All welcome.
This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the unveiling of the Crompton War Memorial. To commemorate this landmark event, a short service of Remembrance will be held at mid-day on the 29th April.
Additionally councillors Chris Gloster, Hazel Gloster and Howard Sykes intend to fund the provision of a story board close to the Memorial that will explain the history of it. It will be similar to the one near the Education Statue in the Memorial Garderns.
Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader in Oldham, councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has hit out at a “lack of transparency” within Greater Manchester Police as figures show that anti-social behaviour complaints “go ignored” across the country.
Councillor Sykes, who represents Shaw ward on Oldham Council, has criticised the force for failing to provide key figures on anti-social behaviour, as part of a Freedom of Information request (FOI) submitted by the Liberal Democrats.
Councillor Sykes said, “What we have seen over recent years is a complete collapse in frontline policing, accompanied by savage Conservative cuts right across GMP, including the backroom staff. Despite repeated claims from Conservatives in Government and Labour politicians in Manchester that there are more police on our streets, it’s gotten so bad that police aren’t even managing to attend reports of crime.”
The FOI responses provided from other police forces across the country show that most anti-social behaviour issues go unattended by police. The data shows that across England and Wales in 2022, 63% of anti-social behaviour reports went unattended by officers.
Greater Manchester Police refused to provide figures for the Greater Manchester region, claiming that it would be too costly to do so.
Councillor Sykes said, “What have GMP got to hide? Are the figures in Manchester worse than elsewhere? Would the figures be inconvenient for local leaders who have recently hiked taxes to pay for GMP?”
“By not providing a transparent answer in the first place, GMP have left themselves with more questions to answer.”
NOTES
This data was obtained via an FOI request that was issued to all police forces in the UK.
Data can be viewed here.
Shaw 7 May
Local government pension fund GMPF must back a motion to BP’s annual shareholder meeting [27/04/23] calling for it to align its emissions reduction programme with the Paris Agreement, or it will be failing in its duty as a ‘responsible investor’ says local councillor Sam Al-Hamdani.
The UK’s largest public sector pension fund, GMPF has steadfastly refused to stop investing in fossil fuel companies, instead arguing that it should use its influence to modify company behaviour. This motion gives it a direct opportunity to do just that, which Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani says “must be taken”.
“If GMPF fails to back this motion, then its defence for investing in fossil fuel companies would seem to be in tatters.
“This is exactly the type of motion that does what GMPF claim they intend to do. Other pension funds – including local government ones – have already backed the motion – GMPF should be leading the way.”
Councillor Al-Hamdani has written to both GMPF and Oldham Council’s representative on the pension fund, Councillor Abdul Jabbar, asking them to vote for and publicly back the motion.
He continued: “Oldham Council recently backed my call for GMPF to stop investing in fossil fuel companies by 2030, and for them to report back each year on what they were doing to change company behaviour in the meantime.
“If they meant that, then they must back this motion. This is concrete action, that will preserve our environment for the future. Our children deserve nothing less.”
If YOU need help or know someone in Shaw and Crompton that does, the A V Davies Charity could help – please apply.
Free voter ID deadline: 25 April
If you don’t have the right photo ID to vote in the election on Thursday 4 May, you will not be able to vote in person.
To get a free voter ID you can apply online
You can also drop into one of Oldham’s Libraries before 5pm on Tuesday where staff can help you get online and fill out an application. They can also take your picture. You need your National Insurance number to complete the registration and you must be registered to vote.