Children in Oldham get £63.90 spent on them, compared to £165.20 in the Isle of Wight.

Shadow Health and Social Care Cabinet Member Louie Hamblett has condemned the postcode lottery which means that children in Oldham get almost two thirds less spent on their mental health than children on the Isle of Wight.

The Liberal Democrats are putting a Private Members’ Bill forward to Parliament today to force the Government to report strict figures on waiting times for assessment, treatment and referrals, as well as a breakdown of where money is being spent on children’s mental health.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Hamblett said: “Any parent wants to ensure that their children get the best treatment, and a fair turn. That children in Oldham get so much less spent on their mental health than in some other parts of the country means that parents do not get that.

“That’s even before we look at the fact that poor mental health often goes hand in hand with other issues that threaten to stop children reaching their potential. We must give children the opportunity to be the best that they can be – and equal funding for their mental health is an absolute basic that the Government is not delivering.”

The Private Members’ Bill is being brought forward by education spokesperson Munira Wilson, who said: “The legacy of this pandemic cannot be a severe mental health crisis that goes unchecked across vast swathes of this country. The Government must not allow this postcode lottery to continue.

“My Bill would ensure that parents can find out exactly how much is being spent on children’s mental health in their area. Ministers will not be able to hide from their underfunding and short-changing of communities that need this vital support.

“No parent should be stuck in the awful position of being unable to access mental health services for their child. It’s high time we lend them a helping hand.”

Notes

1. Figures from Children’s Commissioner on £ Spent per Child and Waiting Times
2. Table of children’s mental health spending per CCG
3. Munira Wilson’s ‘Mental Health Provision (Children and Young People)’ Bill
4. The Bill follows Ed Davey’s keynote speech at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference on Sunday that called for:

• Expansion of access to children’s mental health services
• New maximum waiting time standards 
• A dedicated, qualified mental health professional in every school

Free Coronavirus testing comes to an end nationally on Thursday 31 March.

For Oldham, this means our local testing sites will be stood down, and home testing kit collection points in libraries and pharmacies will also come to an end.

Before 31 March, people can still order home testing kits through the national website here. 

After this date, there will be a number of commercial routes to purchase home test kits, including some pharmacies.

Anyone can ask to vote by post.

If you don’t want to vote in person, or cannot due other commitments (work/ill/away etc.) at the elections on Thursday 5 May, 2022, for any reason, then you can apply for a postal vote by writing to:

Elections Office, Oldham Council, West Street, Oldham OL1 1UL. Or calling: 0161 770 1880 / 4153. Or emailing: elections@oldham.gov.uk

Completed applications need to be returned NO LATER than 5pm on Tuesday 19 April.

Over 1,000 signatures have been collected in Oldham and Stockport to support the Liberal Democrat campaign to allow speed safety measures to be more readily introduced in accident hotspots across Greater Manchester.

The petition, which will be presented to Safer Roads Greater Manchester and the Department of Transport this month, calls for guidance to be amended so that there is no longer a requirement for three separate incidents resulting in death or serious injury before a fixed speed camera can be installed.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “Everyone knows where the local safety hotspots are near them – that’s why nearly 300 people in my ward have signed a petition to get safety improvements on Cooper Street, where cars have been recorded travelling at over 70mph in a 30mph zone outside two schools.

“I am delighted that Oldham Council has supported our motion to get these rules improved, although disappointed that once more the Labour party has rejected 20s plenty – a proven, effective safety measure that the Government has already agreed should be introduced.”

The motion to Council, which called for the guidance for speed cameras to be changed, and to reinforce the need for TfGM to replace any non-working cameras across the area, despite opposition from the Conservative Councillors.

Councillor Al-Hamdani added: “I am somewhat at a loss to understand why the Conservative group opposed having the option to introduce safety measures where there is evidence and community support for them, and for getting existing speed cameras working. Nevertheless, I am glad that we were able to echo the views of those 1,000+ signatories, and that the Council will be writing to Safer Road Greater Manchester to endorse these safety improvements.”

The petition is still open for signatures at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/speed-cameras/

This week sees the issue of annual Council Tax bills and should include leaflets informing residents about the £150 Council Tax energy rebate they may be entitled to from 1 April.

Only households in Council Tax bands A to D are eligible for the one-off payment. The council is encouraging eligible households to set up their Council Tax payments by Direct Debit if they haven’t already done so, as it will enable them to issue the rebate more quickly.

Eligible households who don’t have a Direct Debit for their Council Tax will still receive their rebate, but it may take longer to receive payment.  More information is available here.

Low income households who are not eligible for the £150 payment may yet receive some support, as part of the Government’s £144m of discretionary funding which has been shared nationally. Details of this have still yet to be agreed.

Residents who are struggling with their finances can check if they are eligible for a Council Tax reduction, along with other support, by visiting www.oldham.gov.uk/wecanhelp

Question 1 – Our long, long overdue CSE Report

Madam Mayor,

My first question to the Leader tonight is on an issue that many people need much re-assurance on.  That is that the report into CSE will be delayed yet again! 

