups providing holiday meals.

In addition to providing food and some essential toiletries, we also signpost clients to other agencies who may be able to help solve problems in the longer-term. For example, we are shortly starting a basic course to help people learn to eat healthily and cook simple dishes from scratch.

We continue to be grateful for the support from across the community, individuals, schools, faith groups and the local supermarkets.

For more information, please see our website: http://oldham.foodbank.org.uk/

Welfare Advice Service

Oldham Council’s Welfare Advice Team was initially established in 2011. The team of four works primarily to support vulnerable residents with welfare rights advice to reduce poverty and improve wellbeing.

The Welfare Reform Act 2012 brought many challenges for our residents including the introduction of Universal Credit, the benefit cap, the size criteria (restricting the amount of benefit to be claimed if there is a spare room) and Local Welfare Provision.

Additional reforms were also made to Employment Support Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and the delivery of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

In the last 12 months we have helped more than 1,100 residents. We have provided benefits advice, helped to fill in forms, submitted appeals and also represented them at tribunals. This support saw £2.3m brought into the borough’s economy in 2014/15 either through an increase in benefits for clients supported by the service or through backdated and one-off payments.

And it isn’t just the financial benefit that the service is concerned with – improving health and wellbeing is also an important part of our work.

Having worries about money can be particularly detrimental to someone’s mental health and not having enough money to feed a family or buy healthier foods can have a similarly devastating effect on physical health. No matter what the client’s needs we will do all we can to ensure that they are treated fairly.

It is widely expected that further welfare reforms will take place over the next parliamentary period and we will again be ready again to help ensure that people are supported to receive the benefits that they are entitled to.

You can contact the Welfare Rights Service on 0161 770 6655 to make a referral

Or follow this link to go to the online form https://www.oldham.gov.uk/forms/form/227/en/welfare_rights_service_referral_form

Lib Dem Leader reacts to Labour Gagging Order

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Cllr Howard Sykes MBE, expressed his disappointment at a Labour move to gag and silence the Lib Dems from two important motions at tonight’s Council meeting.

Cllr Sykes said: “At the instigation of the Council Leader and the Labour Group, the Lib Dem Group was tonight gagged. We were informed less than two hours before the start of Full Council that, at the request of the Council Leader, our motions on free prescriptions for people with long-term illnesses and on lowering the drink driving limit would be ruled out of order, by the Mayor.”

“Labour claimed that the two motions were not constitutional because they were not about “some matter over which the Council has a direct influence” and that they are of no relevance to the business of Oldham Council. Council legal opinion differed. Despite this, the Mayor agreed to the Leader’s demand.”

“So according to the Labour Administration, Oldham Council has no business in trying to improve the lives of Oldham residents who live with long-term medical conditions or in preventing further needless deaths from drinking and driving in the Borough. This view is totally contradictory to the responsibilities and legal duties placed on Oldham Council to promote public health and to maintain road safety, so these motions surely fall within the Council’s constitutional remit.”

“According to Labour, Oldham Council can have no influence in changing Government policy on these matters; yet Council Leader Cllr McMahon was happy to work with me to support our Council making representations to Government to grant local authorities more powers to restrict betting shops on our High Street and to continue to allow camera cars to monitor poor parking at school gates. Both of these have been successful campaigns, in part because of the ‘direct influence’ of Oldham Council. If we follow Labour’s logic, the Council should not be lobbying Government ministers for anything.”

“We are not so naïve as to say that passing these motions will in themselves change Government policy – if only we were so influential – but the Lib Dems do have more faith that Oldham Council with other local authorities and the Local Government Association can together bring about change.”

Cllr Sykes added: “The deadline for submission of motions was Friday 3 July. At no point since that time has Labour or staff from the Council’s Legal and Democratic Services Team raised any objections to either motion. The article has never been used in this manner before, and certainly Labour has had many motions that could be deemed to be outside of the scope.”

