New council leader promises 'energy and real ambition'

Oldham Council Leader-elect Sean Fielding

Oldham Council is set to appoint a new political leadership team today, promising “energy and real ambition” for the borough.

Councillor Sean Fielding, Council Leader-elect, is seeking approval for his first-ever Cabinet line-up at the meeting of Annual Council.

This proposes several changes to Cabinet portfolios and personnel designed to reflect the new administration’s priorities.

Cllr Fielding – who will become the youngest-ever Oldham Council Leader, aged 28 – wants to create new posts to specifically focus on policing and community safety, and on housing.

He will take on an Economy and Enterprise portfolio covering the City Region agenda, a review of the Oldham Town Centre Masterplan, enterprise and business support, external relations and inclusive growth.

Cllr Fielding said: “This Cabinet line-up is a strong team that give real focus to the issues we’ve been discussing on people’s doorsteps in recent weeks.

“We’ve listened and will work hard on getting the basics right – like cleaning up our town and fixing roads – but we must also do much more. 

“Our job is to give local people and families all the tools and the environment that they need to take control of improving their prospects and fulfilling their potential at every stage of their lives.

“That principle applies to everything that we do: be it in education, securing new investment, housing, safer communities, caring for vulnerable people or creating new jobs and skills opportunities. 

“This Cabinet team has a great mix of talents, energy and real ambition for the borough, but we also know we can’t do all this alone.

“We’re looking forward to working closer than ever with our partners, potential investors and developers, and all residents across all our communities to make real change happen.”

Cllr Fielding’s new leadership line-up proposes Cllr Abdul Jabbar as Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources, where he will continue the vital work of balancing the books and making every pound work for Oldham.

Cllr Paul Jacques is in line to get his first-ever post as Cabinet Member for Education and Culture, where he will lead on issues like early years, school place planning, the performance of looked after children, and progress against the Oldham Education and Skills Commission targets.

This new brief also includes the youth service, libraries, heritage, culture and arts provision. 

Two former Cabinet Deputies are earmarked to take new posts to provide more strategic focus with Cllr Hannah Roberts poised to become the Cabinet Member for Housing and Ateeque Ur Rehman lined up as Cabinet Member for Policing and Community Safety.  

Cllr Amanda Chadderton is set to become Cabinet Member for Children’s Services taking on responsibility for services like adoption and fostering, children in care, safeguarding and children’s health and wellbeing.

Cllr Shahid Mushtaq steps up to become Cabinet Member for Employment and Skills including Get Oldham Working, employment and employability, skills and lifelong learning and apprenticeships.

Cllr Arooj Shah would return as Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood services following her recent comeback in local elections, and Cllr Zahid Chauhan is set for the post of Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care. 

The Labour Group has chosen two Deputy Leaders to assist Cllr Fielding this year.

These are Councillors Abdul Jabbar and Arooj Shah.

Today’s Annual Council meeting will also see tributes to the departing Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr Shadab Qumer and his wife Sobia Arshi. 

The new Mayor of Oldham is Councillor Javid Iqbal BA (Hons) and the Mayoress is Mrs Tasleem Akhtar who will share duties with their daughter, Smeaha Iqbal. 

The Mayor’s charities this year are: Dr Kershaw's Hospice, Action Oldham Fund, Maggie's Oldham, MIND and St Thomas' Church, Werneth. The new Deputy Mayor is Councillor Adrian Alexander (Saddleworth West and Lees).