Liberal Democrats in Oldham have warned that “thousands of eligible families” are missing out on the governments ‘Healthy Start’ voucher. 

The vouchers are for pregnant women and families with children aged under four who are on Universal Credit.  They can be used to buy milk, infant formula, fruit, vegetables, and pulses.  But analysis from the Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed that 150,000 eligible households are currently missing out on support. 

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Every year millions of pounds of vital Healthy Start vouchers go unclaimed and families miss out on free fruit, vegetables, and milk.  With money tight for so many families right now, the government can and must do more to improve the uptake on this scheme.”

“One of the main barriers in deprived communities is access to the internet.  With the government moving towards digital vouchers this will lock many people out of receiving support.  Had the government bothered to work with councils, this sort of mistake could have been avoided.  The government must give council’s more data on the roll out of this scheme so that local leaders can share expertise.”

People can apply online: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/

The Liberal Democrat Leader also hit out at the government’s decision not to uprate the vouchers to reflect rises in food prices. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The cost of staple items such as milk and tomatoes rising from between 21 and 47 per cent since prices were set for the vouchers in April 2021.  The whole purpose of these vouchers is to support those who are most vulnerable to price hikes.  The government must look again and increase the value of the vouchers in line with inflation.”

NOTES

ONS data on the price of milk RPI :Ave price – Milk: Pasteurised, per pint – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Who is eligible for the Healthy Start Vouchers?

If you are on Universal Credit and:

• You’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under four-years-old.
• Your family’s take-home pay for this period is £408 or less from employment.
• If you get Child Tax Credit and:
• You have at least one child under four-years-old.
• Your family’s income is £16,190 or less a year.

For more information on eligibility click here

If YOU need help or know someone in Shaw and Crompton that does the A V Davies Charity could help – please apply.

Note new web site, email, phone number and revised application form.

Pop along for advice, help or to discuss any issue or matter with your local Liberal Democrat councillors.

Shaw and Crompton Advice Surgeries (no appointment necessary) held on the following Thursdays at Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre – 7:30pm to 8:30pm.

December: 1, 8 and 15.

Oldham’s Liberal Democrats have warned that Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has handed councils a “ticking time bomb” with his Autumn Statement.

Commenting on the Chancellors Statement and after securitising the detail, Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Jeremy Hunt has just handed councils like Oldham a ticking time bomb with this Budget.  His government has lost control of the economy and to make up for it, he is now passing the burden to councils and in turn, council taxpayers.  All at a time when everyone is struggling with the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades.  Conservative mistakes, but apparently everyone else must pay for them.”

In a cross-party statement following Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement the Local Government Association said, “Financial turbulence is as damaging to local government as it is for our businesses and financial markets and all councils and vital services, such as social care, planning, waste and recycling collection and leisure centres, continue to face an uncertain future.”

Councillor Sykes said, “People are experiencing the biggest fall in living standards for decades and instead of offering proper funding, the government is trying to force councils to put up council tax.  Nobody was talking about public spending cuts before the disastrous mini budget crashed the economy under Liz Truss.  Now this latest Chancellor is trying to make everyone else pay for the clean-up.”

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has called on Oldham’s senior leadership to step up efforts to support the Oldham Coliseum Theatre. 

In November, the long-established Fairbottom Street theatre announced that it had not been successful in its bid to secure Arts Council funding; and that jobs and the future of the theatre were at stake.

Councillor Sykes has written an open letter to The Leader of Oldham Council – Amanda Chadderton, and Oldham Council Chief Executive Harry Catherall – calling on the Council to offer more support.

Councillor Sykes said, “The Oldham Coliseum is one of Oldham’s most treasured institutions.  It has a first-rate reputation across Oldham Borough and far beyond.  I’ve called on Oldham Council to show leadership in lobbying the Arts Council and the government on the Coliseum’s behalf as well working with the Theatre to explore new avenues for funding.  We must do everything to make sure the Coliseum secures its future.”

The Oldham Coliseum, which boasts over 135 years of history, is one of only a handful of producing theatres in the Northwest and its annual pantomime – which is currently showing – enjoys national acclaim.  The theatre is reliant on ‘Investment Programme’ funding from Arts Council England, which has not been continued as part of the Arts Council’s latest funding round.

Councillor Sykes said, “It is important that the Arts Council hear the dismay that their decision has caused across Oldham from every corner of the community; and this should include our civic leadership.  But we must also think creatively and explore all options to make sure the Theatre can continue its programme well into the future.  This could include crowdfunding, which is something Oldham Council could offer practical communications support with.” 

Letter is below

Harry Catherall
Chief Executive, Oldham Council

Councillor Amanda Chadderton  
Leader of Oldham Council

Dear Mr Catherall and Councillor Chadderton,

I am writing in relation to the concerning developments affecting the Oldham Coliseum Theatre.  You will be aware of the Arts Council’s regrettable decision not to include the Coliseum in its Investment Programme, placing jobs and the future of one of Oldham’s most treasured institutions at risk.  I am sure you will agree that Oldham Council must do everything possible to support the theatre at this time. 

I am therefore writing to urge the senior leadership of our Borough to do three things.

Lobby the Arts Council

Oldham Council must add its voice to the growing number of residents, actors, writers, and patrons who have joined the Oldham Coliseum in petitioning the Arts Council.  You will be aware that the cast of the “Robin Hood” Pantomime met on Wednesday 16^th November; and called on the Arts Council to save Oldham Coliseum.  Council leaders must write to the Arts Council in asking that the Coliseum’s position be reconsidered.

