Greater Manchester Combined Authority Decommission Bin App R4GM

Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Dave Murphy, Shadow Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Culture, was disappointed to learn that the bin app introduced in 2018 has been discontinued.

The R4GM bin app for mobile phones contained information such as ‘Where’s my nearest …?’, ‘When’s my bin collected?’, ‘What do I do with..?’, ‘What can I recycle at home?’ And a Contact Us.

At the Full Meeting of Oldham Council in July 2016, Councillor Murphy brought a motion asking for a local bin app for Oldham which was almost unanimously supported across the Chamber.

Councillor Murphy said “I have used the app myself many times which can help sign post you from what to put in the right bin and what goes where.  I was really pleased when I learned that the then Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority introduced an app a year or so later”.

Saddleworth North Liberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness, who seconded Councillor Murphy’s motion, added: “I have also used the app and found it really helpful and the feedback I have received from local residents, when I have directed them to it, has been positive.  When we are looking to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill the app can only be a good thing.  It was quick and easy to use, and the information you needed was at your fingertips.”

“We need to use such technology in our fight to increase ‘re use’ and ‘recycling’ and therefore save cash for much need community projects.  I do hope a version of this app can be reintroduced soon!”  Stated councillor Murphy.

The response Councillor Murphy received from Oldham Council Waste Officers reads:

“GMCA did decommission the app earlier in the year.

We have been in discussion with them since though as they are currently trying to understand the requirements from each of the nine districts in terms of the app. As well as understanding cost implications and the effectiveness of the app etc.

So currently it’s with them for them to analyse and make a decision about. They haven’t given any timelines for this”.

Hardly Magnificent – Stockport and Tameside spat delays Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) for seventh time

Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillors were bemused to hear that Labour’s plans to build thousands of new homes on the Greater Manchester Green Belt have been delayed yet again for the seventh time;  this time, because of a spat between two neighbouring Labour-run Councils, Stockport and Tameside, over redevelopment proposals for an industrial estate.

The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) was developed by Greater Manchester’s Labour Mayor with the ten local authority leaders.  The controversial plan, which is opposed by Liberal Democrat Councillors across Greater Manchester and many members of the public, has been rumbling on for years without resolution.  Next month, Mayor Burnham was due to proceed with a final public consultation on the latest proposals.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said:

“These plans were meant to be robust and signed off by the Mayor with his Labour colleagues.  Now everything has been derailed by a childish last-minute public falling-out between two Labour-run local authorities.  The Magnificent Seven this is not, as you would be hard-pressed to find a sorrier looking set of cowboys.  What confidence can you have in the process and its recommendations after seven delays.”

“It looks like Oldham Council special Council meeting on this subject planned for the 28 October will now have to be cancelled.  And who knows when the so-called consultation will now start on these key plans and proposals,” added Councillor Sykes.  “We have said it before, and we say it again, these are the wrong plans at the wrong time, and this latest delay just proves the point again.”

Oldham Council must give residents chance to respond on planning applications affected by systems upgrade

Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, Liberal Democrat shadow cabinet member for housing and homelessness, has called on Oldham Council to extend the time for residents to respond on any current applications, as the online system for responses has repeatedly gone off line in recent days due to a systems upgrade.

With larger developments often attracting hundreds of comments using the online portal, and Oldham Council encouraging people to use the web to contact them as much as possible, such downtime creates a major issue for residents who wish to make their views known – either to complain or to support a proposal.

Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “Upgrading the systems is great, and I look forward to having a more robust system in place. However, we need to make sure that while we’re in this period, residents don’t get short-changed.

“At the national level, I and my fellow councillors are fighting tooth and nail against changes to the planning system which would remove residents’ voices from the planning process. Locally, during what should be a temporary issue, we need to make sure we do the same.”

Councillor Al-Hamdani has written to the head of planning asking them to review any open applications and ensure that if the planning portal has been down for any significant amount of time, the deadline for comments is extended.

Oldham Covid – 19 latest 13/10/20

Yesterday (Monday 12th October) in Parliament, PM Boris Johnson announced a new 3 tier approach to tackling coronavirus.

The exact detail, as yet, is not clear and fuller regulations are likely to be laid later this week.

Once the situation is clear Oldham Council’s web site will be updated with the new rules, regulations and guidance.

https://www.oldham.gov.uk/coronavirus

We do know that the Liverpool City Region will be on the “very high” Covid alert level from Wednesday and pubs, bars and betting shops will close on Merseyside.

Greater Manchester is being placed in Tier 2 with household restrictions on meeting indoors in any setting, but not outdoors, with pubs remaining open for table service only.

Oldham will be removed from its enhanced lockdown measures and brought into line with GM – this means small changes in areas such as funeral numbers, transport, outside mixing.

