Oldham Council Planning Application status as at 14 May 18
Oldham Council Liberal Democrat Opposition Leadership Team announced for 2018/19
At a Group meeting held on 9 May, the Oldham Borough Liberal Democrat Group appointed, unanimously and un-opposed, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE as their Leader and Councillor Chris Gloster as their Deputy Leader. The Group also elected its other officers for the year.
Councillor Howard Sykes said: “I am grateful to my colleagues for their unanimous support once more for my work as Group Leader. Sadly the former Deputy Leader John McCann lost his seat in last week’s local elections and I shall miss his expertise and enthusiasm, but I am looking forward to working with our new Deputy Leader, Chris Gloster.”
“I am also pleased to welcome my new ward colleague, Councillor Hazel Gloster, to the group, and to welcome back Councillor Dave Murphy. They both have proven records of working for the people of Crompton and Shaw and I know that they will make a real difference. The Liberal Democrats remain the only real opposition party holding Labour to account on Oldham Council.”
“The voters who backed us can reassured that, under my leadership, we will continue as a Group to speak out and to work as a united team. We will offer common-sense solutions to the Borough’s problems and challenge the Labour Administration to cut waste and provide the value-for-money services that the public wants.”
“As the Liberal Democrat Opposition, we shall also oppose further central government cuts to Council finances and fight plans by the Greater Manchester Mayor and Labour leaders to build thousands of houses on our irreplaceable Green Belt. And green spaces.”
The Liberal Democrat Group: Leader – Howard Sykes; Deputy Leader – Chris Gloster; Group Chair – Dave Murphy; Political Secretary – Garth Harkness; Treasurer – Hazel Gloster; Group Secretary – Diane Williamson.
Shaw and Crompton election results 3 May 2018
Many thanks to those who supported us in the elections on May 3.
Shaw Ward
Result: LIB DEM Hold
Turnout: 30.57%
| Name of Candidate | Party | Number of votes | |
| The Conservative Party Candidate | 427 | ||
| The Liberal Party Candidate | 217 | ||
| GLOSTER Hazel |
Liberal Democrats | 1,023 | |
| Labour and Co-operative Party | 672 |
Crompton Ward
Result: LIB DEM Hold
Turnout: 32.25%
| Name of Candidate | Party | Number of votes | |
| Labour Party | 628 | ||
| The Conservative Party Candidate | 541 | ||
| MURPHY Dave |
Liberal Democrats | 1,359 | |
| Q | Independent | 102 |
Make sure your X goes in the right place in Shaw Ward on Thursday 3 May – look for the bird!
Why vote Liberal Democrat in the Oldham Council elections on May 3?
Council finance has been hammered by Conservative Government cuts. Some local services are now in real danger of collapse. The eight Liberal Democrat Councillors have spoken out against the cuts; the Conservatives and UKIP stayed silent.
We are the only opposition to Labour’s 44 councillors (out of 60), challenging decisions that hurt our Borough’s residents, and proposing practical solutions instead. UKIP and the Conservatives say nothing, do nothing and often vote with Labour.
We want Oldham Council to get the basics right – clean streets; potholes filled; and an end to fly-tipping and crime.
We declared ‘war’ on Civic Centre waste to free up over £650,000 for highways improvements, youth services, tackling fly tipping, and public safety measures to help make our streets cleaner and safer. Labour voted against our proposals, UKIP and the Conservatives did not even bother to turn up to the meeting!
The Liberal Democrats put people and communities first. Voting Liberal Democrat means opposing Labour’s land grab of our irreplaceable green belt, supporting sound finance and reliable public services, and electing councillors who will deliver the services you expect whilst squeezing much better value from your Council Tax.
It also means you will elect a local councillor who will always be on your side!
Polls are open 7:00am – 10:00pm on Thursday 3 May – you DO NOT need your poll card in order to vote.
Why vote Liberal Democrat in the Oldham Council elections on May 3?
Local government finance has been hit big time by Conservative Government cuts.
Some of our services are now in real danger of collapse. The eight Liberal Democrat Councillors have spoken out against the cuts; the Conservatives and UKIP continue to stay silent.
We also provide the only opposition to Labour with their 44 councillors (out of 60), challenging decisions we feel are detrimental to the borough’s residents, and proposing practical solutions to the borough’s problems. UKIP and the Conservatives say nothing, do nothing and often vote with Labour.
We also believe that Oldham Council must get the basics right. People want clean streets; potholes filled; and an end to fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.
We proposed a ‘war on waste’ by cutting Civic Centre bureaucracy to free up over £650,000 to invest in highways improvements, youth services, tackling fly tipping and installing alley gates and CCTV cameras to help make streets across the Borough cleaner and safer. Labour voted against our proposals; UKIP and the Conservatives could not even be bothered to turn up to the meeting!
The Liberal Democrats are a party that puts people and communities first. Voting Liberal Democrat means opposing Labour’s land grab of our irreplaceable green belt, supporting sound finance and reliable public services, and electing councillors who will face the challenges in local government head on – delivering the services you expect whilst squeezing much better value from your Council Tax.
