Past meets the future in Labour’s big budget

Reporter: Janice Barker
Date online: 20 January 2010

£15m cuts and £5m of new spending

Opposition Labour councillors want to cut £15 million from council spending with their alternative budget — then invest £5 million back into new spending and the council’s bank balances.

They’re looking to the past and the future, including plans to reopen the old central library on Union Street, and make the whole of Oldham a wireless internet zone.

Like the Liberal Democrats they have pledged to keep the council tax rise to 2.5 per cent.

But their budget cuts go further than the Lib-Dems £10 million to £15 million. Job losses would be slightly lower at 78 compared with 84.

Called “Meeting the Challenge”, the alternative budget agrees with many of the savings put forward by the Lib-Dems.

But Labour also proposes other cuts including closing Greenfield Library to save £36,000, reducing interim managers and consultants (£450,000), cutting the press and communication budget (£200,000), and deleting one assistant executive director’s post (£100,000).

Centralising back office functions (£100,000), more joint working with the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and the local NHS (£550,000) and cutting the organisational and development budget (£300,000) would also follow.

Priority investments include money and budget management advice in schools, green home apprenticeships to train young people in energy saving projects such as loft and cavity wall insulation; Investing in Neighbourhood working budgets and offices, with devolved budgets and powers; putting £600,000 aside for three years for business relocation grants to attract new companies.

Planning staff, where work has slowed due to the recession, would be relocated into regeneration; streets would be brightened up with more tree planting and an allotments officer would be appointed.

A pilot scheme would bring free wireless internet to benefit families and people on fixed incomes who cannot afford it and there would be community events such as restoring the beer festival, and a community bonfire.

Also proposed is the formation of a university campus by bringing together all the higher education providers and improving poor pedestrian links, environment and social and leisure facilities.

The the old Central Library in Union Street would be brought back into use as an enhanced Local Studies Archive and Family history Centre and aCommunity Facilities Fund would be set up.

Winter gritting would be improved with a stock of bags of grit deployed once there is warning of snow in lower lying areas, leaving grit boxes at high areas.

Labour leader Councillor Jim McMahon will put the opposition’s budget before scrutiny committee members on January 25.

He said: “The forthcoming elections may provide a different political landscape in Oldham and give the opportunity to realise our ambitions and desire to see Oldham grow into a strong and confident place, one which is proud of its past — but excited and confident about its future.”