Crompton Cemetery – latest

Myself and a number of my colleages have been asking for improvemnts and the flooding issue to be tackled in the Cemetery for some months now.

Below is a recent repose from a senior council officer about the matter. Rest assured we will continue to pursue this.

‘A quick update and now I have the background happy to discuss if it helps. Unfortunately the excessive rainfall we have had is causing us issues, not just at this site but across other cemeteries and greenspaces across the town.

The land is in our terms now at ‘Field capacity’ as the water table is at such a high level and any additional rainfall merely sits on the surface before eventually permeating through when the weather improves.

Having checked with other Councils it seems there are a number of others experiencing the same problems.

We are working to see what is practical to alleviate the problem as it does not appear to be related to the recent works to improve the pathways. A surveyor is due to visit and report back on potential options and I’ll ask that you are updated together with Cllrs Williamson and H Gloster who have raised the same issue.

Please can you reassure residents that we are doing all we can to resolve these issues and happy to provide an update as we have more info through from Corporate Landlord on work which could improve matters.’

Education statue in the Crompton Memorial Gardens

Pleased to report this has now been replaced.

See the link below if you wish to read what the display board says and the history of Shaw’s education statue.

This is something I was very proud to get relocated into the Memorial Gardens a number of years ago.

The Education Statue is a replica of one of four supporting statues which feature on the Gladstone’s memorial on the Strand, London (the statues include Courage, Brotherhood, Aspiration and Education and are intended to be a reflection of Gladstone’s strengths).

The Gladstone’s memorial commemorated the Prime Minster and statesman William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898) and was completed by Humo Thornycroft in 1905 (Manning 1982). The copy of ‘Education’ was purchased by James Cockcroft, a local businessman and councillor, who presented and unveiled it to the people of Shaw and Crompton in 1919 (PMSA MR/OLD27, Wyke 2004, 296).

Cockcroft was a strong supporter of public libraries and requested that the memorial be placed in the entrance hall of Crompton local library to be ‘an inspiring object to the youth, and I hope, the adults of our village’ (PMSA MR/OLD27, Wyke 2004, 296).

The sculpture was unveiled in July 1919 together with a plaque which read:
‘Presented by James William Cockcroft as a token of love and respect for his native village and in grateful acknowledgment of many benefits received by him’

Liberal Democrats table Council budget amendment to make Oldham ‘Healthier, Greener, and Cleaner’

Shaw Councillor Chris Gloster, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance and Green, is looking forward to presenting the budget amendment of the Liberal Democrat Group to next week’s Budget Council (Thursday 4 March, 6pm). 

“The Oldham Liberal Democrats want to make further efficiencies in civic centre bureaucracy to squeeze out more money for our priorities, and those of the public – more cash to spend on front-line services,” said Councillor Gloster.  “As we begin to emerge from the nightmare of COVID-19, we wish to look at building back better in our Borough by focussing on making Oldham healthier, greener and cleaner.”  

The Liberal Councillors are proposing to repurpose part of Labour’s capital investment programme and find more money from cutting bureaucracy and waste elsewhere in the Council’s budget to: 

  • Invest £18 million to build three new health centres for patients in Shaw and Crompton, Saddleworth and Chadderton by 2026;  
  • Invest £6.5 million in build a green infrastructure taking Oldham forward in its ambition to be Britain’s first carbon-neutral Council and Borough; and 
  • Create a dedicated fund worth £2.5 million to repair our footpaths over the next five years.   

In the next two years, the Liberal Democrats would save over £1.2 million by cutting Civic Centre bureaucracy and waste to spend on front-line services.  In the next financial year, £294,000 more would be spent on tackling the fly-tipping, litter and dog-fouling which blights the lives of so many Oldham residents, and a new fund of £200,000 would be created to invest in 20-mph zones in residential streets to cut road deaths and injuries, especially amongst children and the elderly.   

Commenting Councillor Gloster said: “I feel that we have a range of practical proposals that reflect the new post-COVID reality that much of the work carried out by our staff will continue to be from home rather than the Civic Centre.  Our savings will release money that we would re-invest in the front-line services that the public value.”   