It is important that the Arts Council hear the dismay that their decision has caused across Oldham from every corner of the community; and this should include our civic leadership.  The strength of feeling this decision has generated for the Oldham Coliseum should be remembered when the Arts Council comes to make future funding decisions.

Making the case to the Government

Efforts must also be made to raise the profile of this issue with central government.  You may be aware of the protest that did take place outside the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) in London.  Oldham Council’s senior leadership must make representations to DCMS by writing to Secretary of State, Michelle Donelan. 

With the Qatar World Cup underway, Oldham’s representatives must shout that much louder to be sure that the Coliseum’s plight is heard and acted on. 

Exploring funding solutions

The Council must also work in close partnership with the Coliseum to aid in the development of alternative funding avenues for the Theatre.  This should include a strategic discussion about crowdfunding and any communications support that Oldham Council could offer.  

The Oldham Coliseum boasts a wealth of high-profile former performers, directors, and writers.  The Theatre enjoys a stellar reputation across the North of England and beyond.  It’s pantomime – which is currently in full swing – is highly regarded around the country.  If the theatre is supported by the Council’s communications team and others, it is conceivable that a crowdfunding campaign to “Save Oldham Coliseum” could gain a lot of traction.

I hope that you will consider the points above and act with urgency to support one of Oldham’s greatest cultural assets.

As always happy to discuss how we can work together to progress this matter.

Best wishes, 

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE 

For further information and to get involved: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/

Almost £80 million is needed to clear hospital maintenance backlog and repair crumbling NHS buildings across North Manchester – including Royal Oldham Hospital, new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has found.  Meanwhile, the NHS is facing a £700 million cut to its budget for repairs across the country.  

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader, councillor Howard Sykes said, “NHS staff are working flat out in under resourced, unfit buildings.  Yet the government is cutting budgets instead of stumping up for the essential repairs that NHS facilities need.  No wonder our NHS is struggling to catch up with the backlog of patients caused by the pandemic.” 

The small print of last week’s Autumn Statement revealed the savage cut to the Department for Health’s capital spending budget next year, which is used for buildings, facilities, and infrastructure.

Nationally the cost of the repairs backlog has been revealed by the NHS estates review as an astonishing £10.2 billion.  It comes alongside news that the NHS waiting list has hit 7 million people, with more than 24,000 stuck on wait lists in Oldham.

Oldham Liberal Democrats are calling for the Chancellor to halt his plans “to make patients and staff pay” for the Conservative government’s “economic mess”.  They propose urgent investment in local hospital buildings to ensure they are safe and can function effectively. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Our hospitals are falling apart at the seams.  People here have had enough of record GP, dentist and ambulance waiting times.  They’ve had enough of outdated and decaying hospital equipment.” 

“The Conservatives are showing that they just don’t care about the NHS.  The Chancellor must announce an investment plan and ensure that NHS facilities receive the funding they need.”

NOTES

Repair backlog data can be found here 

The Government has announced a cut to the Capital budget for Health and Social Care in the Autumn Statement.

All figures given by the Government in its report are current prices, in other words they aren’t adjusted for inflation. The Liberal Democrats have adjusted these figures using the OBR’s GDP Deflator (which measures the changes in prices) figures to calculate the Capital budget in real terms. 

These calculations show that the Capital budget for Health and Social Care will fall by £700m in 2023-24 in real terms, potentially derailing the Government’s pledge to build 40 new hospitals. Calculations here  .

Autumn Statement – Fiscal and Economic Outlook – Page 21

OBR – Supplementary Tables 1.7 – GDP Deflator

• 540,000 people in UK live with Crohn’s or Colitis – that’s 1 in every 123 people
• Over the past 20 years, an average of 25,000 people a year were diagnosed with Crohn’s or Colitis in the UK, which is 66 people a day
• Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40 – meaning it has a significant impact on their working life
• One in six individuals with Crohn’s or Colitis initially receive a diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• It takes an average of 5.5 years to get a diagnosis of Crohn’s or Colitis after being initially diagnosed with IBS
• Up to 80% of people with Crohn’s and 15% of those with Ulcerative Colitis will need to have surgery at some point in their lives
• Half of people with Crohn’s and Colitis have had a negative experience when using a disabled toilet
• People with Crohn’s or Colitis are twice as likely to experience mental health problems
• Two in five (40%) of people with Crohn’s or Colitis said it prevented them from pursuing an intimate relationship 
• Crohn’s & Colitis UK has 50 local networks across the UK bringing together people affected by the conditions and raising public awareness of their impact 

https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/our-work/about-us

@crohnsandcolitisuk

@crohnscolitisuk

#CrohnAndColitisAwarenessWeek

Oldham Council have postponed a reduction in the size of ID plates on taxis after Lib Dem Councillor Louie Hamblett called out the failure to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment as part of the decision.

The plates, which identify private hire cars, were due to change shortly until Councillor Hamblett challenged the decision, pointing out that for people who have impaired vision – and who are therefore more likely to use taxis – would be most affected by the change.

Councillor Hamblett said: “This just hasn’t been thought through – and I know that because the report to Cabinet tells me that they didn’t look at this. It’s very simple – if this makes it harder for people with impaired vision to recognise taxis, it should not be going ahead.

“I’m glad that the Council has postponed the change awaiting an Equality Impact Assessment. However, this shouldn’t have happened in the first place. It’s very telling that no-one on the Cabinet asked this question. It seems as though we have a Council that talks about equality but doesn’t do the work to achieve it.” 

Mrs Berry who has macular degeneration added “I use taxis to get to appointments or go to town regularly and I struggle to see so it’s important that they do display the ID plates properly so I can tell if it’s a genuine taxi or not.”