Oldham financial blackhole branded a “horror show” by Liberal Democrats.
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has described Oldham Council’s financial position as a “horror show” following reports of a predicted £25 million overspend facing the current Labour administration. The total budget gap is predicted to be in the region of £36 million.
Oldham Council is now asking staff to consider voluntary redundancy.
Councillor Sykes said, “The situation in Oldham is a complete horror show. To be in the position where our staff are being asked to consider voluntary redundancy should be a source of deep shame for this administration. This piecemeal approach will have a massive impact on services the public regard as important. Weeds, parks and green spaces are just three examples of things that have deteriorated recently and will only get worse.”
Oldham Council’s budget reserves have plummeted from roughly £110 million in 2020 to an estimated £41 million by 2025. A reduction of 62% in just four financial years.
Councillor Sykes said, “Failure to achieve in-year savings just makes the situation worse. The Liberal Democrats have continually warned against the current direction of travel and the over reliance on reserves.”
Commenting on efforts to lobby the new Labour government for support for councils, Sykes criticised Oldham Labour for refusing to stand up to their colleagues in government. “We’ve had years of Oldham Labour politicians demanding action from government, but now it’s the red team in Downing Street, they’ve changed their tune. The report for Cabinet next Monday 19 August clearly rules out action by the government. This is Labour covering for their friends in government and it is not something we should accept.”
Councillor Sykes said, “More councils have declared effective bankruptcy in the years since the pandemic than in the 20 years before it. So, we’re at the end of the road when it comes to local government finance and we need a complete reset. Fair funding means reversing the trend where governments cut more and more funding from councils and pass the burden onto residents through council tax.”
“We need a fair deal that reflects the responsibilities councils have and gives the funding for the job to be done. It’s Labour in government now and there is no ducking this. They need to get on with it.”
Earmarked Reserve balances 2020-2024 (from the council’s statement of accounts 2023/24)
85% of pensioners in Oldham Borough to lose out under Labour winter fuel cut
A staggering 85% of pensioners in Oldham are set to lose out after changes to winter fuel payments were announced by new Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves last week.
The Chancellor announced that less pensioners would be eligible for winter fuel payments going forward. An estimated 10 million pensioners are set to lose out nationally with 85% of pensioners in Oldham who previously received payments also set to be struck off according to Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) data analysed by the Liberal Democrats.
Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “The new Labour government are setting new thresholds for winter fuel support and this is coming while the cost-of-living crisis is still biting for many people across Oldham.”
“This is a move which will push many elderly people into poverty completely unnecessarily, especially if the energy price cap increases by 10% in October as expected.”
A breakdown of unclaimed benefits in Oldham compiled by Policy in Practice
Sykes slams Shaw tennis court shambles as Dunwood Park users left with no nets through Wimbledon fortnight and into August
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw representative Howard Sykes MBE has slammed Oldham Council after tennis court “shambles” at Dunwood Park in Shaw.
The parks’ tennis courts were earmarked for a revamp costing thousands of pounds this summer. But potential users have been left exasperated as the courts were left unusable throughout the summer with no nets and still are.
Councillor Sykes said, “The work on the courts was supposed to be finished in time for the summer months when the park is busiest. But here we are in August with no nets on the courts and other works not completed. During the Wimbledon fortnight more people go out for a game of tennis. But our local courts have been out of action. I have heard that as much as £19,000 was earmarked for the courts to be done up. But it’s been a shambles from start to finish. When can we expect the nets to come back and people be able to use the courts?”
The Liberal Democrat Leader’s criticism comes after the council confirmed the work was completed despite the nets not being in place and reports from local residents that the courts had simply been jet washed and left vacant.
Councillor Sykes said, “How is this supposed to be thousands of pounds worth of work?”
“Is Oldham Council inspecting the work that our contractors carry out or are we just taking their word for it? It is quite an embarrassing position to be in when you have the council telling residents the work is finished when anyone who has set foot in Dunwood Park can clearly see this is not the case.”
“This should be a good news story and from start to finish (whenever that might be), it has been poorly communicated and poorly delivered. Local residents have been let down, another failure to get the basics correct – it is a great shame.”
Councillor Sykes overlooking the tennis courts at Dunwood Park 8 August
Copy of email 7 August from Council
Dear Councillor Sykes,
As requested, please find below an update on the refurbishment and the new booking system for our tennis courts.
Subject: Refurbishment and New Booking System for Tennis Courts
We are pleased to announce the completion of major refurbishments of our tennis courts, thanks to the generous funding from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). The refurbished courts are located at:
Alexandra Park
Chadderton Hall Park
Dunwood Park
High Crompton Park
Lower Memorial Park
Werneth Park
This refurbishment is part of a nationwide initiative carried out by LTA-approved contractors. Despite facing delays due to weather conditions and other unforeseen challenges, the work has been successfully completed, with just some line marking to complete at Dunwood Park in the next couple of weeks.
We are now collaborating with Cabinet members to finalise the process for implementing a new booking system, which we aim to launch by September/October this year.
New Booking System
To ensure the ongoing maintenance of these improvements and support tennis coaching programs, we will be introducing a chargeable booking system. However, there will be designated periods and systems in place to ensure free access for those who will benefit the most.
All funds raised through this booking system will be reinvested into the maintenance of the courts and further development of tennis coaching initiatives. These initiatives will support school tennis programs, the introduction of a disability program, and other LTA schemes such as Local Tennis Leagues, Free Tennis, and Cardio Tennis.
We appreciate the community’s patience and support during this refurbishment period and look forward to seeing everyone enjoy the improved facilities.
