The Government has introduced new legislation which means photographic identification will be compulsory for anyone voting in person in this year’s elections.  

Voters attending the polls on Thursday 4 May will be refused a ballot if they do not show Government-approved photo ID.  Accepted ID includes:

• passports
• driving licences
• concessionary bus passes
• a PASS card (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
• Blue Badge
• Voter Authority Certificate

Expired ID is also accepted as long as the photo is a true likeness. You can visit the Electoral Commission website for a full list of accepted forms of voter ID

If residents don’t have any of these forms of ID, they can apply for a free voter ID which is also called a Voter Authority Certificate. A website has been set up to register for free voter ID  

People can also get help getting online at any library if they need some support, or the Elections Team is able to answer question and they can be contacted at 0161 770 4318 or elections@oldham.gov.uk  

You can also register to vote by post as normal, and postal votes will not require further ID. For more information, visit www.oldham.gov.uk/voterid

• New funding for ’20 is Plenty’ streets
• New parks and recreational spaces fund
• More cash to tackle roads, footways, and public footpath
• More action on enviro crimes (litter, fly-tipping, dog fouling)
• New children’s social care residential home

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Opposition Group have set out their alternative budget proposals ahead of a crucial Council vote on 1 March, where councillors will agree to spending plans.  Prior to that Council meeting the proposals go to scrutiny on Tuesday 7 February.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Shadow Executive Member for Finance and Low Carbon, councillor Chris Gloster said, “The Liberal Democrats’ priority is to make Oldham Borough a safer, cleaner and greener place to be for all of us, but especially for the next generation.”

“In the future, Oldham must be able to meet more of our care needs without relying on the private sector.  Liberal Democrats have a plan to invest in a new, council owned and operated residential home for children.”

“Youth services are often the first services to be cut when times are hard.  But Liberal Democrat plans include investment in these services, because children and young people in Oldham deserve more from this council.”

“People want safer, cleaner and greener communities.  The Liberal Democrats have a plan to invest in ’20 is Plenty’ and low-traffic streets, cutting emissions and reducing the risk of serious incidents on our roads.  Our proposals for footways, highways and disabled parking investment would make our communities more accessible for everyone.”

“Our local parks and green spaces cannot be taken for granted or left to rot without any plan or any care from the council.  Our plan to create a new fund for parks and recreational spaces will mean more care and maintenance of these treasured local assets,” stated Liberal Democrat Group Leader Howard Sykes MBE.

“These are the proprieties residents say they want, we have listened, and submitted our alternative to meet citizens demands.  This is just a start.  If we were running the council there would be much more of getting the basics right and doing what the public want,“ added councillor Sykes.

“People are fed up with a council that fixates on flashy vanity projects in Oldham Town Centre and fails to get the basics right for all our communities.  I’m proud to present the Liberal Democrat plan for fairer futures in a safe, clean, and green Oldham,” stated councillor Gloster.

NOTES

Attached PDF for the proposals.

Link to Liberal Democrat budget proposals

https://committees.oldham.gov.uk/documents/s136290/Lib%20Dem%20Budget%20Report%202023-24%20POSC.pdf

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has slammed Arts Council England bosses for “shameful neglect of Northern heritage” after their decision to cut funding for the Oldham Coliseum. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The decision to withdraw all funding from the Coliseum is particularly hard to take given that venues in London and the South are still attracting tens of millions of pounds, despite having their funding reduced.”

“No reductions here in Oldham though.  The Arts Council has completely pulled the plug instead.  The Coliseum is a treasured institution with a stellar regional and national identity.  This is shameful neglect of northern arts heritage.” 

On Monday, the Fairbottom Street venue announced it would cancel all programming after March 26^th after its bid for continued Arts Council funding was rejected, bringing an end to 138 years of theatre history.

However, funding has continued in other areas of the country, notably in London. 

In deciding which venues receive funding, Arts Council England lists supporting the governments levelling up agenda’ and the Red Cross Covid Recovery Vulnerability Index as two of its criteria for establishing need. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Oldham has received a round of so called ‘levelling up’ funding and our borough scores a 9 out of 10 on the Covid recovery index.  So how on Earth can Arts Council England justify their complete withdrawal of support for the Coliseum?”

