Oldham Council 9 November 2016 – leaders questions from Councillor Howard Sykes

questions-to-ask-your-LASIK-doctorCouncil 9 November 2016 – Leader’s Question – 3000+ Home Threat to Shaw and Crompton Green Belt

Mr Mayor, My first question to the Leader this evening concerns the recently launched public consultation on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

Not a very catchy title I am sure you will agree, but nonetheless a document that should command the attention of every member in this Chamber – and particularly any with an interest in the future of our Borough’s Green Belt.

The ten local authorities in Greater Manchester have drawn up plans to meet the projected future need for 227,000 new homes in the county, some 13,700 of them in this Borough.

This may seem an awful lot for Oldham, but Shaw & Crompton and Royton is really being targeted by the developers and may be even Oldham Council as we shall be expected to accommodate almost three thousand new homes plus vast tracks of land for industrial development.

These plans represent a massive land grab in our area and the devastation of our local Green Belt as new properties will be built at Cowlishaw, in the Beal Valley, Rushcroft, the Whitefield Farm area over to Newhey and around Gravelhole and Low Crompton.

Oldham Liberal Democrats firmly believe that our precious Green Belt should be protected.

Our Green Belt and open spaces are one of the things that makes us unique in Greater Manchester.  Some of us are old enough to remember those posters ‘Oldham a town in the country’ – it was true 20 odd years ago and is even truer now.

New homes should first be built on former industrial Brownfield sites.

Existing planning permissions need to be actioned.

We should first look to build on derelict and unloved sites in our town centres and districts, convert every empty mill and factory into housing, force developers to build on sites already given planning permission, and bring Empty Homes back into use.

Only when all of these things have been done should we even consider developing vast tracks of our Green Belt.

We miles away from that stage yet.

And we also need to take account of the massive additional burden this will place on our local services and infrastructure.  These new houses will mean a lot more cars on our busy roads, many more children needing local school places, more demand for medical centres, shops, and leisure facilities.

I recognise that everyone has the right to live in their own home and be adequately housed but the local burden seems to have been placed disproportionately on Shaw and Crompton and to be fair Royton.

So can the Leader please tell me tonight what this Council will be doing to fight to protect our precious Green Belt from wanton development and what representations will be made to press the demand that there will be sufficient advanced investment to meet the increased demand placed onto our facilities and infrastructure in Shaw and Crompton and elsewhere in our Borough?

Council 9 November 2016 – Leader’s Question – Student Travel to Stockport College

Mr Mayor, my second question relates to an issue that I have raised with the Leader and her predecessor on many occasions – the education of this Borough’s young people.

This time I want to address the proposed merger between Oldham College and Stockport College.  The proposed marriage with Tameside College is seemingly now off, Oldham and Stockport Colleges are apparently now the only two dancers still on the floor.

The key question is how is this in the best interests of our young people and Oldham’s potential students?  Just one of my worries is the inconvenience that such a merger will cause to local students without access to private transport.

Here are two examples.

Joe travelling from Denshaw to Stockport College faces a two hour journey there and a similar journey back.  He starts college at 9am.  He catches the 407 Stotts bus from the Junction Inn at 6.36 and is just fortunate to connect with the 6.59 83 service operated by First Manchester from Mumps.

This gets him on time to Piccadilly by 7.45 and he is able to connect with the 192 Stagecoach service 10 minutes later.  This drops him off on Wellington Road near Stockport College for 8.40am.

As Joe needs to use three bus services – all run by different operators he needs to buy a System One Student Bus Saver ticket.  This costs £13.10 a week or £45.50 for a month.

If cost were not an issue, Joe could roughly halve his journey time if he caught the Metrolink tram from Mumps to Piccadilly Station, via Victoria (£3.40 return, half-hour approx.) and then caught the train to Stockport (£5.30 return, 10mins followed by a 10min walk).

If he were aged 16 to 19 he could get a Scholars Permit to enable him to travel for half the single fare each way.

Emma travelling from Oozewood, Royton to Stockport College, also starting at 9am.  Emma’s journey is about as long as Joes.  She walks to Rochdale Road (10mins) and catches the 6.48am 24 First Manchester Bus to Manchester.

This gets her there on time at 7.44, which is unusual as the bus is generally delayed by peak traffic approaching the city centre.  Emma joins Joe in catching the 192 bus and they sit together on the Stagecoach service, both alighting on Wellington Road.

