Oldham Council have recently informed me that the firm they use to carry out weed treatment on highways, roads and footpaths could no longer offer the service due to staffing issues. As a result the council have had to retender for the contract.
This has meant the usual summer weed treatment will be delayed until later on this year, which could see more weeds than usual across the network.
The Council expects that weed control will be back to normal by end of this year.
Your local Liberal Democrat councillors have been concerned building work for the new health centre has appeared to stop. We are pleased to report this will be only a short delay and serious construction works will start shortly.
Below is the text of recent correspondence from NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care about the development and following a meeting with the site manager of the Shaw development.
Shaw Crompton GP Practice Development
I wanted to write to you formally to express my sincere gratitude for the work you have done in recent days with local businesses and residents in and around the Shaw Crompton GP Practice development.
Although the development is now in the hands of the third-party developer and the GP Practices concerned, my team and I remain involved in a slightly different way having secured the capital to develop the scheme. That said I am aware of the concerns from local businesses about access impinging their commercial enterprises, so I am grateful for you meeting with the developer last week to help clarify matters for your residents and business owners. I am pleased that there is now some common agreement that there should be no minimal access issues during the build process.
More generally, I thought it would be worthwhile clarifying the overall programme. First and foremost, I continue to assert that this programme will happen. We secured the capital and remain committed to that position.
The only things that could now in effect materially change that are a withdrawal by the GP Practices, but that is unlikely as the building they currently occupy is at the end of its life; or withdrawal of the capital but that would be a national decision by Government which is also extremely unlikely as the funding has been committed to the developer now.
It is worth me pointing out that the scheme is delayed by around four to six weeks. That is not uncommon in building programmes of this nature. However, that delay is not consequent to anything other than complexity of building processes. In simple terms two issues have slowed matters down temporarily.
Firstly, the developers have identified some unforeseen contamination issues around oil and gas. That has necessitated some remedial works to be undertaken to deal with those issues. Secondly, some unforeseen costs around the sub-station have had to be dealt with but have taken quite a bit longer than we had anticipated in the overall programme plan. I believe that this matter is now resolved.
In conclusion the scheme is slightly delayed by a small number of weeks, but I would expect visible activity will commence on site and people will be able to see it in the very near future i.e. once the contamination issues have been resolved to the Council inspector’s satisfaction.
Government has once again provided councils with funding to help tackle the Cost of Living crisis, by way of the Household Support Fund. This is the fourth round of the grant, and is provided specifically to allow Local Authorities to help low-income households experiencing financial hardship.
Previously awarded in six month tranches, this time funding has been agreed for 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. This allows the council to better weight funding at times of the year that residents struggle the most. The funding proposal as agreed provides the following support:
Food vouchers for children and young people eligible for free school meals (£15 for the spring holiday, £60 for the summer holiday and £40 per child for the Christmas and Easter holidays);
Payment of £60 to carers in receipt of Council Tax Reduction; disabled residents in receipt of Council Tax Reduction and Housing Benefit claimants not in receipt of Council Tax Reduction to help with fuel costs;
Funding to support meals for children via the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) scheme;
Investment in supermarket vouchers for residents in emergency need of food via the Helpline;
Investment in Local Welfare Provision to help with replacement white goods, and winter warm packs;
Homelessness support to prevent threat of eviction and allow families to move on from homelessness accommodation;
Everyone who is eligible for a voucher, or payment, will receive them automatically. There is no need to apply.
The Household Support Fund also provides help such as fuel vouchers and energy-efficient items through our Warm Homes Team. Residents should call 0800 019 1084 or email: warmhomes@oldham.gov.uk to access this support.
The council are also working with Action Together and other voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise partners to provide support in areas such as:
warm clothing and bedding, baby items, food, plus ad hoc help with energy costs;
support for those who are struggling but aren’t eligible for benefits including those with no recourse to public funds;
essential items for the elderly including food, help with household bills and energy;
additional funding for Age UK to support older people in emergency need
Please see We Can Help page where residents can get in touch with the Helpline for general emergency help, advice and support on 0161 770 7007.
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader welcomes passing of Care Leave Bill
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has welcomed news that the Care Leave Bill – introduced to Parliament by the Liberal Democrats – will become law after passing its final stage in Parliament.
“Millions of people care for loved ones, doing everything from day-to-day physical caring, washing, dressing, and feeding for those who cannot care for themselves, to things like shopping for a housebound elderly relative. Yet far too many unpaid carers go without proper support and struggle to balance caring responsibilities and work,” said councillor Sykes.
The Bill will give an estimated 2.4 million carers across the UK a statutory right to take five days of unpaid leave per year, helping carers to better balance work and care. The Chief Executive of Carers UK Helen Walker called the Bill a “critical step” toward a fairer deal for unpaid carers.
Councillor Sykes said, “The passing of this Bill is long overdue good news for unpaid carers in our Borough. A right to five days each year for care is a really positive step in the right direction and recognises the huge responsibilities that unpaid carers take on for the benefit of others.”
Thousands of people from across the borough and beyond are set to enjoy a spectacular day of free entertainment om Friday 2 June as the famous Whit Friday band contests returns for another year.
Brass band contests will run across 11 villages in Saddleworth from around 4pm following on from the traditional ‘Whit Walks’ in the morning.
This traditional event dates back to an earliest-recorded contest in 1884 and is dubbed locally as ‘the greatest free show on earth’.
Please plan your journeys when travelling around the Saddleworth area as road closures will be in place.
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and member of Greater Manchester Transport Committee councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “With rail services and infrastructure in the North of England in the worst state in decades, any investment from the Government is welcome news. But forgive me for not breaking out the bunting.”
“This £72 million is just a drop in the ocean compared to the £20 billion being spent on London’s Crossrail project. The government is dropping London’s spare change in the Greater Manchester’s bucket whilst quietly cutting plans for two new platforms at Piccadilly, which are desperately needed.”
“What Greater Manchester and the rest of the North really needs, is ambitious and sustained investment in its rail systems and not just a Government which delays and cuts major projects and only offers scraps in return.”