NOTES

Councillor Sykes calls on council leadership to step up for Coliseum 
coliseum | Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

British Red Cross Covid-19 Vulnerability Index
https://britishredcross.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4b599f94d2d04d6496cc8b2d89911f62

A typical family has been left almost £1,200 poorer in the 100 days since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. The party warned that families across the country are suffering from the “cost of Conservative chaos”, as housing costs, taxes and rising energy and food bills all eat into their incomes.

255 hospitality businesses in Oldham are facing a combined energy bill increase of more than £1M (£1,091,860) once Government support is slashed in April, new analysis from the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

The analysis shows that the average bill increase for each business is likely to be £4,282.

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Our pubs, restaurants and cafes have endured so much already in recent years, so for them to have support withdrawn by the same Conservative government that has caused this cost-of-living crisis?  That will come as an insult to people who are working flat out just to stay afloat.  They are also a lifeline for those who use them in terms of their mental well-being amongst other things.”

The Government initially capped the cost of business energy, but from April they are replacing that scheme and will instead just pay a small proportion of businesses’ increased costs.  This means many pubs, cafes and restaurants will see a 90% cut in help from the government.  According to official statistics, in Oldham there are 255 pubs, restaurants and cafes at risk.

Councillor Sykes said, “This could rip the heart out of our communities in Oldham Borough.  Business owners are worried the cliff-edge they are facing if the government doesn’t change course.”

“The government must think again and ensure that meaningful support with energy bills stays in place for hospitality businesses,”  he added.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the government to think again.  Businesses across the country are worried about the cliff edge they’re facing this year and Ministers need to listen to businesses about the risks they are facing before they withdraw support.

NOTES

Data on the number of micro, small and medium sized pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes in the UK is available from the ONS via Nomis. 

Business Energy costs (without government support) are based on estimates for micro, small and medium-sized businesses by Energy Broker Bionic from January 3 to January 6, 2023 – Average Business Energy Consumption | Energy Bills | Bionic 

Details on the Government’s Existing cap on business costs can be found here –   Energy Bill Relief Scheme: help for businesses and other non-domestic customers – GOV.UK

Details for the Government’s New support for business costs can be found here – Energy Bills Discount Scheme – GOV.UK

We then compared Bionics’ figures with the two government schemes to calculate what the difference in support levels would be.

Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats councillor Howard Sykes has slammed the governments latest “levelling-up” offer, accusing the government of offering “handouts to Conservative councils in the south, while the rest of us bid on the scraps.”

The recently announced round of levelling up grants saw Oldham awarded £20m towards business and cycle infrastructure, but a bid to secure a further £20m towards the redevelopment of the Lyceum Theatre and the Old Library was unsuccessful. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The Conservatives have been promising to level up deprived parts of the country for years now.  Oldham is one of the most deprived towns in the country.  But when it comes to stumping up the cash, Oldham got less money than Rutland, one of the least deprived areas that submitted a bid.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak came under fire after his Richmond constituency was granted £19m in levelling up funding, despite being listed as one of the least deprived areas in the country.  

“Levelling up has just been an excuse for the Conservatives to give handouts to their already wealthy heartlands.  The rest of us are left to bid on the scraps.  This government has completely failed to deliver any meaningful change for Oldham.”

Breakdown of levelling up grants (DLUHC)
Levelling_Up_Fund_Round_2_successful_bids.ods (live.com)

Gallery Oldham’s latest exhibition celebrates the work of multi-award-winning cartoonist Tony Husband.

Tony’s work has appeared in national newspapers such as The Times, Daily Mail and Sunday Express as well as magazines ranging from Playboy through to Private Eye and The Spectator.

The exhibition brings together a selection of Tony’s most popular and favourite cartoons. Many of the works on display are also available to purchase.

From the world of Oink comic to his recent work with the dementia community, including here in Oldham, Tony’s illustrations have touched many lives.

The exhibition launches with a special event on Saturday 4 February, running from 1pm to 4pm, where visitors can come along to meet Tony and see him in action.

You can also join Tony for a guided tour of his exhibition and to hear some tales from his career on Wednesday 22 February. The exhibition runs until 13 May.

For more information on Gallery Oldham visit https://galleryoldham.org.uk/