Following on from our last conversation, there will be no charges at Dunwood and High Crompton parks. This is a joint scheme with our Environmental Services and colleagues in the Sport, Leisure, and Wellbeing Service.
Nearly 1.4 million elderly individuals across Great Britain, including over 126,800 residing in Scotland, are currently benefiting from the means-tested benefit that could offer an average of £3,900 in support for the upcoming year. Despite this, recent data from the DWP indicates that there are still 880,000 eligible pensioners who are not claiming the benefit they are entitled to.
There’s a common misconception among some elderly people that having savings or owning their home makes them ineligible for the means-tested benefit. This benefit can also provide assistance with housing costs, heating bills and Council Tax.
Even an award as small as £1 per week can unlock additional support.
Pension Credit supplements weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £218.15 a week for single pensioners or £332.95 for couples. It is a tax-free payment.
The quickest way to check eligibility for Pension Credit
Elderly individuals, or their friends and family, can swiftly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK.
Alternatively, pensioners can reach out to the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Below is a summary of the benefit including who should check eligibility, how to go about it and how much you could potentially receive.
Pension Credit breakdown
Pension Credit is a benefit that provides additional funds to help with living expenses for those over the State Pension age and on a low income. It also opens up access to a variety of other benefits.
The benefit boosts income to a minimum of £218.15 per week for single pensioners and £332.95 for couples – more if an individual has a disability or caring responsibilities.
Additional assistance if you receive Pension Credit
If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:
Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
Council Tax discount
Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over
Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments
Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme and Winter Fuel Payment
A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house
Mixed-aged older couples and Pension Credit
In May 2019, legislation was altered so that a ‘mixed age couple’ – a pair where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is not – are deemed to be a ‘working age’ couple when assessing entitlement to means-tested benefits.
This implies they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until both partners reach State Pension age. Prior to this DWP alteration, a mixed-age couple could have been eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age.
How to use the Pension Credit calculator
To use the calculator on GOV.UK, you will need details of:
earnings, benefits and pensions
savings and investments
You’ll need the same details for your partner if you have one. You will be presented with a series of questions with multiple-choice answer options.
This includes:
Your date of birth
Your residential status
Where in the UK you live
Whether you are registered blind
Which benefits you currently receive
How much you receive each week for any benefits you get
Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you
How much you get each week from pensions – State Pension, private and work pensions
Any employment earnings
Any savings, investments or bonds you have
After answering the required questions, a summary screen will display your responses, giving you the opportunity to review and amend any answers before final submission. The Pension Credit calculator will then reveal the potential weekly benefit you could be entitled to.
Following this, simply click on the link that directs you to the application page to discover exactly what you could receive from the DWP, including access to other financial support.
For convenience, there’s an option to print off your responses from the calculator tool. This can assist in speeding up the application process as you won’t need to recall the same details again.
The Pension Credit calculator cannot be used if you or your partner:
are deferring your State Pension.
own more than one property.
are self-employed.
have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit.
How to make a claim
To make a claim, you can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. Claims can be made any time after reaching State Pension age but can only be backdated for three months.
This means you could receive up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that period.
You will need your National Insurance number to proceed with the application.
Details about your income, savings and investments, as well as your bank account details if you’re applying by phone or post, are required. If you’re backdating your claim, you’ll need to provide information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.
You can apply online if you have already claimed your State Pension and there are no children or young people included in your claim. To verify your entitlement, ring the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or utilise the GOV.
To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.
Network Rail will be closing the M62 in both directions, between Junctions 19 and 20, for two weekends in September 2024:
From 9pm, Friday 6 September – 6am, Monday 9 September
From 9pm, Friday 20 September – 6am, Monday 23 September
The closures are being implemented to facilitate the replacement of a rail bridge over the motorway. There will also be various night closures of the motorway throughout September as part of the same project.
Although the official diversion routes for motorway traffic won’t use Oldham’s highway network, the council are aware from previous motorway closures that, when 100,000+ vehicles a day are diverted off the motorway network, not all will follow the signed diversion routes.
With this in mind, road works on Oldham’s key route network and other strategic routes have been stopped for the whole of September. TfGM will also monitors traffic queues 24 hours a day during the closures to ensure that traffic signals are optimised to minimise queues and impact on the network.
A Government social media graphic promoting the use of redirected HS2 funding to repair roads in London (2023)
HS2 cash must be spent fixing roads in Greater Manchester say Oldham Liberal Democrats
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and party spokesperson for Greater Manchester transport councillor Howard Sykes MBE has urged the Labour government to protect cash from the scrapped HS2 rail project so that it can be spent fixing roads and infrastructure across Oldham and Greater Manchester.
Councillor Sykes said, “When the last Conservative government pulled the plug on HS2, they immediately took the cash that was meant to improve travel in the north of England and they started spending it in the south. The new Labour government must not allow this to continue.”
“Across Oldham and Greater Manchester our roads are worse than ever. The government must ring-fence some of the funding that was due to be spent on HS2 and make sure it is put to use making improvements in Greater Manchester.”
“If we are not getting a new high-speed railway, it’s only fair that the money is used on our wider transport infrastructure.”
The Northern leg of HS2, the long-awaited high-speed rail link, was scrapped last year as one of the final acts of the Conservative government. Then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was heavily criticised for using his party conference to axe the scheme and direct the funding around the country including London and the south east.
Councillor Sykes urged the new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to use his upcoming conference in Liverpool to ensure the north of England gets a fair deal.
Councillor Sykes said, “It was a complete travesty that money that was meant to improve transport in and around Greater Manchester was taken away and spent improving roads in London. The new government now has the opportunity to put this right. Will the new Prime Minister show that he will not take Oldham and Greater Manchester for granted?”