“The Liberal Democrats are also keen to divert some of the money from Labour’s Capital Programme to build three new health centres for the people of Shaw and Crompton, Saddleworth and Chadderton who have been short-changed on primary health care for so long along with an emphasis on Shaw and Crompton being the first location in view of the excellent tram links from other parts of the Borough which would allow specialist clinics to be provided with good access for the Borough’s residents.” 

The full report to Council titled ‘Liberal Democrats Budget Amendment Proposals 2021/22‘ can be found at: 

https://committees.oldham.gov.uk/documents/s122248/7.%20Opposition%20Budget%20Report%202021-22%20Council%201.pdf

A summary of the Liberal Democrat Budget Amendment Proposals can be found at: 

https://committees.oldham.gov.uk/documents/s122249/7a.%20Appendix%20A.%20Summary%20of%20Opposition%20Budget%20proposals%202021-22%201.pdf

The Business Cases for each of the Budget Amendment Proposal can be found at: 

https://committees.oldham.gov.uk/documents/s122250/7b.%20Appendix%20B%20-%20Business%20Cases%20for%20Alternative%20Budget%20Reduction%20Proposals%201.pdf

Conservatives ‘right to regenerate’ is another attempt to put developers first

The Conservative Government has continued its attack on public green spaces with a new consultation on ‘right to regenerate’, which proposes that “inefficient use of public sector land” should be challenged, and used to build developments.

The Government is suggesting that the current right to contest – which gives local authorities the right to refuse if the cost of selling would not be good value for the taxpayer – should be replaced, so that more sites would be made available for development.

Recent proposals from the Government on planning law show that the Conservatives are already trying to ensure that more developers get automatic approval for sites, rather than targeting environmentally friendly development that on sites actually in need of regeneration, with proper infrastructure support.

Local Liberal Democrat campaigner Mark Kenyon said: “Developers will always choose to target easier sites for housing; which we’ve seen locally with proposed developments such as that on Knowls Lane.

If the Conservative Government were really interested in addressing blight, this would give communities the option to bring ‘inefficient’ public spaces into community control, so that they can give villages and towns more of what they need – which might be development, but could just as well be allotments, village greens or parks.”

The succession of consultations from the Government has included “Planning for the Future”, which was widely attacked, including by Conservative councillors, as well as plans to change the rules on supported housing, and to increase the numbers of houses which should be built across the country.

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat shadow cabinet member for housing and homelessness, Sam Al-Hamdani, said: “This is the latest in a sequence of consultations which, taken together, look like a deliberate, concerted attack on communities’ ability to determine what developments will benefit them.

“New housing is needed – we need more ways to ensure that developers, councils and communities are on the same page. Instead, this is another attempt from the Conservatives to put communities last, and dump the blame on local authorities.”

Liberal Democrats fear Greater Manchester Labour Mayor’s ‘Places for Everyone’ plan still threatens green spaces for everyone

Oldham Liberal Democrats fear that the latest ‘Places for Everyone’ plan continues to represent a real threat to our borough’s precious and irreplaceable green spaces.

Nine local government leaders, eight Labour and one Conservative, agreed to support the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester in his call to create the new plan at a recent meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (12 February).  ‘Places for Everyone’ will replace the failed Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) proposals which were scrapped late last year, after Stockport Liberal Democrat Councillors led the charge in voting against their Council being a party to the proposals. 

The Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said: “Although the Stockport Council vote represented a fatal blow to GMSF, unfortunately it has spawned an unwanted offspring.  I would urge everyone to be on their guard.  Over the coming months, Greater Manchester residents will hear many mealy-mouthed words from Labour and Tory Council leaders trying to reassure you that the new plan will be ‘cuddlier’.  They will say it will be more focused on brownfield development; less focussed on taking away our much-loved Green Belt and green spaces for new housing; and that it will provide jobs and affordable homes for everyone.  There is nothing at this time to suggest that this so-called new plan, the bastard Son of GMSF, will be much different to its father.” 

Councillor Sykes added:  “Yes, we want jobs and we need homes, but the Liberal Democrats do not believe that there is a necessity to destroy our natural environment to create employment or to concrete over any of our Green Belt for new houses.”

“There are already plenty of brownfield sites and plenty of empty factories, mills, shops and offices, sadly more so following the COVID-19 Lockdown, that must be repurposed for housing and for employment first.  This has been the consistent Liberal Democrat position from the moment that the GMSF proposals first saw the light of day years ago.”