Emma would also need to buy a System One Student Bus Saver ticket.  Emma would probably not save any time going into Oldham to catch a tram as she would have to catch a 409 bus and then wait at a tram stop.

However she could join Joe in getting the train from Piccadilly to Stockport and back (£5.30 return, 10mins followed by a 10mins walk).

This is surely a far from ideal arrangement in a Borough where we aspire to drive up educational attainment and make the best choices available to all of our students.

Can the Leader tell me tonight, what is being done to ensure that the vocational courses that remain on offer in Oldham will remain attractive to local students and relevant to the needs of our local employers?

And what help and support will this Council seek to put in place for those students who are forced to travel to Stockport because of the merger and struggle to do so?

Freedom of the Borough to Nicola White 4pm 9 November 2016

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Mr Mayor and Mayoress, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Honorary Alderman of the Borough, Deputy Lieutenants, Members and Officers of the Council, Honoured and Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

 

It is with great pride that I rise tonight to second the resolution to grant the rare honour of Freedom of the Borough to Nicola White.

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity once more to offer my congratulations to Nicola and her team mates in the GB hockey team for their splendid effort in taking the Gold.

Team GB’s performance at the Rio Games was spectacular with the highest medal score in history – and all of our athletes deserve the highest praise for their determination and commitment.

Secondly, I must say it is always great when people from our Borough do exceptionally well in any field and we have a particularly long and proud history of achievement in many competitive sports.

Also as an elected representative for Shaw, I was especially pleased to see someone also born in the town achieving such greatness on the sporting field.

Now my personal experience of hockey is now a long and distant memory since I played it when I was 16 – 17 at school.

Do not be too shocked!

Now what I can remember is that it was the quickest team sport I have ever played and at times it was particularly very physical and sometime quite vicious, especially the girls as we played in mixed sex groups!

I am sure I still have some of the bruises from those games today.

But this is not about me it is about Nicola who I note, first took up with sport of hockey at Hulme Grammar School and then honed her skills at Saddleworth Hockey Club.

I do hope that Nicola’s example on the sporting field will inspire many more residents of our Borough to take up more sports with enthusiasm and energy in our schools, colleges and clubs – particularly our younger residents – and, that like Nicola and her team mates, they will strive for excellence in everything that they do.

I hope particularly that we will see an upsurge in the take up of hockey in our Borough, and that we might see more sporting champions in this sport in the future.

But for today our focus should be on recognising and celebrating Nicola’s achievements and I am very honoured to be able to support the proposal to make Nicola a most esteemed Freewoman of the Borough.

Both Nicola and her friends, family and team mates must be very proud today – and rightly so.  I know I am– we all warmly congratulate her. And I formally second the proposal to make her a Freewoman of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham.

Save Community Pharmacies say Oldham Liberal Democrats

imageShaw Councillor Chris Gloster, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet Member for Public Health, will be proposing a motion to next Wednesday’s meeting of Oldham Council (9 November) calling upon the Government to abandon plans to cut the budgets of community pharmacies which could lead to the closure of many thousands of pharmacies across the country.

Councillor Gloster said: “People rely upon their local chemists for their prescriptions and to buy a wide range of over-the-counter medicines, but pharmacies offer more than a simple dispensing service. Pharmacists are highly trained and able to answer many of the questions that patients have about their health conditions and the appropriate treatments for them.”

“And many pharmacies also offer a much valued collection and delivery service where they collect prescriptions from GP’s surgeries on behalf of patients, dispense the medicines in-house and deliver them door-to-door to the patient. This is especially necessary where the patient is housebound, whether elderly, disabled or temporarily too ill to leave their home.”

“By threatening to drastically reduce funding for community pharmacies, the Government is making a false economy as patients will simply be forced to call further on our over-pressed NHS services for the answers to their questions and the medicines that they need.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor Rod Blyth also represents Shaw. He is backing his colleague Councillor Gloster in calling for a Government re-think:

“The Oldham Liberal Democrats believe strongly that pharmacies need to be locally-based and embedded within the communities which they serve. Cutting community pharmacies will simply put more pressure onto already overstretched GP surgeries and our hospital Accident and Emergency Department when winter is approaching and patient referrals peak.”

“We need Government to abandon these foolish plans. Our motion asks the Council Chief Executive to make our concerns clear to Government Ministers and also calls on our local MPs to fight to keep the community pharmacies in our borough open.”

