Issue - meetings

Communications from the Leader of the Council on the Administration's Priorities for the 206/17 Municipal Year

Meeting: 18/05/2016 - Council (Item 11)

Communication from the Leader of the Council on the Administration's Priorities for the 2016/17 Municipal Year

Minutes:

Councillor Stretton, Leader of the Council, outlined the Administration’s Priorities for 2016/17 and beyond.  She believed that the co-operative approach and ethos had delivered for Oldham and would continue to do so.  It was essential to deliver key priorities which were to improve the prospects of all residents, all business communities and the whole of the borough.  Doing all that could be done as a council and alongside partners to attract new investment, jobs, skills, economic growth and homes.  She thanked residents for their continued confidence in the administration.  The administration had given a clear vision and a regeneration programme which had and continued to deliver.  She highlighted the new Leisure Centres, schemes with partners and the Old Town Hall would reopen this year with a cinema and restaurants.  Work on Prince’s Gate was on track.

It had been five years since the Council declared the ambition to become a Co-operative Council and a Co-operative Borough and set out a new relationship between public services and residents, partners and businesses.  Everyone did their bit and everyone benefited.  There had been notable successes since 2011 which included Warm Homes Oldham with 3,300 people lifted out of fuel poverty, Get Oldham Working which created more than 3,800 work related opportunities and the Independent Quarter which was flourishing and attracting further investment and businesses. 

A key priority would be economic improvement for all residents.  There were significant issues of low economic activity, worklessness and poverty.  People needed new opportunities and pathways to get better skills and make genuine progress in their careers.  This would create mobility in the labour market and encourage new people into work. 

Another key priority would be education and the implementation of the findings of the Oldham Education and Skills Commission.  She reported that much important work was already being done especially at secondary school level.

A key priority would be the Council’s role in the Greater Manchester Devolution story and play the part of a proactive and positive partner.  The new powers for Greater Manchester were welcomed but details were yet to emerge.  It needed to be ensured that devolution did not just deliver for core areas near Manchester City Centre.  A challenge remained of a North South divide within Greater Manchester.  Oldham could not wait for the “trickle down” of prosperity.  A decent settlement was needed for towns and districts.  Working with GM partners, targeted interventions which could deliver better outcomes for people in health and social care, nurturing business growth and equipping residents with skills, knowledge and life chances would be looked at. 

The Council would respond, innovate and work hard to find solutions for essential local services.  Future priorities and approach would be based on the knowledge and wisdom of what had been learned over the last five years.  This administration would continue to move forward from today for delivery on priorities – investment, skills, jobs and homes.

 

RESOLVED that the Leader’s communication on the Administration’s Priorities for the 2016/17 Municipal Year be noted.