“For example, in September of last year Labour proposed a motion objecting to the Transatlantic Trade and Agreement Partnership (TTAP). This is an international trade treaty being negotiated between the European Union and the United States of America. Did the Lib Dems object to bringing this motion? No, because we felt that it was an issue that was worth debating, despite it having no direct relevance to the people of Oldham, in application of Labour’s interpretation of the rules.”

Cllr Sykes added: “Council legal opinion was that the motions did meet the ‘scope’ requirement. This is yet another example of the Labour Administration attempting to stifle the effectiveness of the Opposition in raising issues of legitimate concern to the people of Oldham Borough or in challenging their actions. Last time, Labour cut our questions, now they are seeking to cut our right to propose motions. Who knows maybe next time they will be meeting separately from the Opposition and taking all of the decisions in our absence.”

Oldham Council 15 July 2015 – Leader of the Opposition Questions by Councillor Howard Sykes

Q1 Oldham’s Education Deficit

Schools in Oldham have recently received public attention, but regrettably for all of the wrong reasons.

If Oldham were itself a pupil, there is no doubt that the Borough’s Annual School report would read: ‘once again failed to reach its potential and could do much better if it just applied itself’.

Oldham has the third worst record in the country for the number of infant pupils taught in classes of more than 30.

More than 2,300 children (nearly one in three) of five to seven year olds.

In junior schools more than 2,900 children are in classes over 30 in size.

In fact the average class size in Junior School in Oldham Borough is 28.9 pupils, the seventh highest in the country.

In addition nearly a fifth (20%) of Oldham pupils will not be able to attend their first choice Secondary School as places at the most popular schools do not meet demand.

This is understandable as demand at popular schools will continue to rise as Oldham’s Secondary Schools overall are judged poorly with only 36.5% of our pupils in ‘good or excellent’ Secondary Schools which is less than half the UK national average of 73.5%.

I am sure that the Leader will agree with me that much more needs to be done.

We are currently failing to give thousands of our children the opportunities they deserve.

Our Borough’s children deserve an excellent education to help reach further and higher education, set them up to become productive and well remunerated in the workplace, active citizens and positive parents and role models for their own children.

Let me be clear the Liberal Democrat Group will do all in its power to assist in changing the current state of affairs.

Labour has promised much for the Oldham Education Commission – indeed it would appear to have its work cut out – so can the Leader tell us all what this Administration is doing and will do to address the clear educational deficit in Oldham and when we might expect to have sight of the Commission’s final report, remembering its interim report in January was never published?

Q2 Sunday Trading

The Chancellor proposed in last weeks’ Budget that areas such as Greater Manchester should be permitted to extend Sunday trading hours if we wish to do so.

Extended Sunday trading hours could provide additional jobs and additional business as a stimulant to the retail economy of our Borough, and may lead to the Borough becoming a ‘destination’ of choice for weekend shoppers accessing our retail offer by Metrolink, particularly if the Princes Gate development is the ‘game-changer’ the Leader has promised it will be. It could also be used to build upon the cultural offer town centre.

However it can also encroach on quality time and family life.

I would therefore like to ask the Leader whether within the new Combined Authority he would support the proposal for extended Sunday opening hours within Greater Manchester and specifically on Oldham, or not?

In essence would he echo the view that: “Sunday was the most miserable day of the week” before retail laws were relaxed, or support the view that limited opening hours on Sunday are sacrosanct as it is the only day that shop workers and their families can “bank on some time with their kids?”

FIRST Shaw and Crompton COMMUNITY Market Place

Shaw and Crompton District Executive is inviting residents to have a say on local issues that matter to you.

On Tuesday, July 21 the first Shaw and Crompton Community Market Place is being held at the Lifelong Learning Centre, High Street, Shaw, OL2 8TB.

If you want to find out more about our community or share your views then come along from 6pm until 6.45pm.

