Liberal Democrats say road policing ‘not optional’

Traffic cops often feature in our television shows, but the harsh reality is that the traffic officers forming the thin blue line are too few and grossly underfunded, and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council wants to do something about that.

Liberal Democrat Councillors are taking a motion to the next meeting of Oldham Council (9 September) calling for a restoration of funding for traffic policing to help prevent road deaths and for traffic policing to be made a priority in Greater Manchester.

Figures published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy show a 34% cut in funding in real terms for road policing between 2012/3 and 2019/20 meaning less officers available to keep our streets safe.

The Deputy Group Leader, Councillor Chris Gloster is proposing the motion. Chris, a Shaw Councillor, is a former Greater Manchester Police Inspector with 30 years’ front-line experience, patrolling Oldham’s streets.

“A damning report published in July by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary showed that the investment in roads policing is totally inadequate.  Due to years of chronic under-funding, traffic cops are left over-stretched, under-resourced and treated like a Cinderella service, though what they do is so vital,” stated Councillor Gloster.

“Road policing has had its budget cut by far more than any other Police department, and this has meant more lives have been needlessly lost and more people needlessly injured in road accidents.  In just three years, between 2015 and 2018, the Conservative Government cut funding by a quarter.  Not only did this mean less officers were available to police our streets, but it also led to an increase by a quarter in the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.  The lesson here is clear; investment in road policing saves lives,” he added.

Councillor Gloster is clear that under funding has led to less enforcement against drivers committing serious traffic offences which contribute to road accidents.

“The rise in road deaths and serious injuries is linked to a sharp decline in impairment testing.  Drivers now get behind a wheel under the influence of drugs or drink, and we need to do more testing to tackle this.”  Said Councillor Gloster. 

“The Inspectorate report also showed that Police enforcement involving the reckless use of mobile phones by drivers and driving without a seat beat have slumped by as much as 75% since 2011. When certain drivers think they can get away with irresponsible and criminal behaviour, they will.  To prevent this, enforcement is key and to have enough traffic officers to do this you need to invest in them.”.

The motion is being seconded by his colleague for Saddleworth North, Councillor Garth Harkness.

Garth and his Liberal Democrat colleagues have previously proposed that Oldham Council adopt several major initiatives to improve road safety across the borough, including:

  • introducing a default speed limit of 20mph on minor residential roads
  • calling for more funding for speed cameras at danger spots
  • introducing gating schemes to keep our children safe when they are dropped off or picked up by their parents from school
  • establishing more Speed-watch and Lorry Watch schemes to enable concerned citizens to support the Police in reporting traffic violations
  • seeking more Police enforcement on pavement parking, and
  • further investment in vehicle activated road signage to curb speeding.

Garth is passionate about road safety: “I was proud to propose several of these initiatives on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group, but, unfortunately, the Labour Administration has chosen not taken any of these ideas forward in any meaningful way.  I hope on this occasion they will at least back this motion as it is so important that we get more traffic police on our streets to help keep everyone safe, especially our children and elderly.”

In addition to calling for a restoration of Government funding and a Council response to the recent consultation, Councillors Gloster and Harkness want the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel to prioritise traffic policing in the local policing plan. 

Councillor Chris Gloster ends:  “The recent Inspectorate report clearly indicated that insufficient training and support was given by many Police Services to their traffic officers.  This is not just about money, it is also about valuing traffic officers and giving them ‘the tools’ they need to do the job.  I hope the Police and Crime Panel will feel able to give traffic policing in Greater Manchester the priority it deserves.  We all have the right to feel safe on our streets”.

The motion to Oldham Council on 9 September reads:

Roads Policing ‘Not Optional’

Council notes that:

  • In the last ten years, there has been no significant decline in the number of people killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads, after decades of reducing casualties.
  • According to Department of Transport figures, there are still on average 5 fatalities and 68 serious injuries in England and Wales every day.
  • In early July, the Department of Transport published a public consultation document supporting a Roads Policing Review. The closing date for submissions is October 5th.
  • In the preamble to that document, the Under Secretary of State for Transport said the review sought to ‘build the fairest and most operationally effective enforcement capability in police and other agencies to deliver the best outcome for the safety of all road users.’
  • In the same month, the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary published a damning report which predicted an increase in road deaths because:
  • According to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, there has been a 34% cut in funding in real terms for road policing between 2012/3 and 2019/20 leading to a reduction of police officers available for these duties.
  • These officers receive insufficient training and operational support.
  • Road policing is ‘seen as less of a priority than it should be’ in most local plans and there is an ‘unclear national strategy.’
  • The HM Inspectorate called for urgent action as ‘roads policing is not optional.’

