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!

Oldham’s Liberal Democrats have warned that Oldham Council could face “more red tape and wasted cash” after it was announced that councils across the country are to be hit with an additional £75 million audit fee. 

Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw representative councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Bureaucracy is one thing Oldham Council does not need more of.  This audit price hike is particularly unwelcome given the current cost-of-living crisis.  It amounts to more red tape and wasted cash that will do nothing to alleviate the pressures that councils face in funding frontline services.”

“Councils should be focusing on the basics, like finding and funding highly skilled social workers and helping people with the cost-of-living crisis.  Instead, we will see councils across Greater Manchester struggle to plug budget gaps caused by bureaucrats and it will be those frontline services – like social care – that suffer.”

Councillor Sykes’s warning comes after Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) said total fees for audit services may increase by as much as 150% from £50m in 2022-23 to £125m in 2023-24. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Additional audit fees will take money away from frontline services.  We cannot afford for more and more council resources to be tied up in red tape.  The new Chancellor has the opportunity to fix local government finance and give councils the ability to focus on local services at a time when people need help.”