Leader’s regret at shared-council failure

Oldham Council

PLANS for a shared council failed because Rochdale Council did not want a shared management team and felt the plans were moving too fast, according to council leader Jim McMahon.

Oldham Council had been looking into joint working with its neighbour to save at least £20 million.

But at Monday’s Cabinet meeting it was revealed that the plans would not be going ahead.

Councillor MacMahon, who moved a motion to have the item withdrawn from last night’s full council meeting, spoke of his “deep regret” at the failure of the plan.

He said: “No one in the chamber is particularly happy to be in this situation.”

He said the best way of sharing services was to have one chief executive in charge of both organisations, rather than a part-time chief executive for each.

He said: “It was quite late in the day when it was apparent these terms weren’t supported by members in Rochdale.

“They weren’t in favour of a shared management team.”

He said there was also a failure to agree on a timetable.

He said: “There was a sense it was going too quickly too soon than the appetite in Rochdale.”

He said Oldham Council had acted professionally and with integrity, but said a partnership would only work if both parties were of the same mind.

He said: “If there are areas where we can reach common ground and services come together then we should do that.

“Joint working isn’t over providing Rochdale are prepared to meet.”

Lib-Dem leader Councillor Howard Sykes, who seconded the motion, said it was a tragedy the plans were not going ahead.

He said: “We had a real opportunity here, we could have had a joint management approach that would have delivered not only savings but improved services.”

He said the council should now discuss shared services with other Greater Manchester authorities.

Councillors voted to withdraw the item, apart from councillor John Hudson who said as he had not received a proper explanation, he would vote against the motion.