Crompton War Memorial and Gardens

Following very strong representations for your Liberal Democrat Councillors we have now been assured the Memorial Gardens grass will be cut as a minimum every two weeks and this should ensure that a higher standard is achieved.

We have also been informed the flagged areas are treated on a regular basis and therefore they should not pose a problem (being slippy).  We are not convinced about this and continue to pursue it.

Also as people may have noticed we have asked that the memorial wreaths from November be removed in line with the clear wishes of the many residents who have contacted us about this matter.

Planning Application 339852/17– ASDA, Shaw – Petrol Station

A number of you have been in touch regarding the above.

This is the latest situation as I understand it.

Dear Councillor Sykes,

 I can confirm that this application will not be on the July agenda.  We have secured an extension of time with the applicant to see if the highway engineers concerns can be addressed. 

 I will endeavour to inform you if and when the application will be on the planning committee agenda.

 Kind regards

 Martyn Leigh, Development Management Team Leader, Oldham Council

At the moment I cannot confirm which Planning Committee this application will be on, however, as soon as I have any further information I shall let people know.

I would urge people who have views on this application to formally do so online at the following address

https://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200199/planning_and_building

Alternatively, if you wish to write a letter to put forward your views, please send your letter to the following address:

Planning Department, Civic Centre, PO Box 30, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1UQ.

You can also express your comments over the telephone (not recommended) to the Planning Department or via email at planning@oldham.gov.uk

Former Cricketers PH to provide much needed homes

This has be the site of anti-social behaviour and a blot on the landscape since it closed.

I have written to the previous owners and also the current ones urging them to develop the site for much needed local housing.

I am now very pleased to report it is being demolished which should take about three weeks.

Clements Court Properties are the owners and have moved very quickly with the site and met me at it only the other day.

They are keen to work with local councillors and the community and it is a refreshing change compared to the usual, which is the first you get to know is when they submit a planning application.

They are building 8 much needed 3 bedroom houses and two apartments on the site which are 2 bedroom.

Essential Car User Payments to low-mileage Council staff ‘Financial Madness’ says Liberal Democrat Leader

Oldham claims to be a cash-strapped Council, but still pays £62,000 a year to staff using their car to travel less than two miles per week on Council business.

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, is dismayed by this waste of public money at a time when public services are being squeezed.

Figures uncovered by the Oldham Council Liberal Democrat Group reveal that in the 2016 – 17 financial year 124 staff designated ‘Essential’ car users made a claim for business travel of 100 miles or less.

Such ‘Essential’ users automatically qualify for a £500 lump-sum simply for having a vehicle for business and can also claim a 45 pence per mile allowance and receive a 100% subsidy for parking charges when parking in the town centre.

Commenting Councillor Sykes said: “An ‘essential car user’ working at Civic Centre and travelling just one hundred miles a year on business would receive £545 and free parking; this adds up to quite a tidy sum towards the cost of running a car for not a lot of inconvenience.”

“Surely this is financial madness as these officers are travelling so few miles on business that it would probably be cheaper to send them in taxis.”

Councillor Sykes has written to the Chief Executive Dr Carolyn Wilkins OBE, Borough Treasurer Anne Ryans, and Deputy Council Leader Cllr Abdul Jabbar MBE to request this Council reviews the whole scheme.  He has suggested that a simple mileage allowance be paid for those travelling under a certain number of business miles and that the £500 lump sum be phased in beyond this point.

At Councillor Sykes also suggests: “At a time when the Council must look at save every penny, we should also take another look at a car pooling scheme for those staff with such low-mileage on business travel.”

Copy of email send below:

From: Howard Sykes
Sent: 02 August 2017 07:08
To: Cllr A Jabbar
Cc: Anne Ryans; Carolyn Wilkins; (A) Kay Gibson (kay.gibson@oldham.gov.uk)
Subject: Oldham Council essential car users

Dear Councillor Jabbar,

I am writing to you with a money saving proposal, which, in these times of financial challenge for local authorities, I am hoping the Council will chose to consider.

Oldham Council pays a lump sum of £500 per annum to essential car users regardless of the mileage travelled on Council business.

In 2016 – 17, one hundred and twenty four staff, who were deemed to be essential car users, made a claim for business travel of 100 miles or less.

We are paying them £62,000 a year for using their car to travel less than two miles per week on Council business.

Such staff can also claim 45 pence per mile allowance and receive a 100% subsidy for parking charges when parking in the town centre.

At a time when public services are being squeezed, this is an area we must look at. An ‘essential car user’ working at Civic Centre and travelling just one hundred miles a year on business would receive £950 and free parking; this adds up to quite a tidy sum towards the cost of running a car for not a lot of inconvenience.  It would clearly be cheaper to send them in taxis.

I accept with a few this would not be an acceptable or appropriate alternative.

I request we take a look at this whole scheme again.  There should be in my view a simple mileage allowance for those travelling under a certain number of business miles and the £500 lump sum should be phased in beyond this point.  And at a time when we are looking to save every penny, I would suggest we should take another look at a car pooling scheme for those staff that need to do such low-mileage on business travel.

I shall look forward to receiving your reply.

Best wishes.

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE