Tough decisions taken — McMahon

No council tax rise in budget with £24m cuts

OLDHAM Council means business says leader Jim McMahon, as he considers final budget proposals to save more than £24 million.

The proposals — which focus on value for money and the “transformation of service delivery” — include no council tax rise for residents.

Councillor McMahon said: “Compiling this budget required tough decisions but we rejected the approach of simply imposing a cut across-the-board to services.”

“We know what services are important to residents and that has been a driving force in these measures.

“There are no proposals here to close down community buildings or libraries. We’ve worked hard on making savings in back-office functions like procurement, cutting non-essential spending and looking at how to deliver more for less in order to protect frontline services.”

Despite the economic climate, the council leader said it is imperative to have a long-term vision and set cash aside for its “co-operative future”.

In housing, the new investment framework will see the council co-operating with social landlords and developers to get 1,200 new homes under way, and helping first-time buyers get on the property ladder through the Oldham Mortgage scheme.

Councillor McMahon said that he will announce further ambitions on better training opportunities, attracting inward investment and regeneration across the districts.

He also aims to balance the books and ensure the borough is best placed to capitalise when recovery arrives.

Councillor Abdul Jabbar, cabinet member for finance and resources, added: “It is extremely difficult to find savings of £24 million — and it will be even more difficult next year — but we have a clear responsibility to deliver a balanced budget and have done so in record time.

“The vast majority of these savings were identified by last December and that is a tribute to the hard work and innovation of staff.

“We appreciate the economic difficulties which everyone is facing and these proposals seek to protect the frontline services they value while also delivering no rise in council tax for 2012-13.”

The budget will go before full council tomorrow and will be streamed live on the internet. Log on to www.oldham.gov.uk.


The public question time section — which enables residents to submit questions via email and social media — will return for the next meeting of full council on April 18.