Council spend drawn up

Spending plans for £2.5 million worth of council funds ranging from Christmas trees to alleygates will be decided tomorrow.

They include continuing the Bloom and Grow town centre floral improvements, investment in street cleaning, an electronic public information screen for Oldham town centre and a holiday activity co-ordinator to build on successful passport to summer activities.

Councillors will prioritise £2 million for on-going investment and £635,000 for one-off spending.

Councillor Lynne Thompson, Cabinet member for finance and resources, said: “This is a significant amount and I am satisfied that it has been allocated where it is needed most and importantly also that it is very clear in this report exactly where it will be spent.”

The plans have been influenced by residents’ priorities and the council’s four corporate objectives — safe neighbourhoods and clean, green spaces; a university town with good education, learning and training; a healthy and active place; and quality, value for money services.

Priorities include alleygating and cleaning up rear alleyways (£176,000), more blue recycling bins (£181,000), the electronic information screen (£136,000) and £434,000 for driving the university town status, including developing a digital strategy, increasing volunteering, and support for on-line counselling and help for young entrepreneurs, plus £128,000 for Sunday gallery and library opening.

The holiday schools’ co-ordinator (£40,000), allotments for schools (£10,000), affordable warmth co-ordinator (£40,000) and Saddleworth tourism (£16,000), will also be priorities, along with customer standards training (£24,000), website and intranet services and an ICT strategy for the council (£130,000), and £46,000 for quality housing services.

Councillor Thompson added: “We are now in a position to produce a properly managed and clearly budgeted spending plan based on the council’s four corporate objectives.”