Council leader announces new Cabinet line-up

Council leader, Councillor Jim McMahon

OLDHAM’S future is bright according to council leader Jim McMahon, who has announced a new cabinet line-up following the local elections.

The Labour party now has 45 out of the 60 seats available on Oldham Council. The Liberal Democrats have 10, Conservatives and UKIP have two each and there is one independent.

Councillor McMahon has been unanimously re-elected Labour leader, retaining responsibility for regeneration.

Councillor Jean Stretton will serve as deputy leader with responsibility for town centres, culture and tourism. She will focus on boosting the vibrancy of the borough’s district centres and improving Oldham’s tourism economy.

Former deputy leader, Councillor Shoab Akhtar will take responsibility for employment and enterprise, continuing with the council’s aim to create 2015 job opportunities by 2015 and support budding business ventures.

Councillor McMahon said; “We are an ambitious Labour council with big plans for the borough we love.

“We have a great team of experience and energy to really move things forward.

“We still have at least two years of Government cuts to deal with and maintaining good council services will be a challenge with over £200 million of cuts in total.

“We could let that beat us but instead we are coming out fighting for Oldham with a message of positivity and belief that Oldham’s future is bright.”

The other cabinet members are: Jenny Harrison (Adult Social Care and Public Health), Amanda Chadderton (Education and Safeguarding), Barbara Brownridge (Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives), Dave Hibbert (Housing, Planning and Highways) and Abdul Jabbar (Finance and HR).

Deputy Cabinet members include Councillor Sean Fielding (Economy and Skills), Councillor Vita Price (Health and Wellbeing), Arooj Shah (Policy and Comms) and Councillor Eddie Moores (Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives).


OLDHAM’s Liberal Democrats have unanimously re-elected Councillor Howard Sykes as leader and Councillor John McCann — who retained his Saddleworth South seat — as deputy leader.

Councillor Sykes said: “It is pleasing to once more get the unanimous support of the group for these appointments and I am very much looking forward to taking the group forward with John.

The pair will announced shadow cabinet posts in the next few days