You will be able to speak to your Shaw and Crompton councillors and the District Team plus representatives of Greater Manchester Police.

Officers from First Choice Home Oldham and The Guinness Partnership Housing Association will be on hand to answer any housing queries you may have and if you want to speak about public transport then representatives of First Bus will be present.

If you have any benefit issues then the Welfare Rights team might be able to assist and you can also hear about all the sport and leisure opportunities taking place through Oldham Community Leisure run and what is going on down at Mahdlo.

Councillor Diane Williamson, Chair of Shaw and Crompton District Executive, said: “This first market place is a great way for residents to get more help and information about the things that matter to them under one roof.

“If you have got something that you’d like to bring up with us then please come along on the night. We hope to have a couple of these type of events every year so that local councillors and partners can keep in touch with residents in a different way”

For more information email: anne.fleming@oldham.gov.uk or call 0161 770 8172.

Shaw Market – ward question from Councillor Howard Sykes

Oldham Council 15 July 2015

Shaw and Crompton Councillors have been hearing recently from Market Traders that Oldham Council has had another change of heart about the relocation of Shaw Market.

Like its namesake, the children’s party game Musical Chairs, this seems to becoming a tale of Musical Markets.

At first this Administration wanted to move the Market onto the South side of Market Street that joins High Street, then the North side of Market Street adjoining Rochdale Road.

Now there are rumours that the Market will after all remain on its historic site until some un- specified time next year (2016).

Will the Leader confirm or deny whether Shaw Market is to move?

And if so where and when?

Or will he hold his hands up and admit – as I hope he will – that the Market can remain at its current location as per the wishes of local Councillors, the local community, market traders, high street shop keepers, the Police, and two of the largest employers in the Borough (Littlewoods and JD Williams).

And will he also agree to invest the money that that has clearly been budgeted for this year (2015/16) to revitalise Shaw Market by replacing the fixed market stalls with pop-up stalls.

This solution will not only remove the shelter that attracts youths intent on anti-social behaviour but also provide more car-parking on non-Market Days, therefore contributing to the general vitality of Shaw’s District Centre.

After all the above solution is what local Councillors along with key agencies like the Police have been asking and campaigning for more years than I care to remember.

Lib Dems call for end charges for long term medical conditions

The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group will be proposing a motion to Oldham council on Wednesday 15^th July 2015 supporting the call of the Prescription Charges Coalition that Government end prescription charges for patients in England with long term medical conditions.

The motion is proposed by Saddleworth North Cllr Garth Harkness, Shadow Cabinet member for Education and Skills. Cllr Harkness said:

“Many people with long term medical conditions do not qualify for free prescriptions and struggle to pay for regular treatment. Around a third of people are choosing not to collect prescriptions because of the cost. Consequently, some of these patients fall ill and are admitted to hospital. Ultimately hospital admissions and treatment cost the tax payer far more.”

Seconding the motion, Julia Turner, Councillor for Crompton and Shadow Cabinet member for Performance and Corporate Governance, said:

“Some conditions get a medical exempt certificate, which is exactly right, but equally many other potentially debilitating medical conditions are not exempt and are subject to the £8.20 charge per item. Even with pre-payment cards you are looking at over £100 per year and many people round here simply do not have this to spare and choose to go without”.

Councillor Harkness added “We think there should be equality in healthcare. In government we fought to get mental health on a level playing field with other conditions. We want to ensure that people with all long term medical conditions get the medication they need wherever they live in the UK

“In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, residents receive free prescriptions; yet in England, we have patients with identical medical conditions who have to cut pills up to save money or go without altogether and that can’t be right. We should not be subject to a lottery where you only receive free medication based on where you live or which long term medical condition you have. Everyone who needs treatment should receive it. “

Adoption of Highways/Footways and Street Lighting – Cape Gardens Estate, Shaw

I have been campaigning for a number of years to get the roads, pavements and street lights on Cape Gardens, Mill Pond Close, Read Close, Refuge Street, Clubhouse Close and Twingates formally ‘adopted’ by Oldham Council.

