Row over Covid-19 letter sent to all Oldham households as Lib Dems accuse council of 'electioneering'

Date published: 30 March 2021


A row has broken out after the Liberal Democrat Deputy Group Leader on Oldham Council, Councillor Chris Gloster, said he was 'fuming' at the cost of a letter sent to every household in the borough.

The letter, jointly signed by the Leader of Oldham Council, Councillor Sean Fielding, and Oldham Council’s Chief Executive, Dr Carolyn Wilkins OBE, outlined the authority's activity during the Covid crisis and asked residents to "keep working hard for that little bit longer". The letter concludes: "Working together and demonstrating that community spirit Oldham is famous for, we can get back to doing the things we love sooner".

Councillor Gloster says the cost of the letter cannot be justified:  "To be blunt, this is an absolute waste of council tax-payers’ money.  At this year’s March budget council meeting, I proposed cuts of £250,000 to the council’s communications budget because of clear examples of waste, and this is a prime example.

"This single communication to more than 90,000 homes in Oldham will have cost in excess of £70,000 in time, paper, and postage to circulate.  I honestly despair at this financial waste that cannot be justified in my view.  What is even more galling is that the letter arrived at the same time that residents received their latest council tax bill increased yet again by this Labour Administration."

Councillor Gloster also believes that the letter is politically motivated electioneering, coming weeks before Local Government elections on 6 May.

"Sending out such a letter at this time is so wrong. The Labour council leader is personally up for election in May, and to circulate a letter at council tax-payers’ expense to every home in Oldham encouraging residents to work together with him just days before the election is formally called smacks of electioneering.

"There is no doubt in my mind that this letter is electioneering in disguise."

Cllr Arooj Shah, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council, defended the letter, saying: "Communication with the public has been arguably the most important element of our response to the Covid pandemic. Making sure people understand the rules and how they can help reduce spread of the virus is absolutely crucial, and with the rules changing as we come out of lockdown now is the time we really need to reach people. It would be no use waiting until May when everything will have changed.

Deputy Leader of Oldham Council, Cllr Arooj Shah, defended the letter

"Not everyone is online. Putting a letter through people’s doors is the best way to ensure we get these vital messages out to the whole community.
 
"We are still in a public health emergency, and will leave no stone unturned to protect our residents."

"I would also suggest that Councillor Gloster’s letter in itself  'smacks of electioneering'." she added.


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