Government support runs dry leaving local businesses waiting

Oldham Council is still waiting for the Government to provide further funding for local businesses which have been forced to close, despite the previous funding running out on February 15.

The Conservative Government will not be providing the money, which is a lifeline for local people, until they provide information on how long businesses are likely to have to keep their doors closed.

Leader of the opposition, and Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet Member with responsibility for coronavirus, Howard Sykes MBE said: “It is sadly unsurprising that the Conservative Government has left local businesses high and dry. For a Government which seems to be very good at organising coronavirus contracts for businesses owned by people they know, they seem incredibly bad at making them for everyone else.”

Once the Government confirms what is happening for local businesses, and provides the promised funding, businesses will receive their payments without any need to reapply.

Local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who found out about the delays when following up on payments for local businesses in Lees, was furious. “It is absolutely shambolic. This Conservative Government provided money to cover up to a week ago, and then just left everyone to wait until they made another decision.”

“It’s absolutely typical of the thoughtlessness which seems to be the hallmark of this Government. It doesn’t seem to be asking for much to get just basic competence, but it seems to be well beyond the capacity of this Government, and it’s people in Oldham who suffer because of it.”

Sykes supports ‘Shopkeepers’ Campaign’ for business rates cut

The Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has shown his support for the ‘Shopkeepers’ Campaign’ that is calling for a cut in the business rates that high street retailers pay. 

In 2020, Revo, a membership group representing retailers, launched the campaign to cut and reform business rates for retail property.

Since its introduction, this tax has increased by almost 50 per cent for bricks-and-mortar stores and is one of the largest costs paid by shopkeepers.  It has led to the closure of many shops, leading to job losses and a loss of customer choice.  During the COVID-19 Lockdown, non-food shops have been forced to close for long periods, and many more now face ruin. 

The government is conducting a Fundamental Review of Business Rates which will now report back in the autumn, and Councillor Sykes hopes that this will bring some good news. 

Commenting, Councillor Sykes said:  “High business rates are undoubtedly a factor in the loss of several of our leading high street names, but we have also seen local community shops close in our current challenging economic environment.  Physical stores struggle to compete with online retailers who do not face such financial demands.

“I now hope that the government will use this opportunity to think afresh at business rates to create a more equitable system that will raise revenue without destroying businesses and jobs.”

Revo has launched a petition to Parliament and Councillor Sykes is inviting members of the public to join him in signing it.  “This petition represents an opportunity for members of the public to ask the government to reduce business rates to help ensure that we have a healthy and vibrant high street in the years to come.”

The petition can be found at:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/560396

Sudden closure of hotline ‘an unexpected blow to Greater Manchester crime victims failed by GM Mayor’, says Sykes

Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE is dismayed that a hotline established to respond to the failure to record complaints from the 80,000 victims of crime across Greater Manchester is close on Friday 19 February.

Councillor Sykes had just recently written to the Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to seek reassurance that such victims would continue to receive specialist support from Victims Support staff for the foreseeable future.

The Greater Manchester Crime Support Line was only launched back in December after a damning report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services found systematic failures at Greater Manchester Police which led to the force failing to record 80,000 reported crimes – including one in four violent crimes and many instances of domestic violence.

The report led to Greater Manchester Police being placed in special measures and the Chief Constable leaving office early.  The hotline was set up in response to the report to provide a mechanism for victims who had been ‘denied justice’ to seek redress.  Now just two months later it will be scrapped.

Councillor Sykes wrote to Mayor Andy Burnham about the hotline in January. The closure decision is so unexpected as in a recent reply to correspondence from Councillor Sykes, dated 5 February, Mayor Burnham assured him that “At this time no decision has been made as to how long the Crime Support Line will be operational for.”

Commenting Councillor Sykes said:  “This sudden decision represents an unexpected blow to Greater Manchester crime victims failed by police.  Operating a bespoke line for just two months and then closing it just smacks of ‘tokenism’, of ‘ticking a box’ to get Greater Manchester Police out of special measures, rather than a sincere effort to support the many thousands of victims of crime that have been failed by the senior leadership of the local Police service.”