Council resolves to:

  • Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Transport, making clear this Council’s position that funding in real terms for road policing should be restored; that the HM Inspectorate’s recommendations be implemented in full as a priority; and that a new national strategy for road policing and safety should be developed.
  • Ask the Chief Executive to send copies of this letter to the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner, the Police and Crime Panel and our three local Members of Parliament to seek their support for the Council’s position.
  • Ask the Council’s representative on the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel to request the Panel revisit the local policing plan to ensure that roads policing is sufficiently prioritised.
  • Ask the Chief Executive, in conjunction with the appropriate Council officers and the relevant Cabinet Member, to make a submission to the Roads Policing Review consultation on behalf of the Council taking this resolution into account.

Proposed by: Councillor Chris Gloster

Seconded by: Councillor Garth Harkness

Statement from Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council about Rod Blyth

The statement is issued following recent comments on social media and follows the original one made in December 2017.

On the 7th September 2017, Rod Blyth was suspended from the Liberal Democrat Group of Oldham Council following information that he had been arrested.  The suspension was immediate and continued whilst GM Police conducted their investigation.

The Liberal Democrat Group has never been informed by GM Police of the nature or details of the allegations involving Mr Blyth and this has remained the situation to date.

The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council was informed that Mr Blyth had resigned for personal reasons with immediate effect on AM Saturday 9th December 2017.  Mr Blyth also resigned from the Liberal Democrats on the same date.

We are aware that Rod Blyth has been convicted of offences relating to indecent images.  At that time, he was a private citizen.  He was no longer a councillor nor a member of the Liberal Democrats.

Note – copy of previous statement from 11 December 2017 below

Date: 11 December 2017

Statement from Cllr Chris Gloster, Chairman of Oldham Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council

The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council have been made aware that Cllr Rod Blyth has resigned from his position as a Borough Councillor for the Shaw Ward on Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council for personal reasons with immediate effect on Saturday 9 December 2017.

The Group have also been made aware that Cllr Blyth is subject to an ongoing police investigation. 

The Liberal Democrats are unaware of the details of that investigation.  The Liberal Democrat Council Group as a consequence of that information did immediately suspend (as a neutral act) Cllr Blyth from the Liberal Democrats, as per our rules about such matters.

There will be no by–election as it is less than six months to when this seat (3 May 18) would be up for election.  Until that time the other Liberal Democrat Borough Councillors for Shaw and Crompton will cover all duties such as ward surgeries and casework so local residents are not disadvantaged.

No further comment will be made at this time whilst the matter is subject of a police investigation.

‘The times they are a changing’: Liberal Democrat Leader calls for halt to Labour’s Green Belt homes plan

“New Conservative planning proposals will now make Labour’s old plans to build thousands of homes on Oldham’s Green Belt redundant”, says Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE.  “It is time to stop and take stock”.

Earlier this month, the Conservative Government published a consultation document on their proposals to bring in new legislation, called ‘Planning for the Future’, that will radically alter how new homes and businesses are developed in the future.  Each local authority will be required to develop its own new Local Plan within thirty months of the legislation being passed, based on new ‘zones’.

Councillor Sykes commented:  “This legislation will ultimately be passed, and it will make Labour’s current plans redundant and unfit for purpose immediately they are adopted”.  He has written to the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive and the Deputy Chief Executive urging them to rethink their proposals for Oldham given this new reality.

Councillor Sykes added: “Rather than spending yet more Council Tax payers’ money on officer time and commissioning specialist reports, it would be better to look at creating a new Local Plan that will meet the requirements of this legislation and that saves our Green Belt by focusing solely on Brownfield development.”

