Labour’s latest draft of controversial ‘Places for Everyone’ development plan slammed by Liberal Democrats

The controversial Greater Manchester-wide housing strategy, Places for Everyone, has gone out to public consultation after a new round of modifications to the plan were drafted earlier this year. 

The scheme, which has been overseen by Greater Manchester’s Labour Mayor Andy Burnham, has drawn heavy criticism from councillors and the public over its heavy use of Green Belt land. 

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes said, “The view of Oldham residents has been loud and clear since this plan was first put forward.  Building luxury housing on Green Belt land is not going to solve the housing crisis.”

Councillor Sykes blasted the latest proposals which he argued would “sell out communities in Oldham” and challenged Oldham Council’s ruling Labour Group to follow the example of Liberal Democrat controlled Stockport and withdraw from the scheme altogether. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The latest modifications the public now have the chance to consult on make for astounding reading.  All kinds of protections have been removed or watered down including on investment in our roads, public transport,  contributions to new local services and even flooding protections.”

“I strongly encourage residents across Oldham to make their voices heard in this consultation.” 

The public consultation on Places for Everyone runs from Wednesday 11^th October until Wednesday 6^th December.  After the consultation ends, elected councillors in Oldham will be asked to vote on whether or not Oldham will adopt the Places for Everyone proposals. 

Members of the public can share their views on the proposals by contacting: placesforeveryone@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk   

Places for Everyone proposed modifications in full
Modifications – Greater Manchester Combined Authority (greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk)

Example proposed modification from the Beal Valley site near Shaw, showing previous commitments on school places and health facilities which are highlighted for removal

Oldham Liberal Democrats back calls for private renting emergency

Liberal Democrat councillors in Oldham have joined leading Greater Manchester housing charities in declaring a “private rent emergency” across the region. 

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw representative councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “The cost of renting in Oldham is rising at an unsustainable rate.  In September last year the average rented property in Oldham cost £670 per month.  This year the average price is £834 per month.  And in some parts of our Borough, rents are climbing far higher.”  

Greater Manchester has some of the highest homelessness figures in the UK.  Leading housing charities Shelter, Stepping Stone Projects, Mustard Tree and The Booth Centre have launched the new ‘Greater Manchester Private Rent Emergency’ campaign – arguing that spiralling rents and the cost-of-living crisis are pushing more and more people into poverty. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Wages are not keeping up with the rising cost of renting and this is already having devastating consequences for families in Oldham.  Urgent changes in the law are needed to give private renters more protections from runaway rents and poor-quality housing.”

NOTES

Mustard Tree statement on launch of new campaign
Mustard Tree | “Greater Manchester Private Rent Emergency” declared by leading charities – Mustard Tree

Information on the cost of renting in Oldham (2023)

Home.co.uk: Oldham Market Rent Summary

Information on the cost of renting in Oldham (2022)
Oldham Rental Market | Stats & Graphs (varbes.com)

Renewed calls for scrutiny of Northern Care Alliance as only 48% of cancer patients seen within two months

Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrat Group have once again renewed their calls for greater scrutiny of the Northern Care Alliance (NCA), which runs NHS services in the borough after latest NHS figures reveal that only 48% of cancer patients in Oldham are being seen for urgent treatment within two months.  The national target is 85%. 

Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care councillor Louie Hamblett said, “It has been clear for some time now, that the government has abandoned the NHS.  Our local services are struggling.  In the absence of proper leadership from the government, local councillors need work with healthcare leaders to get the best possible outcomes for Oldham residents during what is going to be a very difficult winter.” 

Councillor Hamblett has written to representatives from Northern Care Alliance, renewing calls for a joint scrutiny board in partnership with Oldham Council.

Councillor Hamblett said, “Oldham Council cannot afford to be spectators on the side lines while local health services are failing.”

“Councillors have a responsibility to work with local NHS services and to ask the tough questions.  The Council’s leadership must now join the Liberal Democrats in calling for a proper scrutiny body for the Northern Care Alliance, because without one, people across Oldham will not have a voice when it comes to their health service.”        