Council 9 November 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business – Motion 3 – Funding for Community Pharmacies

This Council notes:

  • The £170million reduction in NHS funding for community pharmacies announced on December 17th 2015 which could put many out of business
  • The announcement made by the Government on September 5th 2016 of the delay to the cuts which were originally due to be introduced in October 2016
  • The scrapping of plans to introduce a “hub and spoke” model for community pharmacies

This Council believes that:

  • The Government’s plans threaten patient access to pharmacies and pharmacy services in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham and that the recent announcements are causing uncertainty about future investment in pharmacy services
  • Our local pharmacies are at risk of closure or being forced to cut services such as free delivery of prescription drugs, family planning advice and advice on medicines
  • This will put more pressure on GPs and hospitals and impact social services and is at odds with the local Clinical Commissioning Group’s desire to increase the use of pharmacists to ease pressure on GPs.

This Council resolves to:

  • Request that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State responsible calling for the Government to abandon these cuts, rather than just simply to postpone them, and to make a commitment to maintaining a fully-funded community pharmacy service
  • Request that the Chief Executive also writes to the Borough’s three Members of Parliament and to the Chair of the NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group asking them to make similar representations on this matter to the Secretary of State.

Liberal Democrats seek Borough-wide Ban on Puppy Farming

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At the next Council meeting (Wednesday 9 November), the Oldham Liberal Democrat Council Group is proposing a motion to help end puppy farming in the Borough.

Proposer Liberal Democrat Crompton Councillor Julia Turner said: “November 9 is a significant date; it is one year to the day when the Liberal Democrat party’s spokesperson in the Lords, Baroness Kate Parminter, called on the Government to outlaw puppy farming.”

“Only one in ten puppies is bred by licensed breeders.  The remainder are bred illegally or imported from abroad by criminals who often do not care about the condition and care of these animals.  These puppies are often separated from their mothers before the puppy is even four weeks old.  Many are woefully neglected with minimal access to exercise, food and medical treatment.”

“Often animals die or become sick shortly after being purchased because they are not vaccinated.  And a buyer left with a dead animal or a sizable medical bill has little legal come back – British customers have more rights when they purchase a refrigerator than they do a puppy.”

“Oldham Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to introduce more effective legislation and to give local Councils more power to tackle this abhorrent practice.  We are also calling on Council officers to adopt model guidelines for animals bred by licensed breeders or operators of boarding kennels to improve animal welfare, and in the run up to Christmas we want to raise public awareness that a puppy purchased as a family pet should be bought from a reputable breeder where you can also see the mother.”

Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, is backing the motion. He added: “Puppy farming is unfortunately a real issue in our Borough; in recent years there have been successful criminal prosecutions of puppy farmers living in Shaw, Chadderton, and Failsworth.  We need to tackle this despicable crime on our doorstep.”

Offering her support to the Liberal Democrat motion, Baroness Kate Parminter said:

“I wholeheartedly support this important initiative and would hope other councils will follow this important step that you are taking.  Liberal Democrats will keep up the pressure nationally in Parliament for Government to act but we need that pressure too in local communities, where local councils can make a real difference.”

“If we are to help end the suffering that too many dogs are facing & the duping of unsuspecting dog lovers who fall prey to heartless breeders we need that action now.”

Council 9 November 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business – Motion 2 – End Puppy Farming

This Council notes with dismay that:

  • Puppy farming (unlicensed dog breeding) is rife in the UK with only 1 in 10 puppies bred by licensed breeders.
  • The Government has yet to act upon the challenge issued one year ago today by Liberal Democrat Defra Spokesperson, Baroness Kate Parminter, to outlaw puppy farming.
  • The Government has yet to bring forward the necessary legislation to prohibit the sale of puppies and kittens from pet shops where the mother is not present.

Council therefore resolves to:

  • Work in partnership with the RSPCA and other animal welfare agencies to:
  • Investigate any reports, adverts in local papers or websites that offer puppies for sale in the area, alerting other local authorities and agencies, as appropriate.
  • Find and prosecute puppy farmers and other unlicensed breeders.
  • Support and promote on the Council’s website and in its publications:

The Pup Aid campaign “Where’s Mum?”

The Dogs Trust campaign against “battery farmed dogs”

The Kennel Club Assured Breeder scheme.

