Democracy in action as ‘Question Time’ goes online

Residents taking advantage of the Cabinet Question Time in the council chamber.

Council Cabinet quizzed live and on the internet
OLDHAMERS witnessed a virtual first last night as a “Question Time” event was streamed live to residents on the internet.

Oldham Council Cabinet members were grilled by the audience in the civic centre council chamber — and via Twitter and Facebook — as part of Local Democracy Week.

The council chiefs answered questions put to them by the concerned locals — with questions over Metrolink and the future of Crompton Pool dominating.

The event, compered by Chronicle business reporter Martyn Torr, was sent out live on the council’s website, a rare event by any UK local authority.

The two-hour debate was one of a host of events the council has held to mark the democracy week.

The council leader, Councillor Jim McMahon is hoping this type of forum could be staged more often, and he revealed how full council meetings could also change in the future.

He said: “We are at the moment reviewing how full council works, because it does not work well to engage the public so people can come and feel comfortable about expressing their views.

“It doesn’t particularly work so well for ward councillors to raise an issue that affects their ward and their constituents.

“So we are looking at full council, making it more accessible and less of a talking shop where councillors ramble on for hours about issues we have no control over.”

Other questions on the night from the chamber and the web covered town-centre parking, the future of historical buildings, Oldham Athletic, Mahdlo, the town centre’s outdoor market and many other issues concerning residents.