Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Fida Hussain.

There were no items of urgent business received.

There were no declarations of interest received.

The Committee is asked to elect a Vice-Chair for the duration of the Municipal Year 2018-19

RESOLVED that Councillor Malik be elected Vice-Chair of the West Oldham District Executive for the duration of the Municipal Year 2018/19.

A public question had been submitted by Mr. Ali via email on 3^rd June 2018:          

“Dear Oldham Council and West Oldham Cllrs,

The sole purpose of requesting the information and asking the questions is to highlight the lack of appropriate School places for residents of Coppice and Primrose Bank.

Oldham Council Operates an equal performance system for School admissions which means all performances are considered.  However, each School will have their own catchment area and administration, therefore it is my understanding that geographical proximity is used to allocate Secondary School places.

I would be obliged if you can kindly complete the table and provide me with the following information School places for 2017/2018 and 2018/2019?

Can you please outline the number of Pupils from Werneth, Medlock Vale and Coldhurst attends Oldham Secondary School and which School they attend?

For Werneth ward, can you please break it down into geographical area (Coppice, Primrose Bank and Freehold).

For Werneh Ward, how many year 7, 8,9, 10 and 11 places are allocated at each Oldham School?” 

The West Oldham District Coordinator informed Members that the question had been forwarded to Officers in Education Services and a response would be provided in writing to Mr. Ali.

The Committee noted the question and commented that the provision of secondary school places in Oldham continued to be a priority for the District Executive. The Director of Education and Early Years and the Head of Education Support Services had attended the meeting of the District Executive in March this year to discuss the issue. At that meeting, Members had expressed their concern on the matter and had requested to receive an update on developments and possible solutions.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The public question be noted;

2.    A written response be provided to Mr. Ali by the relevant officers in Education Services. The response to include the abstract of the minutes of the West Oldham District Executive meeting held on 14^th March 2018 Item 6 – Discussion on High School Provision.

3.    A copy of the response letter to Mr. Ali be forwarded to all West Oldham’s Councillors.

The Minutes of the West Oldham District Executive meeting held on 14^th March 2018 are attached for approval

With regard to Item 6 of the previous minutes – Discussion on High School Provision - Elected Members acknowledged that the lack of secondary school places in the town centre continued to be an issue. Public questions had been raised at Council and District Executive meetings to urge the Council to find a solution to a problem which affected greatly the lives of parents and children’s in Oldham town centre.

The District Executive agreed that a letter be sent to the Director of Education and Early Years and the Cabinet Member for Education and Culture requesting an update on the following issues:

-        Identifying suitable sites in Oldham town centre for secondary schools;

-        Profile of pupils coming through secondary schools in Oldham town centre;

-        How to address parents’ concerns;

-        Criteria to identify pupil addresses in the four wards in Oldham West to determine admission to secondary schools.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The minutes of the West Oldham District Executive meeting held on 14^th March 2018 be approved as a correct record;

2.    A letter be sent to the Director of Education and Early Years and the Cabinet Member for Education and Culture requesting to present an update at the next meeting of the District Executive on the following issues:

a.    Suitable sites in Oldham town centre for a new secondary school;

b.    The level of demand for secondary school places for pupils living around Oldham town centre (particularly Coldhurst, Werneth and Medlock Vale wards);

c.    The response to parents concerns raised through Ward Councillors on the lack of choice; and

d.    Clarity regarding the criteria to determine the allocation of secondary schools places available for pupils living in the 3 wards of West Oldham.

To appoint West Oldham Councillors to outside bodies

Consideration was given to a report of the West Oldham District Executive which sought to appoint Councillors as representatives of the District Executive to positions on boards and outside bodies in West Oldham District for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

RESOLVED that:

1.    Councillors Rehman and Ur-Rehman be appointed as representatives  to Villages (Fitton Hill) Housing Board;

2.     Councillors Iqbal and Ur-Rehman be appointed as representatives to the OBA Millennium Centre Management Committee;

3.    Councillor Iqbal be appointed as representative to the Primrose Centre Management Committee;

4.    Councillor Ali be nominated as representative to the West Oldham Children’s Centre District Advisory Board;

5.    The District Executive no longer make formal appointments to the Community Group Network (CGN) as an outside body.

Consideration was given to a report of the West Oldham District Coordinator which sought approval to undertake a feasibility study to review options for the Werneth Park Music Rooms site as detailed in the report.

Members agreed that the site had borough wide relevance. Therefore, the match funding for the feasibility study should be provided by the Council via its central capital budget.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The content of the report be noted;

2.    Refer to the appropriate Senior Officer and Cabinet members to seek match funding (central funding), identify a local group of people to engage with the viability study, and work with Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust to make an Architectural Heritage Project Viability Grant application;

3.    Make a recommendation to the Charitable Trust Committee to allow Estates to soft market the site to test if there are interested parties willing to invest in the site.

For approval  

The District Executive considered a report of the West Oldham District Coordinator which sought to inform on the current budget (i.e.: 2018/19) position and sought approval on funding allocations.

Members agreed to withdraw the proposal to allocate £7,500 for Werneth Park Music Rooms feasibility study as per discussion on Item 8 of today’s agenda – Werneth Park Music Rooms.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The content of the budget report be noted;

2.    The proposal to allocate £10,000 (Coldhurst  Capital Budget) for Westhulme kickpitch development be deferred to a future meeting of the District Executive to allow further consultation with Ward Members;

3.    An allocation of £4,880 (Werneth Revenue Budget) for Werneth Wellbeing Hub be agreed.

Standing item

An update was provided by the West Oldham District Coordinator on two petitions concerning West Oldham district:

-        Ref. 2018-06 Guardrail be reinstated Devon Street – Following consultation with Traffic and Highways section, a Prohibition of Driving Order would be necessary to reinstate the guardrail; there would be a cost associated with it.

-        Ref. 2017-06 Cobbled area Fredrick St. and Napier St. – Legal and Estate Services were dealing with this matter.

RESOLVED that the update on Petitions Ref. 2018-06 and Ref. 2017-06 be noted

Meetings of the West Oldham District Executive for the Municipal Year 2018-19 as follows:

Wednesday 25^th July 2018 at 6pm

Wednesday 10^th October 2018 at 6pm

Wednesday 5^th December 2018 at 6pm

Wednesday 23^rd January 2019 at 6pm

Wednesday 6^th March 2019 at 6pm

RESOLVED that the dates and times of the meetings of the West Oldham District Executive for the Municipal Year 2018/19 be noted:

Wednesday 25^th July 2018 at 6pm

Wednesday 10^th October 2018 at 6pm

Wednesday 5^th December 2018 at 6pm

Wednesday 23^rd January 2019 at 6pm

Wednesday 6^th March 2019 at 6pm