Veteran Hugh to leave council cabinet

Hugh McDonald: leaving the cabinet, but not the council

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OLDHAM councillor Hugh McDonald is stepping down from the Council cabinet role he loves.

The Alexandra ward councillor, who has represented Oldham on and off since 1971, will relinquish his portfolio - children, young people, families and leisure - when the Cabinet line-up is formally announced tomorrow.

Royton South councillor Amanda Chadderton will take over the newly-named education, employment and skills portfolio.

During his time as cabinet member, Councillor McDonald oversaw the merger, closure and refurbishment of several Oldham secondary schools, as well as the setting up of a number of academies.

He also helped to mastermind plans for the borough’s leisure facilities, which will see new sports centres in the town centre and Royton, as well as the refurbishment of existing centres in Failsworth and Saddleworth.

The councillor helped co-ordinate the Olympic torch’s procession through Oldham last summer and he also helped to save Oldham Theatre Workshop when it faced closure in 2004.

Councillor McDonald said: “I have loved serving on the cabinet and I really hope the things I have helped to put in place can continue.

Mr McDonald intends to continue to serve as a councillor and plans to fight to retain his seat in next year’s local elections.

“I have always said as you get older you have to accept that the time to finish is drawing nearer. But I am still enjoying it so I will carry on. If the time comes when I start to struggle, I will stop.”