Q1 Leaders Question 14/12/22: Oldham must break free of top-down housing targets and protect our green belt

Madam Mayor over recent days we’ve seen a massive government U-turn on housing targets. 

We in the Liberal Democrat Group have said for a long time, that mandatory, top-down housing targets – imposed by central government – will not deliver the housing developments that we need in Oldham Borough.

All that top-down targets do is force councils to sacrifice good planning and open green spaces to meet an arbitrary number of units without considering local need. 

The Labour Group themselves have always maintained that government targets were forcing them to concrete over green spaces and Green Belt and that they had no choice.  Locked in – as they were – to these mandatory targets. 

Well clearly that is no longer the case Madam Mayor. 

With Michael Gove’s U-turn, Greater Manchester now has two years during which to rethink and re-position its housing strategy.

 
What we need is the power and resources to redevelop brownfield and ex-industrial sites. 

What we need is for the decisions affecting our Borough to be taken in our borough and in a way that takes account of local need. 

And we need assurances that this Council will protect our Green Spaces.

So, the question that the Leader needs to address is:

Will her administration now stop the land grab and rethink the housing policy now there are no compulsory targets?

Or will they come up with some other excuse to concrete over our Green Belt?

Q2 Leaders Question 14/12/22: Joint scrutiny of Northern Care Alliance

Madam Mayor, I now want to turn to our NHS services.

Tomorrow, members of the Royal College of Nursing will strike for the first time in their 100-year history.  Could there be a more damning indictment of this Conservative government Madam Mayor? 

The decision to strike will have been an agonising one for RCN members.  Nurses want to be at work – they care about their patients.

Nationally, the NHS is in free fall and it’s right that nurses are standing up for themselves and the future of our health service. 

They have OUR full support. 

By now it is all too clear that the Northern Care Alliance that runs our hospitals faces a myriad of complex and debilitating issues.

The pandemic has caused a huge backlog across the board, not helped by IT failures earlier this year.

In Oldham, we have some of the highest cancer waiting times in the country – with around 40% of patients not receiving an appointment within the two-week time frame.

I would like to welcome the announcement of the multi-million-pound extension to Oldham Royal Hospital.  I just hope they can find the doctors, nurses, and other health staff to populate it?

Last month, it was revealed that almost 80 million pounds is needed to meet Northern Care Alliances repair and maintenance budget.

Most frightening of all, is that  potential heart attack and stroke patients in Oldham are waiting half an hour longer for an ambulance than they should be.

And throughout all this, Northern Care Alliance faces no direct scrutiny from elected members.  Which means our residents have no voice? 

Madam Mayor, if we simply sit on our hands and wait for the Conservatives to save our NHS, we’ll be waiting in vain. 

These are big problems but there is an onus on elected members to ask the tough questions. 

So, will the Leader join me in calling for a joint scrutiny panel which will work with the Northern Care Alliance to make improvements where possible and to lobby government where it is needed, together and with one voice?

Full Council 14/12/22
Greater Manchester Policing Plan Update
Question from Howard Sykes Liberal Democrat Group Leader

I’d like to welcome your update to Council this this afternoon.

The question I ask is the same one I asked the last time we did this – when we will start to see a difference and more importantly when will the people we represent see and feel a difference.

Despite the valiant efforts of those police officers on the ground, it does not feel much different to me and my constituents as the ‘bad old days’ pre the new Chief Constable.

As elected representatives, one of the grievances the public raise with us the most is the lack of properly resourced community policing. 

I know from conversations with officers, that when fully operational, GMP in Oldham should have more than 30 officers across the Borough.  But at various points this year the staffing levels have dropped into the very low teens. 

What are the barriers to having our local force fully staffed and how do you see staffing pressures developing in 2023? 

The second part of my question tonight relates to the recent CSE Review.

In December 2018 this authority requested extra vetting help from GMP, with the head of licensing saying they had no faith in DBS checks. 

That request was acknowledged when the new Chief Constable was appointed in May 2021.

Since then, despite this Liberal Democrat Group chasing GMP via the Mayor Burham in August 22, and despite the question being put to  officers at Shadow Cabinet briefings in October, November, and December Council – officers have sadly confirmed that there has been no meaningful response from GMP.

