Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has insisted that the final, damning report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) is on the agenda for the first meeting of Oldham Council’s steering group tasked with tackling child sex exploitation in the borough.

Oldham’s senior leadership team have already agreed to Liberal Democrat requests to ensure that any relevant recommendations from the IICSA reports are put into place in the borough.

Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “This report shows that child sex abuse is a national problem that has been catastrophically under-reported, and the failings that were seen in Oldham have been also seen in cities and towns all across the UK.

“We need to support those incredibly committed social workers, who we do have in Oldham, to really make changes that stop children in this town being left open to abuse.”

Among the recommendations in the report are better registration of staff in care homes, and better use of DBS checks. It also includes a national redress scheme, and a law making it a criminal offence to fail to make mandatory reports about child sexual abuse.

Councillor Al-Hamdani continued: “While many of these recommendations address how things work at the national level, there are recommendations which we can ensure are already in place in Oldham.

“I want to see Oldham as somewhere that other towns and cities across the UK look at and realise that change is possible.

“Children have been failed. Too often we have had half-hearted answers to the problems that this town places. This is an opportunity for real improvements. We can’t and won’t accept anything less.”

A request for local councils to put forward sites for building in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty or green belt has been firmly opposed by Oldham’s Liberal Democrat team, with local Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani branding the policy “a disgrace”.

Lib Dem Councillor Al-Hamdani immediately sought confirmation that the Council had no plans to take up the option – which would have opened large parts of protected land across the whole of Oldham up for development. The Council confirmed that they had no plans to apply for any new developments under this scheme. 

Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “I can’t understand how this Government thinks it can possibly be acceptable to abandon national parks and areas of outstanding national beauty.”

Much of Saddleworth falls into the Peak District National Park, and the majority of the remainder is in the green belt, with further green belt sites across the whole of the borough.

“We are fortunate to have some of the most beautiful parts of the country on our doorstep, and this Government simply sees it as a resource to be built on.

“I hope I never see a Government putting forward plans like this again. They should be putting forward support for Councils to build on brownfield sites, instead of this nonsense. Development must not be at the expense of the environment.”

At long last the battle royal to lead the Conservatives has come to another end.

I wish Rishi Sunak well in the new job and as Prime Minister.

However, let’s not forget he has been a leading player in the mess that the Conservatives have made.

They have put their own petty arguments and naked ambitions before the urgent needs of the Country.

The Country is unlikely to forget or forgive.

Every day, week and month, local people will be reminded that the Conservatives are not to be trusted running the country as we all face bigger mortgage payments, higher rents, increased food and fuel costs and the Tories promised remedy of cuts, cuts, cuts in the services we value and want.

All this because of the disastrous decisions made by Conservatives in Government.

Mr Sunak, the third Prime Minister in eight weeks, and his Conservative Government has no mandate from the people.

It’s time for a General Election now. Let the people decide who they want in Downing Street.

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has said that Greater Manchester’s speed cameras are “falling behind”.  The Shaw councillor, who sits on Greater Manchester’s Transport Committee, was speaking in response to a report on road safety recently presented to the Committee.

Councillor Sykes said, “Speed cameras are put in place for a very good reason.  Not only do they prevent accidents, but they also save lives.”

In many cases, cameras have been left disconnected, having never been updated with newer, digital cameras.  Now the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) set at long last to replace many speed cameras that are not working.  

Councillor Sykes has been continuously raising the issue of non-functional cameras where speeding is a real problem, yet the camera has been out of action for years.  The one on Milnrow Road, Shaw is just one example of such camera. 

The Committee heard that Greater Manchester saw an increase of 8% in the number of people who have been killed or seriously injured in the last year. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The first priority in tackling these shocking road casualty figures should be to make sure that all the existing speed cameras are fully operational.  People expect our roads to be kept safe.”

Councillor Sykes said, “Greater Manchester bosses now tell me the cameras will be operational by August 2023.  These ongoing delays are just not good enough.  This could mean somebodies life.  The authorities need to show far more urgency on this issue.”   

Oldham councillor Howard Sykes has praised the success of a trial allowing dogs on trams across Greater Manchester.  He was speaking at the meeting of Greater Manchester Transport Committee on Friday 14 October, where he reminded the committee, they rejected just such a proposal from him and the Liberal Democrats back in November 2015.

Councillor Sykes added “This is something I have been campaigning on for years, so I’m pleased to see the trial going so well.  This is a common sense move and I look forward to seeing dogs, and their responsible owners, on trams being made permanent.”

The GM Mayor introduced the three-month pilot allowing up to two well-behaved pet dogs per passenger on trams and a supporting survey is due to close on 31 October. A decision whether this will become a permanent arrangement is due to be made and, in the meantime, dogs will still be permitted to travel on the Metrolink network.

Councillor Sykes said, “This is the last chance for people to provide their views via the live online survey available on the dedicated ‘Dog on Trams’ webpage.  TfGM have received a good response to the survey so far and are keen to provide as many people as possible with the opportunity to share their views.”

TfGM dogs on trams survey

Dogs on trams pilot | Transport for Greater Manchester (tfgm.com)

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Labour and Conservative councillors join up to block Lib Dem proposal to allow a trial for dogs on trams | Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)   Nov 2015

While not always agreeing with the handful of the things the BBC commissions and comments on, I am 100% certain we would be a lot less informed and entertained if they did not exist.

I am also sure it’s true value would only really be appreciated it if disappeared. And that is before you think about things like ‘The Archer’s’ – the UK longest running soap :-).

The BBC also provide a lifeline of objective reporting for those countries that do not have a free press.

Here is to the next 100 years!