Liberal Democrat Leader calls for Oldham Council to ‘do right’ by our most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to senior Councillors asking them to take a look at a report by The Children’s Society which identifies recommendations to improve the circumstances of Oldham Borough’s poorest and most vulnerable young people.

Councillor Sykes explained:  “A report from The Children’s Society (Children’s Lives in Oldham) recently landed on my desk that provided thought-provoking reading.  The Children’s Society estimate that almost 19,500 children live with poverty and disadvantage in Oldham.  The report outlines many practical ideas for improving their lives now and for helping them secure a better future.  I believe those ideas are worth an examination – we owe a duty of care to all of our children to give them the best start in life and to help them make a successful transition into adulthood.”

This is not the only disturbing report about child poverty that Councillor Sykes has read recently.  He stated:  “The Children’s Society report was soon followed by a statistical analysis by the End Child Poverty campaigning coalition which revealed that Coldhurst ward has the highest percent of children living in extreme poverty in the UK – over six in ten, and that regrettably several more wards, Alexandra, St. Mary’s and Werneth, follow close behind.”

“Regrettably child poverty is everywhere around us; in my view, it is important, we do not lose sight of the fact that poor and disadvantaged children live in every ward in our Borough – they certain do in parts of my own ward of Shaw,” he added.  “Their circumstances have been made worse by Conservative Government dogma in adhering to austerity and applying a benefit freeze upon the poorest households.

However all of them deserve our best endeavours in helping them breaking out of the cycle of deprivation and to enjoy a happy and fulfilling future.”

“These reports represent a wakeup call for action.  I have written to the Chair of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Colin McLaren, and the Acting Chair of the Council’s Health and Well-being Board, Councillor Eddie Moores asking them to find time in their work programmes at the earliest opportunity to identify which of the recommendations we can take forward as a Council,” said Councillor Sykes.  “This report provides some practical answers to help make things better, let’s do the right thing by them and implement them.”

Copy of the report: Childrens Lives in Oldham

Keep Britain Tidy Week 2 -4 March

Do you want to make a difference?

Clean up our streets and parks and rid them of litter?

Please support @KeepBritainTidy #GBSpringClean during the weekend 2-4 March and do your bit for Shaw and Crompton. 

There’s no limit on how many can be involved as long as we DO get involved! 

Check here for further information on how to join a growing group of community-spirited people who are prepared to improve the environment. – spr.ly/6015DPGNX

Volunteer Ranger Event Crompton Moor Sunday 25 February 2018

Our next planned task if you can spare your valuable time is this Sunday, 25 February 2018, and is the maintenance of the drainage of the path on the East side of the moor, adjacent to the reservoir. If you have the odd pick axe lying around, this may help !

The current weather forecast doesn’t look too bad at the moment, being ‘sunny intervals and breezy’, likely high/low of 6º/0º but windy at 12mph so please ensure you wrap up well, have your favourite hot liquids, the appropriate clothing, footwear and a packed lunch if you are up for the day. We also have the new OMBC hi viz vests available.

Meantime, if you have any issues that you may wish to discuss prior to Sunday, please do not hesitate to email (on either address) or text/phone me on 07961107860; to ensure we have the right amount of materials & tools, please could you let me know if you intend to join us on the day.

I look forward to seeing you in the Crompton Moor Car Park ~ 10.30 on Sunday. Thank you.

Kindest Regards, Edward John Fulton (aka Ed / Eddie),

Countryside Volunteer Range, (E)  edward@edwardjohnfulton.uk 

Liberal Democrats to cut waste and invest in services

At next Wednesday’s Oldham Budget Council meeting (28 February), the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council will propose an amendment to the Labour budget to find a further £423,000 in savings at the Civic Centre to provide more money to fix our pot hole ridden roads, provide more youth services, and tackle crime and fly-tipping.

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said:  “The Labour Administration is once more being forced to make savings and raise Council Tax by a further 3.99% as a result of another cut to Oldham Council’s grant by a miserly Conservative Government wedded to austerity.”

“With regret, we will vote to support most of the Administration’s proposals and the Council Tax rise – but we believe that the pain will be reduced if the Council agrees to the further back-office savings identified in our Amendment. This will free up over £400,000 to invest on fixing our roads and other basic services that are valued my local residents,” he added.

The Liberal Democrats have identified a further £423,000 in annual savings by improving disciplinary procedures, tackling absenteeism, reducing staff car allowances for low-mileage users, cutting spending on agency staff and consultants, significantly reducing expenditure on communications and marketing, scrapping Borough Life, and making Council meetings paperless.  They would also invest in bus lane enforcement to fine selfish drivers who illegally use them.

The Liberal Democrats would use this money to service a £5 million loan to invest in improving our Borough’s highways in 2019/2020, doubling the investment proposed by Labour; to reversing the £100,000 cut in youth services proposed by Labour; and to invest £650,000 over two years in further measures to tackle fly-tipping and install alley-gates, CCTV cameras and other crime busting measures to make communities cleaner and safer.

Councillor Sykes said:  “We recognise that our savings represent only a relatively small amount compared to the many millions that this Council has been forced to save, but this modest amount would nonetheless make a real difference to local citizens”

“Once again we are the only group to present an alternative to Labour’s proposals.  The Conservatives and others talk hot air but fail to offer any alternative and if I was a betting man I would bet they will vote with Labour as they usually do,” said Councillor Sykes.

Liberal Democrat Leader dismayed by smoking increase

The Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has expressed his dismay at the latest report showing an increase in smokers in Oldham Borough.

The latest GP Patient Survey, run independently by Ipsos MORI on behalf of NHS England, which has just been published shows that the proportion of smokers in Oldham rose from 17pc to 19pc between 2015/16 and 2016/17.  The Greater Manchester average is 17.5pc.

Councillor Sykes said: “These figures are shocking.  A two percent rise is a move in the wrong direction, we should be seeing a decrease in smoking not and increase – it is simply not good enough.”

“Smoking is known to be one of the biggest killers in our Borough and also blights the lives of many more of our residents with life-long respiratory illnesses, strokes, heart attacks and cancers.  In Oldham, there were 2,234 smoking-related admissions to hospital in 2016/17,” stated Councillor Sykes.

“The Labour Council has clearly failed in its stated ambition to reduce smoking and we now need to take a long, hard look to reverse the trend and get back on track for a smoke-free Oldham.  We need a radical re think about how we encourage and support smokers and their families/friends to kick the habit,” he added.

Salts Street Highway resurfacing – 12 – 16 February

I am pleased to report that carriageway improvement works that will be taking place on Salts Street, Shaw. The works will be carried out in 3 phases.

Phase 1: Monday 12th February 2018 for a period of 5 days, ending on Friday 16th.

Phase 2: Wednesday 14th March 2018 for a period of 8 days, ending on Thursday 22nd.

Phase 3: Friday 23rd March 2018 for a period of 5 days, ending on Thursday 29th.

For the duration of the works, a road closure will be place to ensure the work is carried out safely, please see the necessary diversions below. Works will not take place on weekends, and the road will be opened up to traffic each night once work has finished.