  • Advise residents at public events, especially in the run up to Christmas, on best practice for buying puppies or dogs, encouraging them not to buy puppies or dogs from anyone selling in suspicious circumstances; to report such incidents immediately to the Council’s Animal Health and Welfare Service; and to consider purchasing puppies and dogs from rescue organisations or to support the work of the Cinnamon Trust and other re-homing services.
  • Look as a local authority to adopt the model license conditions for dog breeding and boarding kennels published by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in January 2014.
  • Look as a local authority to maintain our ban on the sale of puppies and kittens by pet shops in this Borough.
  • Work with other social landlords in the Borough to include a ban on puppy farming in tenancy agreements.
  • Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Government Minister responsible outlining the view of this Council that the Government should introduce the necessary legislation to:
  • Make licensing for dog breeding more effective, to make the funds from licences available to local authorities to monitor the activities of dog breeders, and to impose stiffer financial and custodial penalties on dog breeders found to be operating illegally and without regard for animal welfare.
  • Introduce greater consumer protection when a member of the public purchases a puppy or dog from a breeder or dealer
  • Prohibit the licensing of pet shops or retail outlets to sell puppies or kittens where the mother is not present.
  • Ask the Chief Executive to copy in the three Members of Parliament for this Borough with a request that they make similar representations to the Minister.

Oldham Lib Dems call for Action on Haulage Tractors on Public Highways

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At next Wednesday’s Council meeting (Wednesday 9 November), Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors Rod Blyth and Howard Sykes MBE will propose a motion calling on the Government to regulate the use of agricultural tractors hauling loads on public highways and for urgent action to curb this practice in Shaw and Crompton and elsewhere in Oldham Borough.

Councillor Blyth, proposing the motion, explained: “For many months, our constituents, and those of my Liberal Democrat colleagues in Crompton, have been complaining about the noise and disturbance caused by large agricultural tractors pulling large trailers containing spoil along the roads of Shaw and Crompton.”

“These tractors are travelling constantly backwards and forwards from early in the morning until late at night making a racket and putting the fear of God into people.

They should be in fields and not in our streets.  They are often seen speeding and being driven recklessly and local Councillors are worried that the lives of local people are being needlessly put at danger.”

Councillor Blyth added: “We have asked the Police for action, but nothing so far seems to be happening.  This motion is a call for action and we want it now.”

The motion specifically calls for roadside checks to be carried out by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency to make sure tractor operators in Oldham are operating safe and road worthy vehicles.

Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader and Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE is backing the motion. He explained that the real solution to the problem lies with the Government:

“If these tractors and trailers were Heavy Good Vehicles they would be covered by a commercial vehicle operator’s licence and other legislation that would control their environmental impact on local residents; but at present agricultural tractors are exempt.  Irresponsible operators clearly know of this loophole and are exploiting it. They do not care about the inconvenience and danger caused by their actions.  So our motion also calls on the Government to make tractors used for road haulage subject to the same rules that apply to trucks and we are asking our local MPs and the Local Government Association to back us in this.”

Council 9 November 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business – Motion 1 – The Licensing of Agricultural Tractors used for Road Haulage

This Council notes that:

  • Over many months, residents in this borough, particularly residents in Shaw and Crompton, have experienced noise and disturbance from large agricultural tractors pulling large trailers containing spoil on public highways from early in the morning until late at night
  • In addition, these vehicles are at times driven recklessly and at speed, posing at danger to other road users and pedestrians
  • If these tractors and trailers were HGV’s they would be covered by a commercial vehicle operator’s licence and other legislation that would control their environmental impact on local residents
  • At present they are exempted from licensing requirements

Council believes that tractors used for the purpose of road haulage should be covered by the same licensing requirements as apply to other goods vehicles.

Council resolves to:

  • Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State asking the Government to sponsor a change in the Goods Vehicle (Licensing of Operators) Act to make tractors used for this purpose subject to the same licensing and legislative requirements as apply to other good vehicles.
  • Ask the Chief Executive to copy in the Local Government Association and the three Members of Parliament for this borough and request that they also make representations to the Secretary of State on this matter.

Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Executive of the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency asking for any assistance they can provide in carrying out road side checks to make sure operators in Oldham are operating safe and road worthy vehicles.

Draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework – Shaw and Crompton Public Drop-in Session: Monday 14th November 16

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Draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework

Public Drop-in Session: 5pm – 6.30pm, Monday 14th November, Shaw Lifelong learning Centre, High Street, Shaw

Public consultation on the draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework

Consultation open: 31 October to 23 December 2016

Over the next twenty years there is a need to deliver continued sustainable economic growth, creating more jobs and new homes for the people of Greater Manchester.

The draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework sets out:

  • How much housing and employment land is needed up to 2035;
  • A number of strategic sites across Greater Manchester to assist in meeting these requirements;
  • The importance of infrastructure such as, health, education, transport, green spaces and utilities to support neighbourhoods and employment; and
  • Ways to protect and improve the natural environment.

For further information on the consultation please visit www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/GMSF or call the Greater Manchester Planning Team on 0161 237 4636

Paper copies of the draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework may also be viewed at local libraries in Oldham and at the Oldham Civic Centre Planning Reception.

A paper copy of the Integrated Assessment may be viewed at the Civic Centre Planning Reception, West Street, Oldham, OL1 IUG (for Sat Navs use OL1 1NL).

Other ways to have your say:

PO Box 532, Town Hall, Manchester M60 2LA.

All comments must be received by 17:00 on 23rd December 2016.

If you would like to discuss one of the Oldham allocations in detail then please contact a member of the Strategic Planning and Information team on 0161 770 1672, 4163 and 4061 or email spi@oldham.gov.uk.

Please note all comments will be held by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and will be available to view publicly. Comments cannot be treated as confidential. Your personal information, such as your postal and e-mail address will not be published, but your name and organisation (if relevant) will.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority maintains a database of consultees who wish to be kept informed about the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. In responding to this consultation your contact details will automatically be added to the consultation database. If you do not want to be contacted about future Greater Manchester Spatial Framework consultations please state this in your response.

Crompton Moor – Oldham Countryside Volunteer Ranger Group Event Sunday 30th Oct 16

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Hi Everyone,

That Sunday of the month is upon us again, and remember the clocks go back so after an extra hour’s kip you’ll be up for a day’s volunteering!

We need to continue with fencing maintenance, whether it is at Whitesides or at the top of the moor; a survey later in the week will decide what will be most appropriate.

Not too sure of the weather although the BBC currently forecasts light cloud highs of 11 degrees C; so, please ensure you have the appropriate clothing, footwear and a packed lunch if you are up for the day but would again suggest a hot flask of your favourite drink for the morning and plenty of cold drink for the afternoon.

Meantime, if you have any issues that you may wish to discuss prior to Sunday, please do not hesitate to mail or phone me on 07961107860.

Look forward to seeing you in the CM Car Park ~ 10.30.

Kindest Regards – Edward John Fulton, Countryside Volunteer Ranger, (M) 07961 107860 [Calls may be recorded], (F)  01706 661813, (E)  edward@edwardjohnfulton.uk

Metrolink Oldham Rochdale line – essential overnight maintenance works between Derker and Rochdale Town Centre Metrolink stops

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I have also asked and been assured any use of the Metrolink car parks in Shaw will be in the car park on the tram stop side of Beal Lane away from local residents on Beal Lane and Britaina Avenue.

COPY RESIDENTS LETTER

Dear Resident,

Metrolink Oldham Rochdale line – essential overnight maintenance works between Derker and Rochdale Town Centre Metrolink stops

 I am writing to inform you that we will be carrying out essential overnight maintenance work to the Metrolink tracks between Derker and Rochdale Town Centre stops over five nights between the approximate hours of midnight and 04:30 between the following dates:

  • Sunday 30 October to Friday 4 November

 This work, which is being carried out by the Metrolink contractor M-Pact Thales, will involve the use of a tamping machine to compact the track ballast which will create some noise.  However, the workforce will minimise noise where possible in accordance with the safe operation of the works.  Head torches will be used as an alternative to floodlighting.

This work can only take place outside normal working hours when the trams are not in operation.  Please note that this does not mean that work will be continuous at any one location for the duration of the programme of works.  The completion of these works will help to reduce tram noise and improve the quality of the ride.

We apologise for any inconvenience this work may cause you.

How to find out more

Should you require any further information, our Customer Relations teams can be contacted on Twitter, by emailing customer.relations@tfgm.com or by calling 0161 244 1000 between 07:00 and 20:00 Monday to Friday or 08:00 and 20:00 hours on weekends.

To report urgent issues or incidents relating to this work, please call 0161 205 2000.

Yours faithfully – Peter Cushing, Metrolink Director, Transport for Greater Manchester