Council must cut another £18m

Councillors have slammed central government following news that the council must cut another £18million from its budget for 2016-17.

By 2017 Oldham will have hacked close to £200million from its overall budget.

Finance chief Counciillor Abdul Jabbar said: “The chancellor promised us that by 2015 austerity would be concluded - but instead we are discussing cuts up to 2017. What’s going to happen to our services? People of Oldham didn’t lend the money to the banks that caused this recession - but they are being punished.”

Councillor Dave Hibbert, Cabinet member for housing, planning and highways, said: “This is a very sad and worrying day for the people of Oldham. People don’t notice cuts until they are directly affected, but people are really going to start feeling the impact.

Councillor Jabbar said outline savings of just over £18.194million must be made by 2017 - but this is less than the projected sum of close to £30million.

Savings of more than £13million have already been identified, leaving around £5million still to be found. Propoisal will be presented to the ful council meeting on November 4.