It is many years since the homes in this area have been built however the responsibility for maintenance and repairs of these ‘un-adopted’ highways, footways and street lighting is the responsibility of the developer or owners of the properties. A far from satisfactory solution that causes all sorts of delays when things need repairing.

These streets have remained ‘un-adopted’ by the Council and as such they remain out of the Council’s jurisdiction for repairs, and upkeep.

I have been actively pursuing this issue with Council Officers or more years than I care to remember.

I am now very pleased to report that Council Officers have informed me that the highways, footways and street lighting in the areas of Cape Gardens, Mill Pond Close, Read Close, Refuge Street, Clubhouse Close and Twingates should be formally ‘adopted’ by the Council in August 2015.

Once this adoption process is completed it will allow the lighting contractor, EON, to be requested to begin the process of maintaining, or upgrading where needed, the street lighting in these areas.

This has been a long fight but we have got there in the end.

Footpaths: Woodhouse Road, Crossfield Close and Compton Fold, Shaw

Residents have been in contact with me regarding the reinstatement and making good of the footpaths on Woodhouse Road, Crossfield Close and Compton Fold, following the works recently carried out by Virgin Media.

I have been pursuing this issue.

The reinstatement level on these streets is unacceptable under SROH (Specification for Reinstatements On the Highway) after an inspection has been carried out by the Highways Department (which I asked for).

Hopefully now the reinstatement will be re-done to the correct standard.

Lib Dem call for Community Shop to be discussed

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed the report on Community Shop that will be presented to Oldham Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board next Tuesday (14^th July).

Cllr Sykes wrote to Community Shop in December last year inviting them to work with him to establish an outlet in Oldham. After visiting the flagship store and the parent Company Shop in Barnsley in February, he called upon the Council Leader Cllr McMahon to “find the site and find the money” to bring the concept to the Borough as soon as is practicable.

Community Shop operates community supermarkets selling low-cost, high-quality surplus foodstuffs to people on means-tested benefits, backed by services to help them get back into work. Company Shop sources the food and provides logistical support.

Each shop works on a membership basis and can shop for food at prices 70 per cent lower than usual and so members can feed their families well within a limited budget.

There is also an on-site café with good, wholesome food cooked by an on-site chef, who teaches customers how to cook as well.

But Cllr Sykes has another reason to wish to see Community Shop in Oldham.

He explained: “Community Shop is not just about food. Community Shop will enhance our Get Oldham Working offer and help more people from deprived communities find work.”

Members enrol on tailored programmes to improve their self-confidence and job prospects. Working with mentors and professionals from local agencies based at the store, members receive help to make positive improvements in their lives and move back into employment.

Report below:

Community Shop

Lib Dem Community Bank proposal to be considered

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed the tabling of a report to discuss his proposal that Oldham Council examines the merits of establishing a community bank for the Borough and for Greater Manchester.

In February, Cllr Sykes wrote to the Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Cllr Shoab Akhtar, asking the Labour Administration to consider the option.

Cllr Sykes said: “In Hampshire, a community bank is about to commence operations later this year. The bank is a partnership between Liberal Democrat run Eastleigh Borough Council and other social partners. It is based on a successful local banking system from Germany. The bank will support small and medium sized businesses to secure money for investment more quickly and at lower interest rates.”

“Such a bank would be a stimulant for local jobs and local businesses. As the emphasis is on lending locally, to green projects and recycling profits as a community windfall, there will also be improvements to our environment and benefits for local communities.”

The item will be discussed at the next meeting of Oldham Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board on Tuesday 14^th July.

Cllr Sykes added: “A community bank looks like a real winner to me, and would be another practical example of co-operative Oldham in action. This is another in a long line of initiatives the Liberal Democrat Group has proposed to help Get Oldham Working.”

Report is below:

Community Bank in Oldham

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