RE: Joint scrutiny board for Oldham and Northern Care Alliance

Dear Dr Craig and Heather Caudle

Following discussion at the special meeting of Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Board, I am writing to reaffirm the support of Liberal Democrat Group for the creation of a joint scrutiny board in partnership between Oldham Council and Northern Care Alliance. 

Oldham Liberal Democrats strongly believe that – given the enormous pressures facing our local services and in the context of the significant reorganisation that the NHS is facing in Greater Manchester – now is the time for councillors and healthcare professionals to work together in the public interest. 

A formal scrutiny board would give structure and accountability to that shared ambition and remains the strongest option available to us in the effort to drive sustained improvements and advocate for resources and investment needed in Oldham. 

I hope that the Leadership of Northern Care Alliance will agree, and that work can begin without delay. 

Best wishes,

Councillor Louie Hamblett Crompton Liberal Democrat

Real Opposition Member for Health and Social Care

Concerns have been raised over the fact multiple HMOs without up-to-date licences are registered in Oldham.

However, Lib Dem Cllr Sam Al-Hamdani has raised concerns after he questioned the council over a number of HMOs which appear to have expired licences on the public register.

“Residents of HMOs and near HMOs need to know that they are being run properly. The Council has failed to respond when it has been drawn to their attention that a number of properties show as having expired licences, and that is not good enough.

“If the Council fails to ensure that HMOs are up to standard, they are letting down many vulnerable people who live in them, and potentially the residents who live nearby too. It should be straightforward to answer all the questions that I raised, and I am extremely concerned that three weeks after I was promised a response, I have heard nothing.

“I lived in a shared house when I was a student and when I was first working, as do many people. HMOs are often looked down on, but if they are well run they are an important way to make more housing available. Sadly the rules around licensing exclude too many properties from the requirements, and need to be overhauled. We should be pressing for more HMOs to be licenced, instead of which the Council seems to be failing to enforce the licencing rules we have.”

Liberal Democrats call for two-month cancer guarantee as over 1,000 people in Oldham wait more than 62 days for treatment

The Liberal Democrats have called for a new legal right for cancer patients to start treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral, as part of a plan to boost survival rates and improve treatment for those affected by the disease.

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Everyone knows someone whose life has been turned upside down by cancer.  Too many people are still waiting, far too long for a diagnosis, or to start treatment after being diagnosed. We must do right by them and get them the care they need when they need it.”

The latest NHS figures show that, in the last year under Northern Care Alliance Trust (NCA) which covers Oldham, 1,049 cancer patients waited more than 62 days to start treatment after being referred.  Only 48% of NCA patients were treated within two months, below the government target of 85%.

Councillor Sykes said, “Every time a patient has to wait for treatment it is agonising, not just for them but for loved ones as well.  This is the reality for more than half of cancer patients across Oldham right now and it just isn’t good enough.”  

“The Liberal Democrat plan includes new radiotherapy machines, cutting the time for new medicines to reach patients, a new cancer research law, and better support for cancer patients and their families.  We would give cancer patients a new legal right to treatment within two months of an urgent referral, to make sure they get the care they deserve.”

“This forms part of our ambitious plan to end unacceptable cancer delays and boost survival rates.”

NOTES

NHS statistics on cancer waiting times are available here. 
More from councillor Sykes on cancer waiting times More than 900 people in served by the Northern Care Alliance (which includes Oldham) left waiting more than two months to start cancer treatment – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Changes to popular service before move to a new home

There will be temporary changes to our Local Studies and Archives Service this winter, as the service prepares to move to its new home in the redeveloped Spindles centre.

The current base at 84 Union Street will close to the public on 30 November 2023. A new temporary home for the service will then open in March 2024 within Oldham Library, prior to the move to Spindles when the new permanent archives centre is created in 2025.

Moving to a new site is a huge task and the council will have to reduce some of its archive services until this work is done.

Users of all Oldham libraries will still be able to enjoy free access to family history websites, including Ancestry and FindMyPast, as well as to census information from 1841 to 1921 online on our public computers.

From March 2024 the council will be able to offer the popular Local Studies service in the main library, with access to newspapers on microfilm and a fantastic range of local history publications.

For more information click here