When the head of licensing says they have no faith in DBS checks in 2018 and need help from GMP, how many years is it reasonable to wait for a constructive response to a plea for help?

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has slammed Labour Party plans to create a new Greater Manchester-wide clean air scrutiny committee.

This comes on the back of More than £60M wasted already on the failed Clean Air Zone (CAZ) proposals earlier this year and details of the new scheme are still to be confirmed.

Branding the committee proposals as a “toothless Labour cosy-club”, councillor Sykes has criticised the lack of a duty for political balance on the new committee. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The report to be considered by Oldham Council on Wednesday 14 December (item 14) says the new committee must reflect Greater Manchester’s political balance ‘where reasonably practical’ – and we all know what that means.” 

“Labour are giving themselves a massive majority, and, with three members of the committee required to call-in any decisions, it means nothing will happen unless Labour wants it to.”

“This is not real scrutiny, and unlike the other Scrutiny bodies, which state that an opposition member must Chair proceedings, this body does not.”

The proposed Greater Manchester Joint Scrutiny Committee would have oversight of electric vehicle charging schemes across Greater Manchester, as well as any future road user charging schemes, to name just two key areas.

Councillor Sykes said, “This new committee will be more of a rubber-stamping exercise than a true scrutiny committee.  Nothing will be called in unless Labour agrees to it.  You would think with the massive mistake of CAZ so fresh in the memory, they would want something robust that could prevent such a calamity in the future.  A Labour cosy club is just going to be toothless and isn’t going offer any meaningful challenge or contribution on air quality matters.”

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Opposition group will call on Oldham Council to provide enhanced winter care packs for vulnerable residents and step-up support for free school meals in primary schools.  The party will bring its proposals to a vote at Oldham’s full council meeting on Wednesday 14 December. 

Shaw Liberal Democrat councillor Hazel Gloster, who is proposing the motion, said, “Mistakes and mismanagement at the top of the Conservative party have caused chaos in the economy.  The people who will pay the price will be the most vulnerable in society.  That means the elderly, the sick; and children – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

“As councillors, we have a duty to make support available to those who need it.  The plan that the Liberal Democrats will set out at Council will make a real difference.  Winter care packs made up of essentials like hot water bottles, flasks, gloves, and blankets, complete with information about Council, charity services and other help.  This could make all the difference just as this harsh winter hits our communities.”

The Liberal Democrat motion also urges the Council to use some of its cost-of-living support package (announced in September) to support Oldham schools with the rising cost of food. 

Supporting the motion, Crompton Liberal Democrat councillor Diane Williamson said, “Free school meals are a hand-up for so many families in Oldham.  But the government has failed to fund school food budgets in line with inflation.  Add in the skyrocketing cost of keeping school buildings warm and its no wonder schools are telling us they are running out of money.”

“Liberal Democrats are calling on Oldham Council to support schools this winter and beyond, especially because free school meal budgets in Oldham have been slashed by £212,000 by the Conservative government.” 

NOTES

For more on real-terms free school meal budget cuts My two allowed questions at tonight’s Oldham Council meeting – 7 Sept 2022 – concerning free school meals and transport

Liberal Democrat Motion in full

Free school meals and winter care packages

Proposed by: Councillor Hazel Gloster
Seconded by: Councillor Diane Williamson 

Council notes that:

Britain is currently experiencing a severe squeeze on living standards, with unprecedented pressures on household income coupled with rising prices of goods and fuel – all of which are causing hardship across every income bracket in every community. 

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine; Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic have all put pressures on trade, leading to empty shelves in our shops and increased fuel prices. 

Decisions made by the Conservative government have resulted in panic in the stock-markets, causing the pound to plumet to its lowest ever value against the US dollar since the dollar was introduced in 1792.

We face national and international problems that require national and international solutions. 

Nevertheless, this Council believes that:

• Local government can drive ambitious and impactful changes that makes a real difference in people’s everyday lives. 
  
  
• This coming winter will be extremely difficult for many of our residents.  There is a need for Oldham Council to do more, by offering practical support for those who need it.
  
  
• The administration’s £3m cost-of-living response package is welcome, however, with only £1.2m committed to be spent this calendar year it represents a missed opportunity to offer more real and meaningful support this winter.

This Council notes:

Free school meal provision helps improve the mental and physical health of children, whilst tackling childhood obesity, malnourishment, and driving up educational achievement.  A healthy meal at lunchtime allows children to concentrate in the afternoon, promotes the benefits of healthier eating; and makes a huge impact in tackling health inequalities.

Winter care packages – delivered to the vulnerable – would make a real difference to many who need support from this Council the most.  The Council should explore opportunities for funding and submit robust bids where there is funding available.  Every effort should be made to fund a winter care pack scheme for residents this winter, stocked with warm clothing, household essentials and information about key support services offered by the Council and other organisations.  

This council resolves to:

Explore opportunities to support Oldham’s primary schools with free school meal budget pressures as part of this Council’s cost-of-living support package and emerging priorities fund.  Especially seeking to ensure that the positive impact of free school meal provision is not offset by the Conservative government’s real terms cuts to school budgets in our Borough. 

Develop a winter care package scheme for vulnerable households this winter – offering warm clothing, household essentials, useful information about council services and support offered by other organisations; and a friendly knock on the door to our most vulnerable residents.

Explore opportunities to tackle digital isolation and loneliness in Oldham Borough – ensuring that staff/volunteers at libraries, community spaces and warm hubs are resourced to assist people who may not have access to the internet, need help to access the internet, and need help to access Council and other agencies services. 

As children across Oldham Borough prepare to break up for the Christmas holidays, the Council’s next Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme starts (17 December to 6 January).

Oldham’s HAF programme provides children and young people, aged five to 16, on free school meals, with free activities to enjoy over the school holidays including sports camps, day trips, arts and crafts sessions, and cookery classes.

As part of every session, each child also receives a healthy meal. Letters have recently been distributed to more than 14.000 eligible households to inform them of their offer entitlement, with each letter containing a unique HAF code that they must use to book onto our activities for free.

To book activities, parents and carers should browse www.oldham.gov.uk/HAF and then contact the HAF providers directly with their code to secure their place.

Due to postal strikes with Royal Mail, we are currently aware that some eligible households may have not yet received their letters but they are advised to sit tight as letters should arrive very shortly – if they haven’t already.

For more information on the HAF programme visit our HAF website or contact the HAF team  on oldhamhaf@oldham.gov.uk

Liberal Democrats in Oldham have hit out at Avanti West Coast (AWC) amid “chaos and delays” affecting Manchester to London services.  Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader and Greater Manchester Transport spokesperson councillor Howard Sykes MBE has branded Avanti “a disgrace” who are “hampering the economy”.

Avanti bosses announced a new timetable aimed at restoring commuter confidence on Thursday (Dec 8) but delays and cancellations have continued, prompting Liberal Democrat councillors to call on the government to strip Avanti of its contract.   

Councillor Sykes said, “The performance of Avanti has been a disgrace, and frankly, the senior figures have acted far too slowly.  They’ve just not delivered for people.  “It’s not just damaging the lives of people because they have these appalling delays, cancellations, and poor journeys.  It’s now hampering the economy.”

“Liberal Democrats are calling for Avanti to lose their West Coast Mainline contract.  Enough is enough.”

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has called on Oldham’s leaders to scrap ‘artificial housing targets’.  Councillor Sykes was speaking after Housing Minister, Michael Gove MP confirmed the government would be scrapping the “mandatory targets” which have led to development plans being drawn up across Greater Manchester – including plans to build on Green Belt.

Councillor Sykes said, “The government appears to have had a moment of clarity.  Everyone can see that top-down housing plans are never going to work.  Oldham now has an opportunity to scrap these targets which do nothing to deliver the housing we need in the places we need it.  Local councils must be given the power to make the key decisions on local development.  We can now save that green space for future generations to enjoy.”

Over recent years, Oldham has been tied into Greater Manchester’s housing strategy, drawing criticism from councillors and members of the public.  Most controversially, the plans – which have had different names over the years – have contained proposals to build on many Green Belt sites across Oldham Borough. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Labour have always said it was the government targets forcing them to concrete over green spaces and green belt, that is no longer the case.  So, the question is, will Labour now stop this land grab or come up with some other excuse for building on our green spaces.” “All that top-down targets do is force councils to sacrifice good planning and open spaces to meet an arbitrary number of units without considering local need.  What we need is the power and resources to redevelop brownfield and ex-industrial sites.”

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.