It also means you will elect a local councillor who will be your champion and always be on your side!
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Liberal Democrat and Opposition Leader, Oldham Council and Councillor for Shaw Ward.
Where will you be on 3 May?
In case you are at work, ill or away; the weather is bad; or you could be busy on that day.
Just contact the Elections Office for an application form for a postal or proxy vote.
Elections office, Oldham Council, West Street, Oldham OL1 1UL
0161 770 1880/4153 or elections@oldham.gov.uk
Liberal Democrats seek Council Support for Shaw Economy in Advance of Shop Direct Closure
Following yesterday’s shock announcement that Shop Direct will be closing its Shaw depot in 2020, the Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has contacted senior Oldham Council officers seeking reassurance that the Council will offer a full range of support services to local businesses who lose trade, as well as local employees who lose their jobs, as a result of the proposed closure.
Shaw and Crompton councillors were informed via email by Shop Direct of their intentions at 12.00 hours on Wednesday 11th April 2018.
Councillor Sykes; speaking on behalf of all the Liberal Democrat Councillors for Shaw and Crompton; said: “This will have a serious impact on Oldham’s economy, particularly in Shaw and Crompton. Shop Direct is estimated to employ, directly or through agencies, around 2,000 staff in the north-west region; many of these are our local constituents and other residents of our Borough working at the Shaw depot (and in Chadderton).
Most will have to accept redundancy when these jobs are relocated with the company to a new purpose-built plant in the East Midlands. But in addition to the loss of these jobs, we need to recognise that many of our small businesses in Shaw – newsagents, sandwich shops, pubs and taxi firms – rely on these workers for much of their trade and that they will suffer a significant downturn when the closure takes place. The risk is that some of these businesses will also cease trading with the loss of yet more jobs.”
Shaw Councillor Chris Gloster added: “My worry is that if we do not start planning for the future now, with the involvement of the company and with the involvement of the Council’s Get Oldham Working team and other agencies, we could see not only many hundreds of workers thrown onto the dole without alternate employment, but the closure of a good number of our local businesses and Shaw Town Centre taking another big hit on its footfall.”
“Unfortunately we are not inexperienced at this sort of situation, having been through this pain with the closure of Warburton’s Bakery, and we will do our utmost to help people affected by this announcement,” stated Councillor Howard Sykes.
Councillor Chris Gloster added: “although Shop Direct are moving out of town, they are not taking the fulfilment site with them, and as internet shopping is on the rise, and looks like it can only grow bigger, hopefully another fulfilment company will want to take this readymade site over thereby securing employment in Shaw’.
Councillor Sykes concluded: “Yesterday I contacted senior Council officers, including the Chief Executive, asking them for reassurance about the support we will offer to these workers and businesses so that we can make the best of this terrible situation. We have also offered our services as a facilitator using the established contacts that I already have with Shop Direct to arrange talks with company bosses at the highest level and at the earliest opportunity.”
Copy of Councillor Sykes Email and officer’s reply
From: Jon Bloor
Sent: 11 April 2018 17:07
To: Howard Sykes; Tom Stannard
Cc: Elizabeth Fryman; Eve Edwards; Cllr C Gloster; Cllr D Murphy; Cllr D Williamson; Cllr J Turner; Carolyn Wilkins
Subject: RE: Re Shop Direct in Shaw to close
Dear Howard,
Apologies I rang you earlier but you are in London today.
We met with the Shaw team in November to discuss working with them via GOW about developing a long term arrangement. So this is a shock, especially as there has been no contact with Midas or ourselves in terms of local relocation options.
However, we need to develop an appropriate and supportive response as we did with Slumberland and Warburtons.
We are meeting with the Operations Manager next week to discuss what can be done between now and 2020/21.
Re: Outplacement support.
I have spoken with Job Centre Plus who will only really get involved in 2 years time when the bulk of the redundancies will be made, and as such we need to recognise that whilst it is a huge initial shock we have two years to work with the workers that are affected.
We believe the numbers quoted in the press release are higher than expected but we shall come back to you when we have a clearer picture.
We shall develop a plan and share this with you re: our offer of support but it will largely be around developing a redeployment offer, using the Career Advancement Staff – and working with local employers to develop clear pathways (For example DPD will be opening during the latter part of this year).
I will keep you updated and thank you for the kind offer of your links this could be really useful but we need to follow their protocol and meet with their national Operations Manager first.
Kind regards
Jon.
From: Howard Sykes
Sent: 11 April 2018 13:28
To: Jon Bloor, Tom Stannard
Cc: Howard Sykes ; Elizabeth Fryman ; Eve Edwards ; Cllr C Gloster Cllr D Murphy; Cllr D Williamson; Cllr J Turner; Carolyn Wilkins
Subject: Re Shop Direct in Shaw to close
Just seen this announcement.
Are we gearing up to provide support and advice like we have done in the past when a major employer closes down.
Welcome some early re-assurance of what we can do to help.
This will have a mega impact on the Borough and especially Shaw and Crompton.
Myself and Liz have some good contacts at the Shaw site.
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE