Report by councillor Chris Gloster, Liberal Democrat finance spokesperson.

The majority of Oldham Borough residents will be horrified that council tax, however the percentages are segmented, will be rising by 3.99% this year after yet another underfunded settlement from a government that is clueless about Oldham and its people. 

2% for adult social care is double jeopardy. The prime minister appears intent upon pushing the 1% national insurance increase to fund adult social care, so as pay in the pocket decreases, costs are increasing, and spiralling out of control, with inflation currently sitting in excess of 5%.

Funding adult social care through council tax in the first place is a major problem. The government has failed, year on year, to create a settlement for social care, and have off-loaded responsibility on to local councils. That massively increases inequality, especially for an area like Oldham which has a low Council tax base and a high proportion of people needing adult social care. It’s just another way in which the pretence of “levelling up” is shown to be empty words and a failure to deliver for the country’s former industrial heartlands like Oldham.

This Tory government and Labour Council just does not get it. 

Council tax last year in Westminster was £827.56, for an equivalent banded property in Oldham it was £1672.92, and now we can expect 3.99% on top of that when all around we see daily increases in food, gas, electric, rent, travel and a whole host of other increases. The old adage of eat or heat is soon to be replaced with the phrase ‘survive’ because make no mistake, even hard working Oldham residents will struggle to survive, as prices outstrip pay.

Speaking to people in the doorstep, as we do all year round, not just at election time, the complaints are always similar, state of roads and footpaths, unclean streets, lack of services especially around environmental issues, and cost of council tax for which they can see only decreased services year on year, these are the priorities that matter most to Oldham people.

Despite these increasing costs, the council administration are determined to push on with major capital projects, which although partly grant funded, will have a significant demand upon council borrowing that is of great concern to the Liberal Democrat opposition. 

We have seen the failure of numerous vanity projects over the years and quite rightly challenge the administration with regards to the latest projects, Spindles, Eco Park, Tommyfield and more which if they exceed budget, as every other project has done, or failed to be delivered as described, the effect that this will have on the Borough will be catastrophic.

The 3.99% rise is fait accompli that will impact upon many Oldham homes, however the administration needs to understand that the Oldham public are now stretched beyond the limit in many cases.

Shaw and Crompton Councillors attended the annual Holocaust Memorial Day service Thursday 27 January 2022.

The service held at Crompton War Memorial was about “One Day”* and passages were read by Sade, (Farrowdale House Preparatory School pupil), Aizah (Crompton Primary School pupil) as well Crompton Councillor Dave Murphy.

“It was an absolute pleasure and delight to see so many young children taking part in the service.  We had three different schools in attendance, which also included Royton and Crompton EACT-Academy; this has been our vision from the very start – that school children attend and take back the understanding of the Holocaust and never forget,” said Councillor Diane Williamson.

After the service, stones were laid on Crompton War Memorial; The act of placing visitation stones is significant in Jewish bereavement practices. Small stones are placed by people who visit Jewish graves in an act of remembrance or respect for the deceased. The practice is a way of participating in the mitzvah of burial. It is customary to place the stone with the left hand.

“We hope to see the event grow bigger next year and to have more schools take part” said Councillor Diane Williamson who led the service.

*Survivors of the Holocaust and of genocide often talk about the One Day when everything changed, sometimes for the worse and sometimes for better.

The news that the CSE report into historic allegations of child sex exploitation in Oldham has been delayed again has been met with anger and concern by local councillors.

Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “It was only weeks ago that I was responding to an entirely predictable delay in the report, when time had not been allowed for the legal process. To be in the same position again just weeks later beggars belief.”

Leaks from the report last week showed heavy criticism of the Police and Oldham Council for their handling of a 2006 investigation, with Oldham Council issuing an apology to the victim.

The Liberal Democrat Councillor continued: “This report has been two years in the making, and while I am not happy that it has taken this long, I accepted at the start that this was an independent investigation, and that they would follow where the evidence led, and take enough time to investigate it properly.

“However, why have we been given deadline after deadline that simply haven’t taken account of all the steps needed for it to be completed? Last time it was because time hadn’t been allowed for the legal process, this time because time hasn’t been allowed for responses from those in the report.

“Imagine if you were a survivor; one of the people who has been interviewed by the independent investigation team. How would you feel if you had been given a dates, repeatedly, when the report was going to be released, and again, it wasn’t.

“One of the greatest issues facing survivors is the build-up of emotion caused by any time at which they might have to face talking or thinking about their experiences. Triggering that process, by giving a date that is then withdrawn, is careless and cruel.”

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I would like to introduce Crompton Circle – a Membership organisation for the over 50s who live in Crompton, Shaw & Royton – whose overall aim is to tackle social isolation and loneliness.

It re-launched in September, after a break due to Covid, and they are working hard to promote what they do to members of the community, so that they can get involved – meeting new people, visiting new places and trying new things – and you have the opportunity to shape the activities that are on offer for over 50s.

Each month they create a calendar of social events which includes events suggested by its Members, as well as others that we feel they would be interested in. These events include going for coffee in a local coffee shop, going for lunch, Ten Pin Bowling, cinema and theatre trips, walks, crafts, quizzes and more.

A copy of the latest newsletter is here if you click on the link:

As they grow and develop, they hope to add further services to the offer – just like we do in Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale. There, they have a Practical Helper Service which helps with those jobs you can’t get someone out to do (light gardening, DIY, getting things down from the loft etc); a Digital Support Service – helping Members to get online and get the most out of their digital technology; and a Volunteer Drivers Service – supporting people to get from A to B (including medical appointments as well as social activities). You can find out more about HMR Circle on their website www.hmrcircle.org.uk .

If you would like to know more or make a referral, please do not hesitate to contact Leanne Chorlton me on 0800 112 3440 or email leanne@hmrcircle.org.uk.

Businesses can now apply for the Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF).
The scheme has been launched to support businesses affected by the pandemic who are not eligible for existing support linked to Business Rates (such as previous Covid-19 related reliefs).

The deadline for making an application for the Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund is 28 February 2022.
Please note: Applications will be assessed and businesses notified after this closing date. This is to ensure the council can support as many Oldham businesses as possible with the funding available.

Eligible businesses
The fund is limited and only available to businesses that have been adversely affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adequately adapt to that impact.   
You must be able to provide evidence of how your business has been adversely impacted by Covid-19 and unable to adequately adapt to that impact, for example:

• Accounts showing your turnover before the pandemic and now
• Bank statements showing your business activity before the pandemic and now

We can award Business Rates Relief towards your 2021/22 rates bill, but you must be able to evidence that your business has been impacted by Covid-19. This could include lost orders and contracts, lost revenue, significant additional costs and cashflow problems. 

Due to potentially high numbers of applications and the short timescales, there is a very limited timeframe to seek further evidence or information after you apply. Please provide us with sufficient evidence or information at the time of your application to make a decision. 

Ineligible Businesses

• Those who for the same period of the relief either are or would have been eligible for the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers the retail, leisure and hospitality sector), the Nursery Discount or the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS).
• Unoccupied properties
• Businesses who have exceeded maximum subsidy allowances
• Business in administration, insolvent or in the process of making a proposal to strike off

Awards
We can award relief up to 100% of your 2021/22 bill.  
If the award of a relief puts your 2021/22 account into credit, we may move that credit to offset any other outstanding Business Rates liability, or your 2022/23 Business Rates bill unless you specifically request a refund. 
If your circumstances change and your business becomes ineligible for the relief or reduces the value of the award, we will adjust your rate bill in the year to reflect the loss of relief. Any relief awarded under this scheme will be subject to the property’s continuing eligibility. 
We do not accept applications from third parties. 

Before you apply, please read the eligibility criteria and have:
Your Business Rates reference number (you can find this on your Business Rates bill), information about how your business has been adversely impacted by Covid-19 and any evidence which can document this for example:

• Accounts showing your turnover both before the pandemic and now
• Bank statements showing your business activity both before the pandemic and now

For more information and to apply, please visit www.oldham.gov.uk/carf 

For real time information: https://oldham.roadworks.org/

All of First services (except Vantage V1 & V2 and school services) are cancelled due to industrial action on Monday 31 January, Tuesday 1 and Friday 4 February 2022.

All dedicated school services are expected to run and details of routes can be found on the Transport for Greater Manchester website here.

The Vantage V1 and V2 services based at our First’s depot in Bolton for routes from Leigh and Atherton to Manchester Royal Infirmary are unaffected and will operate as normal.

Customers with pre-bought tickets for both dates will be given a refund or replacement tickets to use for future travel. Click the link at the bottom of this email to find out how to claim.

Find out more

All of First services (except Vantage V1 & V2 and school services) are cancelled due to industrial action on Monday 24th and Wednesday 26th January 2022. All dedicated school services are expected to run and details of routes can be found on the Transport for Greater Manchester website here. The Vantage V1 and V2 services based at our First’s depot in Bolton for routes from Leigh and Atherton to Manchester Royal Infirmary are unaffected and will operate as normal. Customers with pre-bought tickets for both dates will be given a refund or replacement tickets to use for future travel. Click the link at the bottom of this email to find out how to claim. Find out more

You are all invited to attend Shaw and Crompton’s Holocaust Memorial Day which is being held on Thursday 27 January, 9.30am at Crompton War Memorial.

The theme this year is ‘One day’ Holocaust Memorial Day is One Day that we put aside to come together to remember, to learn about the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, in the hope that there may be One Day in the future with no genocide. We learn more about the past, we empathise with others today, and we take action for a better future.

All are welcome at the service. The service only lasts 30 minutes; there are some readings by local councillors and a faith leader from Shaw and Crompton. To finish the service, we lay stones as is customary within the Jewish faith.