Agenda and minutes

Apologies for Absence were received Councillors G. Alexander, Azad, Dearden, Hibbert and Judge.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct Councillor McMahon declared a personal interest in Item 4 – Cooperative Borough: The role of the Borough’s Members of Parliament by virtue of being a Member of Parliament.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Legal Services regarding the appointment of the Leader of the Council, following the resignation of Councillor Jim McMahon MP as Leader of the Council.

Councillor McMahon MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED the nomination of Councillor Jean Stretton to the office of Leader of the Council.

Councillor Stretton informed Council that Councillor Jabbar would be the Deputy Leader.  Councillor Stretton also informed Council that there would be no change in the Executive Members and their portfolios with the exception that she would have responsibility for the Economy and Enterprise Portfolio.

Upon putting the matter to a vote, the proposal was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that:

1.               the resignation of Councillor Jim McMahon MP as Leader of the Council be noted.

2.               Councillor Stretton be appointed Leader of the Council from 27^th January 2016 and ending on the day when the Council holds its first annual meeting of the after the Leader’s normal day of retirement as Councillor as outlined at paragraph 1.2 of the report.

3.               the changes to the various outside bodies to which the Leader was appointed be approved.

4.               any consequential amendments to the Constitution which arose from the appointment of the new Leader be delegated to the Director of Legal Services.

5.               the proposal related to the Members Allowance as outlined at paragraph 2.3 of the report whereby a member be entitled to forgo their allowance by notification to the Chief Executive in writing of the intention be approved.  The foregone allowance to be distributed to the Oldham Food Bank and the Cooperative Oldham Fund.

Consideration was given to the designation of an ambassadorial role in line with the Council’s Corporate ambition and objectives to the three Members of Parliament who represented Oldham West and Royton, Oldham East and Saddleworth and Ashton-under-Lyne in the capacity as a figurehead for the local area. 

In carrying out the ambassadorial role, the Borough’s MPs would act as an advocate for the Borough of Oldham, championing the Borough and would support relationships between the Council and central Government departments.  The role would be appointed on a 4 year term, the role would be voluntary and no allowance would be paid to the postholder.

Councillor Stretton MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED the motion.

Councillor Bates spoke against the motion.

Cllr Stretton exercised her right of reply. 

On a vote being taken, the proposal was CARRIED.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The designation of an ambassadorial role to the three Members of Parliament representing the Borough in their capacity as a figurehead for the local area, in line with the Council’s corporate ambition and objectives, be agreed.

2.       The designation of Jim McMahon OBE MP as an ambassador for the Borough’s regeneration in his capacity as a figurehead for the local area, be agreed.

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the Cities and Devolution Bill and the next steps of implementation following the special Cabinet meeting held on 15^th January 2016.

The Cities and Devolution Bill as currently drafted would enable legislation and detail of the additional powers to be provided to the elected Mayor and the Combined Authority (CA).  These would be set out in Orders confirmed by Parliament through the affirmative process and any subsequent secondary legislation which may be required.   The first Order would create the GM Mayor role and would provide for exercise of functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the Greater Manchester Police area.  It also provided for the election of the Mayor in May 2017 for an initial three year terms and removed the requirement for a Greater Manchester PCC election in May 2016.

Under the Devolution deal certain powers would be exercisable by the Mayor alone.  Some Mayoral decisions require the approval of Combined Authority members and other powers would be exercisable by the Combined Authority as a body.  GMCA would require the ability to exercise health related functions from April 2016 to enable the authority to play a full part in health and social care devolution.

The totality of powers to be granted to the Combined Authority and Elected Mayor would need to be finalised by November 2016.

Councillor Stretton MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED the report.

On a vote being taken, the proposal was CARRIED unanimously.

RESOLVED that:

1.     The progress of the Cities and Devolution Bill and the next steps required for implementation be noted.

2.     The delegation given by Cabinet on 15^th January 2016 to the Leader of the Council or, in the absence of the Leader, the Deputy Leader in consultation with the Chief Executive, to consent to the terms of the Order required for the establishment of the role of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) elected mayor and the provision for the Mayor to exercise the functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) related to the Greater Manchester Police area be noted.

3.     The delegation given by Cabinet on 15^th January 2016 to the Leader of the Council or in the absence of the Leader, the Deputy Leader in consultation with the Chief Executive, the authority to consent to the terms of Orders required to enable the GMCA to carry out health related functions from April 2016 be noted.