Hopefully this will simplify the situation and make it clearer to follow and also enforce.

Even more important let’s hope it will combat the continuing spike in the virus and the increasing hospital admissions.

Shaw and Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillors Push GPs for Answers

Your local Liberal Democrat councillors have last week held urgent talks with local GPs after a growing number of residents complain about not being able to make an appointment with their GP at Royton.

The meeting was attended by Councillors Howard Sykes and Louie Hamblett on behalf of all six councillors for Shaw and Crompton.

Both had called the meeting in response to mounting concern in the community about access to GP appointments, urgent tests and medications.

Councillor Sykes said: “It is our duty to reflect the views of our residents back to public officials whether they be medical professionals or council officers.  It is quite unacceptable that local people should have to experience access issues to vital services and myself and my colleagues were determined to get to the bottom of what was happening.”

The meeting was attending by Doctors Mohammad, Ahmad, Vance and Kohli.

They explained how they had recently merged two GP Practices into a new one and that had created some unforeseen issues with telephone lines but that this had been exacerbated by the current COVID – 19 situation.

They confirmed that they had worked hard with IT experts over recent weeks to rectify the problems and were now more confident that the situation was getting back to normal but said they encourage people raise any issues they experience in the best way they can.

Dr Mohammad explained: “We also think it quite unacceptable for people not to be able to reach us and we have been working really hard to resolve a number of issues which I believe we are now seeing the end of and we were able to reassure of local elected officials as such.”

“It was a positive and forward-looking meeting,” stated Councillor Sykes.  “Hopefully things will get better soon and we look forward to work with the GPs at this practice in the future.”

Remembrance Sunday – 8 November 2020

Message from the Mayor of Oldham’s Office.

These plans are subject to change at any time, in line with changing government advice and regulations.

Traditionally, the Council arranges seven civic services for Remembrance Sunday across the Borough. Sadly, and due to these unprecedented times, the Council has had to review the arrangements for the above, in line with the COVID-19 restrictions. 

It has been agreed, in consultation with the local branches of Royal British Legion, that small gatherings of no more than six people on Remembrance Sunday at the following district areas:

  • Oldham
  • Lees
  • Royton
  • Chadderton
  • Crompton
  • Failsworth
  • St Chad’s Uppermill

The Mayor will be in attendance at Oldham’s Cenotaph and will be laying a wreath on behalf of the people of Oldham.  

Attendance at the services will be limited within government guidelines and will be by invitation only from the Royal British Legion.

Unfortunately, it has been necessary to cancel all other parades across the Borough.

There will however be the opportunity to lay wreaths during the day, and up to Armistice Day at Cenotaphs across the Borough, subject to compliance with social distancing. 

Marshals will be in place during busy periods to offer advice and guidance. Wreaths can be laid throughout the day rather that at 11am to reduce the risks associated with the normal gatherings that would take place in each area. 

Many of you will be understandably disappointed by the cancellation of the parades and services, but as a Council it is our duty first and foremost to protect the health of our people and to do so in line with relevant laws and government guidance. 

We have arranged for each individual civic services to be filmed live on the Council’s website www.oldham.gov.uk which will allow you to watch your local service.

Regarding Cenotaphs and Church Services that are not managed by the Council, you should contact your local Church to ascertain what can be arranged locally under the current COVID-19 restrictions, socially distanced church services are likely the safest option at the moment.

Any arrangements in these areas will not be managed by the Council and compliance with the COVID-19 regulations is essential when making any plans.

I trust the above clarifies Council plans for marking Remembrance Sunday this year.

Brunswick Street resurfacing works

A number of people have asked me and my colleagues about this matter, below is hopefully a note than explains the issues raised.

The road was patched earlier in the year. These patches were carried out to repair the road, and ensure its suitability for the new surface course that’s due to be laid next week.

When it comes to patching works, as it’s a much smaller operation that full resurfacing, advances notifications aren’t always possible, especially in the case of defect repair patching.

The patching was planned ahead of the new surfacing works, which will overlay the previous surface course and extend the life of the current carriageway significantly. The only excavation will be minimal in the channels to ensure that the new overlaid surface joins in with the existing kerb line.

Due to the number of schemes that have Schools directly on or outside resurfacing extents, we have to prioritise sites above others with regards to works carried out during school holidays.

As a result the Council were unable to programme this particular scheme within the school holidays due to lack of contractor availability.

The works will be on reduced hours of 0930 – 1500 to reduce the impact, we’re also helped in the fact that schools in this particular area are able to use Salts Street as a viable alternative for the small time the works are on site.

Our ongoing campaign for other roads and footways to be repaired carries on.