“Yes or no, Prime Minister”: Liberal Democrats slam Sunak on HS2 “betrayal”
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and GM Transport spokesperson councillor Howard Sykes MBE has slammed Rishi Sunak after the Prime Minister refused to give a straight answer over the future of Manchester’s long awaited Hight-Speed Rail project (HS2).
The Conservative Prime Minister was quizzed on BBC Radio Manchester this week (Thurs 28/09) following weeks of speculation and rumours that he may scrap the Manchester leg of HS2 all together.
Councillor Sykes said, “Sunak is trying to quietly abandon HS2. Despite all his empty words on levelling up, the north is always treated as second-class when it comes to transport investment.”
“Earlier this year the government announced £72 million for rail projects in Greater Manchester. That’s less than half a percent of the total budget that was spent on London’s Cross Rail.”
“Now we’re being left in limbo by Rishi Sunak over the future of HS2 and potentially another betrayal of his levelling-up promise. It’s a very simple question. Is the Manchester leg of HS2 going ahead? Yes or no, Prime Minister?”
Liberal Democrats write to council chief over equal pay concerns
Following the concerning recent news about Birmingham City Council – which faces government intervention following financial difficulties relating to ‘Equal Pay’ policy – Liberal Democrat councillors have written to Oldham Council Chief Executive Harry Catherall seeking an update on Oldham’s financial position.
In a letter to Mr Catherall, Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “You will be aware of reports that at least 26 English councils are at serious financial risk. Most recently, Birmingham City Council have issued a section 114 notice (meaning a council cannot authorise any further spending), with ‘Equal Pay’ disputes cited amongst the reasons for failure.”
“I therefore write to ask for an update on Oldham’s current financial position, especially as relates to the issues that surround Equal Pay, its impact on council finances; and the pressures facing the care sector.”
Councils across the country face mounting financial pressure, with research conducted by the Special Interest Group for Municipal Authorities (Sigoma) indicating that at least 26 English councils are at serious risk of following Birmingham into financial special measures.
Inflationary pressures and related pay rises, as well as rising demands across the care sector are continually cited as prominent contributing factors by councils who are at high risk.
Councillor Sykes said, “After a decade and a half of cutbacks, councils have been forced to outsource many vital services to contractors. We need to be sure that Oldham is not left vulnerable to any financial liabilities our partner organisations might have incurred, whether it is in relation to equal pay disputes, as was the case in Birmingham, or anything else that represents a risk.”
NOTES
21 Sept 23 Harry Catherall Chief Executive of Oldham Council
Dear Mr Catherall,
RE: Oldham’s financial position relating to Equal Pay
No doubt you will share my alarm when reading the of the financial difficulties faced by so many local authorities over recent months. It is no exaggeration to say that local government faces an unprecedented period of financial uncertainty and instability born of more than a decade of cuts to local authority budgets.
You will be aware of reports that at least 26 English councils are at serious financial risk. Most recently, Birmingham City Council have issued a section 114 notice, with ‘Equal Pay’ disputes cited amongst the reasons for failure.
Research conducted by the Special Interest Group for Municipal Authorities (Sigoma) has indicated a growing risk posed financial pressures across local government. Inflationary pressures and related pay rises, as well as rising demands across the care sector are continually cited as prominent contributing factors by councils who are at high risk.
I therefore write to ask for an update on Oldham’s current financial position, especially as relates to the issues that surround Equal Pay, its impact on council finances; and the pressures facing the care sector.
It would be helpful if you could address the following points in your reply:
What is Oldham’s current position relating to Equal Pay Policy?
Are there any historic ‘Equal Pay’ settlements outstanding that may present an issue to the council’s financial standing?
Is there any risk of ‘Equal Pay claims’ specifically regarding Miocare?
Are there any financial risks posed to Oldham through dealings with any of our social care and other service providers (OCL and alike) in relation to ‘Equal Pay’ policy.
I thank you in advance for your considered response.
NHS Dentistry in crisis: Half of adults and one third of children in Greater Manchester go two years without an appointment.
Shocking figures uncovered by Oldham Liberal Democrats show that 50% of adults across Greater Manchester go two years without a dentist appointment on the NHS. For children, the figures for those going without care stands at over one third.
The news follows concerns raised by Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE over the number of dentists who are walking away from the NHS.
Councillor Sykes said, “Under the Conservative government, local healthcare has all but collapsed. People cannot get a dentist appointment for love nor money. It’s hardly surprising given hundreds of dentists are leaving the NHS.”
According to NHS advice, children should receive a dental check-up every 6 months due to the fact that tooth decay can be more rapid during early years. But more than one third of Children across Oldham and Greater Manchester are waiting more than a year to be seen.
Councillor Sykes said, “This is extremely worrying for parents. Faced with the prospect of a seemingly endless wait for treatment on the NHS, more and more families are at risk of having to pay out privately.”
“NHS dentistry needs a rescue package from the government. Budgets have gone unspent in recent years when that money could have gone into boosting the number of available appointments.”
“The government could take steps right away by cutting VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste. Instead, we just have silence and inaction.”
At ANDYSMANCLUB, we want to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and create a judgment-free, confidential space where men can be open about the storms in their lives. We aim to achieve this through weekly, free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups for men aged over 18.
Friends of Crompton Moor have worked on the restoration of the Brushes Clough spoil heaps for the past 2 Saturday mornings, and would like to thank all the volunteers involved for their extremely good work.
They must have taken out around a hundred or so of the birch, and these trees have been used to build small mammal shelters ready for the coming winter.
They would very much like to take out more trees from the Spoil Heaps..
They have made some great progress in opening a dense area of birch which was shading out the Heather, Bilberry, mosses, and lichens. If we can expand this area a little more, the sunlight will get through, and come spring next year we should be able to see new shoots of the vegetation that’s so important in this area.
If you have an hour or two to spare, come and join us,We’ll be in Brushes Clough car park for a 10:30am start.
You will be aware that Travellers entered High Crompton Park earlier this week.
They now have gone; our priorities are now to reinstate the land back to how it was and carry out repairs to the gate near The North Star car park – We will be looking at getting a more secure gate such as the one at New Barn Playing Fields which was funded some time ago by Liberal Democrat Councillors using ward funds. (see picture).
In addition, we will be looking at other Council owned facilities in High Crompton, Shaw and Royton where travellers could enter with a view to securing them too.
Oldham Council Officers attended earlier this week and your Crompton Cllrs Diane Williamson, Louie Hamblett and Dave Murphy will be working with them to get the park looking as it should.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who reported the issue to councillors, Oldham Council and the Police.
Greater Manchester Pension Fund goes silent on calls to divest
Local Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has written to Greater Manchester Pension Fund chief executive Steve Pleasant demanding answers after the Pension Fund failed to reply for five months to an Oldham Council motion calling for them to stop investing in fossil fuel companies.
Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “I consider it extremely poor that the Pension Fund has failed to respond to the Council – who are part of the management of the organisation, for nearly half a year.
“It’s pretty telling about what their priorities are that while we are trying to ensure they invest wisely both for the pension fund members and for the environment, they have failed to reply.”
The motion also called on the Pension Fund to provide a report on what they were doing to ensure that their current investments were used to change the behaviour of fossil fuel companies, as this was the Fund’s stated reason for not removing their investment immediately.
“I don’t agree with their reasons for choosing not to divest. However, they need to be able to demonstrate that they are doing what they say they are, and failing to provide even an acknowledgement after five months is not acceptable.”
