Proud Sykes says Oldham ‘improving’

But he warns of tough decisions as more cuts loom 

OLDHAM COUNCIL: OLDHAM faces tough challenges ahead but key targets can be achieved with cross-party support, according to council leader Howard Sykes.

In his annual borough report, Councillor Sykes outlined major achievements made by the authority over the past 12 months and also spoke of objectives yet to be met.

He said he wants Oldham to be a “confident place that punches above its weight in Greater Manchester, a university town where people have the best opportunities, an address of choice for businesses and a place that people choose to make their home.”

Outlining key achievements, he added: “I am really proud that we now have the cleanest streets in Greater Manchester according to the Tidy Britain Group.

“We have also doubled our recycling rate to more than 40 per cent and introduced a new food waste collection service.

“Our citizens have given our waste services their seal of approval with 83 per cent of those surveyed happy with the service.”

He spoke of a 15 per cent drop in anti-social behaviour thanks to a targeted series of activities for youngsters during the school holidays.

“Last year, we made £21 million of savings, this year it will be more than £15 million and we have committed to make a further £45 million of savings over the next two years,” he added.

Council tax was increased by just 1.9 per cent — which is below inflation — and means that Oldham is no longer the most expensive council tax authority in the region.

He added: “There is no doubt that we will need to make some tough decisions in the near future but we should be confident that we are in a good position to do this.

“To continue to achieve for our citizens we will need to do things differently but the work to identify these potential changes is already well under way.

“Oldham is improving, it is becoming a place of choice and we are delivering against our objectives.

We still have a way to go, and sometimes it feels as though events conspire to make it as hard as possible for us to get to where we need to be.

“But I am optimistic for the council, the borough and the citizens. The hard work completed over the past 12 months has put us in a really positive position to face the next 12 months and beyond whatever that might throw at us.”




Labour attack VAT increase

TWO notices of motion proposed by Labour councillors were deferred until the next meeting.

The first notice, put forward by Councillor Jim McMahon, slammed the decision to increase VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent.

The motion aims to encourage all councillors to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to raise concerns about the increase on the people of Oldham.

The second notice, put forward by Councillor David Hibbert, deplores the Con Dem coalition’s intention to restrict trade unions ability to defend their members’ interests.

The motion asks Oldham Council’s chief executive Charlie Parker to write to Business Secretary Vince Cable to ensure that proper consultation takes place at every step.

The motions will be discussed at the next council meeting on 3 November.



Freedom Bill is welcomed

A MOTION to welcome the Freedom Bill, which will scrap the ID card scheme introduced by Labour, was carried.

The majority of members agreed to write to Oldham’s three MPs to ask for their support in Parliament when the bill is heard and to write to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to offer Oldham’s support for the bill, which would also see an end to the fingerprinting of children and restrict the DNA database.