Council leader issues rousing jobs plea

MESSAGE of hope . . . council leader Jim McMahon

THE leader of Oldham Council will issue an emotive call to arms for local firms at tonight’s One Oldham Business Awards.

Councillor Jim McMahon is set to send out the message the borough is moving in the right direction on several fronts — but a big challenge remains to be addressed.

He will tell 460 business leaders and their guests how major physical regeneration is already underway with schemes for the old town hall, the completion of Metrolink and associated town-centre improvements, Hotel Future and a new heritage centre and Coliseum theatre.

But in a special plea tonight he will ask the audience of business leaders to join forces with Oldham Council on tackling what he sees as the biggest challenge facing Oldham: the creation of jobs.

Exact details of the announcement remain tightly under wraps, but the Chronicle understands a radical new programme will be revealed.

This will aim to bring together all sectors across Oldham to coordinate resources and energy to create new employment opportunities.

Councillor McMahon will tell businesses that for Oldham to succeed, everybody needs to “do their bit”.

He will say: “As a council it’s our job to deliver the services residents of the borough need — like bin collections, libraries and social care; but it’s also our job to work to improve the long-term future of the borough.

“To do that we need to boost the local economy and create jobs. There are currently 8,187 people in Oldham in receipt of Jobseekers’ Allowance and more than 11 per cent of our young people are unemployed.

“We also know that 18,000 residents will be affected by recent changes to benefits and that these changes will take up to £90 million from the local economy.

“Creating jobs is a priority, not only for Oldham Council but for the whole town. We want to help the people who want to work.”



For full coverage of Jim McMahon’s speech and news of the awards see Monday’s Chronicle and eChron.