Schtum on stadium . . .

REGENERATION cabinet member Councillor Mohib Uddin side-stepped questions on attempts to grant Lower Failsworth Memorial Park charitable status and pave the way for Latics new stadium.

Resident Warren Bates wanted confirmation that a covenant states the land can only be used for recreational purposes, that the land was bought through public subscription, asked what the council was basing its claim on and if the council is prepared to appeal to the High Court.

But Councillor Uddin would only say the deeds refer to a covenant that has been considered, the circumstances of the land’s acquisition was taken into account, the council had taken legal advice and that it was waiting a decision by the Charity Commission. He acknowledged the land was bought as a memorial ground for Failsworth’s lost soldiers.




Questions questioned



TENANTS were not asked the right questions or given the right information on the vote about the future of their council houses.



That is the verdict of Councillor Peter Dean who stressed that there was “still time to run” from the decision to transfer Oldham’s 12,000 properties to a housing association.

He said that the move would slash the grants available for improvement and said: “We have put investment of £387 million (into council houses) in this borough. What are we doing? We are giving that up in a stock transfer for an investment of £148 million over the next five years.”

But Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for housing, argued that it was financial lunacy to try and maintain council housing.




Trio stepping down



TRIBUTES were paid to three councillors who are stepping down at the local elections on May 6.



Colleagues thanked Labour’s Peter Dean and Jean Jones for their work along with Liberal Democrat David Shaw.

A former fireman, Councillor Dean is one of the longest serving members and a former mayor.

Councillor Jim McMahon said: “By a long way Peter is one of the members of this council who has been able to make a difference to the lives of the people of Oldham.”

Councillor Jones, who is married to former Labour leader David Jones, will be Mayoress. She continue to work on the New Deal for Communities programme in Hathershaw and Fitton Hill.

Councillor Shaw, a lay Methodist preacher, was described as a kind and unassuming man who finds it impossible to say no to anyone who asks for help.




Why the urgency?



COUNCILLOR Steven Bashforth asked why a planning application for a mosque on Waterloo Street was treated as an urgent business item and suggested the system was manipulated for Lib-Dem political gain.



He asked why it had jumped the queue and wanted to know why Lib-Dems had attended a rally supporting the application.

But Councillor Sykes said it was Labour mischief making and that planning applications are not an executive function so questions should only go to the planning committee.




COUNCILLOR Sykes said measures have reduced levels of sickness in the Unity benefits team by 15 per cent. An improvement of more than 300 per cent had been delivered in processing benefits.






THE new £5 million Oldham Youth Zone will have 300 young people attending daily and a membership of 4,000, councillors were told.



A PLANNING application will be submitted tomorrow to build 12 new council houses in Clyde Street, Watersheddings; Hawthorn Road, Hollinwood; and Rufford Close, High Crompton.