“We are likely to have a lot of empty space in our town centre (and district centres) given the impact of Covid-19 on shopping habits.  This is exactly the approach the Liberal Democrats urged in our motion to Council in March 2017.”

Liberal Democrat Leadership Team, Group Officers and Shadow Cabinet announced for 2020/21 – Covid 19 up date 25 August 2020

Considering the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic the Liberal Democrats on Oldham Council have had a minor reshuffle.

Group Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE takes on the Covid 19 portfolio and Councillor Diane Williamson takes over the HR and Corporate Reform portfolio.

This reflects what has been happening in practice for some time and is effective from 1 September 2020 (00:01).

Details of positions

Shadow Cabinet Members:
Name of CouncillorPortfolio
Howard Sykes MBEEconomy and Skills (Opposition Leader) Covid 19 Recovery – added HR & Corporate Reform – deleted
 
Garth HarknessEducation
 
Hazel GlosterChildren and Young People
 
Louie HamblettHealth and Social Care
 
Dave MurphyNeighbourhoods and Culture 
 
Diane WilliamsonHR & Corporate Reform – added Covid 19 Recovery – deleted
 
Sam Al-HamdaniHousing & Homelessness
 
Chris GlosterFinance and Low Carbon (Opposition Deputy Leader)
Group Officers:
Name of CouncillorRole
Councillor Howard Sykes MBEGroup Leader
  
Councillor Chris GlosterDeputy Group Leader
  
Councillor Dave MurphyGroup Chair
  
Councillor Diane WilliamsonGroup Secretary
  
Councillor Hazel GlosterGroup Treasurer
  
Councillor Garth HarknessGroup Political Secretary
 Official Spokespersons / Lead Members on Boards and Committees:
Name of CouncillorBoard / Committee
Chris GlosterAudit Committee
Garth HarknessPerformance and Value for Money Committee
Diane WilliamsonOverview and Scrutiny Board
Hazel GlosterPlanning Committee
Chris GlosterLicensing Committee
Diane WilliamsonStandards Committee
Dave MurphyPetitions and Traffic Regulation Orders
 District Leads: 
Name of CouncillorDistrict
Diane WilliamsonLead, Shaw and Crompton
Sam Al-HamdaniOfficial Spokesperson, Saddleworth and Lees

Two storey permitted development a nightmare for neighbours

“Your neighbour can build a two-story extension and there is nothing you can do about it,” claims Councillor Howard Sykes MBE.

Housing Minister Robert Jenrick has announced that, from 31 August, householders will be able to build a two-storey extension to their property with the normal planning rules ceasing to apply, and the Oldham Liberal Democrats are far from happy about the change.

Under the new permitted development rules, Liberal Democrat Councillors are concerned that there will be few checks and balances on what goes up, and that poorly planned and executed developments, which ride roughshod over local objections, could be an eyesore and cause neighbourhood tensions.

Commenting the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said:  “There has always been an opportunity for homeowners to extend their property, but only if planning considerations are met and neighbours are consulted.  Now with this change, these planning safeguards will be thrown in the bin.”

“Nonetheless, I would urge those householders wishing to exercise their right to build to be responsible, to talk to their neighbours about their plans, and to pick materials and designs in keeping with the neighbourhood.  I am sure most will .  However, I am also that sure some selfish property owners will build extensions which will block out the light, and affect the amenity, of neighbouring properties, and cause resentment between neighbours that could fester for years and end up in the courts.”

“We already have problems with absentee landlords neglecting their properties and letting them fall into wrack and ruin whilst still reaping extortionate rents from the tenant.   This change may well encourage these same landlords to seek to cash in by throwing-up something on the cheap in order to cram more tenants into a bigger property for which they can charge yet more rent.”

Councillor Sykes is convinced that only a renewed national house building programme can provide the best solution for Britain’s housing shortage:  “This is another example of this out-of-touch Conservative Government adopting a quick-fix, hare-brained policy thinking this will solve Britain’s housing crisis.  It won’t.  What we most need are at least 100,000 new homes across the UK every year, particularly homes which are affordable to buy or rent.”