Reform UK backs Oldham Council interim governance plan after initial abstention

The group said it remained unhappy that Labour would retain both of Oldham’s representative positions on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Councillors approved proposals intended to allow the council to continue operating while it remains without an elected Leader and Cabinet.

Under the arrangements, executive powers will remain temporarily with Chief Executive Shelley Kipling, while council committees continue to scrutinise decisions.

Reform UK said it initially abstained because of concerns over Oldham’s representation on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

The group said it wanted broader political representation on the combined authority and attempted to submit an amendment.

According to Reform UK, councillors were advised that the amendment could not be accepted for legal reasons.

The group said an adjournment was then called to allow councillors to consider their position.

It also said Councillor Paul Taylor later asked for the legal reasons preventing the amendment but did not receive an answer during the meeting.

Reform UK subsequently supported the governance proposals.

In a statement following the meeting, the group said: “The proposal before Council was not perfect. In politics, and particularly in the current circumstances facing Oldham Council, no proposal ever will be. However, councillors had to make a choice based on what was achievable and what was in the best interests of residents.”

The group said it believed rejecting the arrangements could have increased the risk of government intervention at the council.

It claimed government-appointed commissioners could have taken control for several years and resulted in significant costs to taxpayers.

Those claims were not independently verified.

Reform UK also repeated that the arrangement did not amount to a coalition or power-sharing agreement.

Its statement said: “No Council Leader has been appointed. Instead, executive powers will temporarily rest with the Chief Executive as part of an apolitical administrative arrangement intended to maintain the operation of the Council while longer-term governance arrangements are considered.”

It added that the group would continue to scrutinise decisions made under the temporary arrangements.

The governance plan approved by councillors also includes cross-party political engagement and interim Lead Member roles linked to the council’s four directorates.