Democracy milestone for area committee

A major step in devolving power to local communities has been achieved at Saddleworth and Lees Area Committee.

For the first time, representatives from Saddleworth Parish Council sat alongside borough councillors in a new partnership agreement on local governance.

The nine borough councillors joined seven parish council nominees and two co-optees from Lees to form a newly-constituted area committee. Oldham Council plans to devolve more powers locally and area committees will have an increasing direct say on council spend, priorities and budgets in their areas.

In Saddleworth, the parish council, which has already achieved quality parish council status, has been in discussions with Oldham Council to take on more powers and directly run certain services.

At a landmark meeting last year, the parish council agreed the best way forward was through the newly-constituted area committee in partnership with the nine borough councillors.

The new area committee have set up a number of sub-committees to advise on issues covering environment, planning policy, minor grants, projects, health, transport, youth facilities and sport and recreation.

Each is made up of borough councillors, parish councillors and co-optees from the local community, appointed for their expertise and local knowledge.

Area Committee chairman Councillor Barbara Beeley said: “This is a milestone in local democracy.

“Elected representatives at both parish and borough level have started to work together to shape the future of services in Saddleworth and Lees.

“It is early days but with the new structure we have laid a solid foundation for taking on real powers from Oldham Council.”

Councillor Pat Lord, chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council and a parish nominee on the new area committee, said: “The new arrangement is a great opportunity for parish and borough councillors to work together for the good of the two communities and for the parish to use its quality status to good effect”.

Councillor Mike Buckley, one of the main architects of the new scheme, said: “The new area committee has started to resolve the dilemma of how to devolve powers locally.

“I believe it’s a real win-win arrangement for everybody and a major step in having local decisions made by local people”.