Transfer of homes moves step closer

A MASSIVE council house stock transfer that could trigger £149 million of investment has moved a step closer.

Cabinet approved a draft offer document that details a proposed improvement programme to council houses if First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) takes over their ownership.

Tenants are currently being consulted on the plans to turn FCHO into a registered provider of social housing that will own and manage their properties.

They will vote on the proposals in a secret ballot during the autumn.

If the transfer goes ahead, £149 million will be invested in homes and services over the next five years — significantly more than Oldham Council can afford.

The offer document contains promises to 12,000 tenants that transfer would deliver complete double glazing in 11,000 homes, 5,500 new kitchens and bathrooms, electrical improvements in 5,500 homes, a total of 4,026 new heating systems and new fencing and gates for 2,800 homes.

The transfer will only proceed if the majority of votes cast are in favour of the scheme.

The proposal would involve the full transfer of those properties to FCHO, unlocking greater sustained long-term investment. It would continue to be run by a local management board, comprising tenants, independent members and council nominees.

Labour’s housing spokesman Councillor Bernard Judge said: “This is an extremely important issue and the decision is for tenants and for them alone. It is crucial that they vote and that they do so in full possession of the facts and with a full understanding of the implications.

“If they require clarification of anything at all, there is an independent adviser on hand to help. Whatever the outcome of the ballot, the Labour Group will fully support the tenants’ decision.”




Council pay questioned



SADDLEWORTH Parish Councillor Ken Hulme continued his questioning of Oldham Council’s wages and expenses.



With the recession impacting on businesses and residents, the Labour councillor believes that councillors should forgo any increase in their expenses above the level of the pay increase to the majority of staff.

In answer to questions on allowances and wages for council staff, he was told:

Allowances were increased by 2.75 per cent from June, the cost is £17,808.

The pay award has not yet been agreed but the current offer for the majority of staff is 1 per cent, or 1.4 per cent for lower-graded staff.

No increase for the pay award has been offered to the chief executive and chief officers.




Community centre will be pilot for lease agreements



CABINET members requested further details before leasing Springhead Community Centre long-term and using it as a pilot for other surplus council assets.



The Ashes Lane building almost closed in 2007 but was saved when residents formed a community association and begun fund-raising, turning it into a thriving centre used every day.

Councillors heard that the council’s approach to passing buildings to communities was inconsistent, with some on formal leases, some with no lease, and a new building with site rental of £5,000 a year.

In a report, Councillor Keith Pendlebury made several recommendations.

He said: “We are not talking of giving up ownership but allowing community use by way of lease or licence.”

The council would retain the option of taking control back if the asset was not being managed in an appropriate fashion.

Councillor Lynne Thompson said more details and a report to establish the cost of repairs was needed before Springhead Community Association could be offered the centre on a 25-year lease.

It could then become a pilot project for disposing of surplus council buildings to the community.

A review of all occupations of council-owned buildings will also be undertaken to identify those with no formal agreements.




Roadworks chaos



MEASURES have been adopted to co-ordinate roadworks better and help to cut traffic disruption.



Cabinet approved recommendations by a task group that are designed to reduce the blight of roadworks on residents. These include appointing at least two more inspectors to monitor roadworks in the borough and reviewing a recording system to ensure that inspectors have accurate information to hand.

Companies will also have to maximise trench sharing where possible, consideration will be given to setting up a joint fund to pay for emergency works and the public will be notified as soon as possible about major works.

The council is notified of between 7,500 and 8,000 new works each year.

Councillor Bernard Judge, who presented the report, said: “I have been very frustrated at the way some street-work contractors have behaved within the borough. Everybody can see examples of poor resurfacing after the road or pavements have been dug up and everyone can see abandoned signs and barriers left behind after the work has been done.”

A network of volunteer street watchers was also recommended.