This is after previous delays in January this year and November 2021.

I agree that it is extremely important to ensure that anyone who is bringing forward evidence must be given the opportunity, and I am glad that the people in question now feel confident to bring forward their evidence. 

However, it is vital that for public support in this process to be maintained, there must be a transparent process for the continued investigation taking place.

Even more important there must be clear support for the people who have already given their evidence and who have expected this report to be issued three times already. 

Could the Leader of the Council please confirm? 

What additional support is being given to those members of the public who have courageously stepped forward to give evidence, while this process is delayed again?

Whether the oversight board for the investigation has agreed with the extension of the investigation in this way?  If so, why have they not issued a statement to help re-assure the public.

Also are there any strands of the investigation which are unaffected by the additional interviews, and whether the report could be released in stages, or as an interim report which would allow some of the survivors affected a degree of closure on this stage of their traumatic experiences?

In addition to the promised public meeting is now not the time that a special Council meeting also considers the report and that a special dedicated scrutiny panel/committee makes sure it is examined in detail and lessons and recommendations are actioned. 

This special scrutiny committee/panel should report regularly to Full Council on progress and on any other matters it sees fit.

Question 2 – Clean air Zone

Madam Mayor,

My second question tonight is on what can only be called the shambles that is the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone.

Thank goodness the scheme has been delayed until at least July.   

I do hope the Tory Government, Mayor Burnham and the 10 Leaders in GM have not just kicked the can down the road until after the local elections.

• Who decided that we needed a scheme that covered the whole of GM?
• A scheme would have a major impact on jobs and businesses? 
• A scheme that treated air quality on Saddleworth Moor the same as in city centre Salford or Manchester?
• A scheme that excludes the motorway and trunk road network.

What planet where they on?

Did people not learn anything from the failed congestion charge?

Mayor Burnham must keep his manifesto promise to clean up air pollution in Greater Manchester without “the loss of a single job or business”. 

This is something this Labour administration and others in GM failed to do first time round. 

Even if people wanted to comply, they cannot as the supply chain just does not exist to deliver the conversions or new complainant vehicles in time and that assumes people can afford them!  That situation will not have changed in July.

So, my question tonight is what assurance can the citizens of Oldham have that their interests will be championed and fought for by those who make the decisions about Clean Air Zone 2, if indeed we need one?

This includes the boundary of the Zone and the vehicles it will or will now not include?  Also, that a realistic the financial support package is available for those impacted.

Or will ‘CAZ 2 the sequel’ just get pushed through quietly in the summer and you hope nobody notices.

Responding to the resignation of Conservative Councillor Sahr Abid, Deputy Liberal Democrat Leader Chris Gloster said: “Being a councillor takes a lot of commitment, and is hard to balance with work and other commitments.  Several of our councillors have jobs and other commitments, and we take extra effort to ensure that they get the support needed to manage that balance.  This resignation demonstrates the time and effort that is needed for councillors to support their community well.”

“My colleagues would like to wish Sahr Abid well.  We are, and will continue to be, the real opposition on Oldham Council,” he added.

“There have also been reports that Councillor Abid’s resignation letter cited the Conservative Party’s policies impact on the cost of living crisis.  If that is the case I can certainly understand why a councillor would find it impossible to reconcile representing Oldham’s residents – among the hardest hit by this crisis – with being a member of a party which is doing so little to help those hit hardest from rising fuel costs and the extortionate rise in the cost of living,” commented Cllr Gloster.

Many people have been asking how they can help the desperate situation in the Ukraine. At present, the best way people can help is by donating to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine appeal here.

The appeal, which was officially launched yesterday (Thursday) is officially backed by the UK Government, which is matching all donations made, up to £20m. The DEC’ brings together 15 leading aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently, getting help to where it is most needed.

While we know many people are keen to donate items of clothing and essential goods, this is being discouraged by many charities, some of which have already closed their collections, due to the logistical problems this can create.

The Government has also said that unsolicited donations of goods, although well-meant, can obstruct supply chains and delay more urgent life-saving assistance from getting through. Donating cash through trusted charities and aid organisations, by comparison, gets help quickly to areas where it is needed, and individuals and aid organisations can use it to buy what is most needed. 

This is what I have been informed about.

I would welcome people using and testing this and letting me know what they think. I have been promised things like this in the past that do not work as described (or worse)!

Much appreciated.

“The Council say they have made improvements to the way residents can report littering and graffiti.

The reporting forms we’ve now included a virtual map so people can ‘pin’ the exact location of the incident. This will help officers locate the rubbish and graffiti and help in its removal.

These forms have been integrated directly into the council’s environmental services system. This removes the need to manually enter jobs and provides residents automatic updates, by email, once jobs are completed.

Residents will also be able to track jobs online via the Council website or by logging into My Account. A similar system has been in use for reporting fly-tipping since January.”

The forms can be found at https://portal.oldham.gov.uk/Litter/ and https://portal.oldham.gov.uk/Graffiti/