(time limit 30 minutes – maximum of 2 minutes per question and 2 minutes per response)
Minutes:
The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Sykes, raised the following three questions:
Question 1 – Opening an Oldham Branch of Community Shop
“The Leader may be aware that prior to Christmas I wrote to ‘Community Shop’, congratulating them on the opening of a branch of the social enterprise in Lambeth and suggesting that Oldham might be a suitable site for another outlet.
On Monday this week, I took up their invitation of a guided tour of the flagship Goldthorpe shop (S Yorks) and their parent ‘Company Shop’. I am now even more impressed of their professionalism and purpose, and even more convinced of the merits of bringing the concept to Oldham.
‘Community Shop’ operates community supermarkets which sell low-cost, high-quality surplus foodstuffs to hundreds of people on means-tested benefits, backed by services to help them get back to work. ‘Company Shop’ sources the food and provides logistical support.
Each shop works on a membership basis and can shop for food at prices 70 per cent lower than usual and so can feed their families well within a limited budget.
There is also an on-site café with good, wholesome food cooked by an on-site chef, who teaches customers how to cook as well.
But this is not just about food; rather food is the hook to help member get back to work.
This is a ‘hand-up’, not just a ‘hand-out’.
Members enrol on tailored programmes to improve their self-confidence and job prospects. Working with mentors and professionals from local agencies based at the store, members identify the areas of their lives they need to work on, and receive help to make positive improvements.
It was clear that ‘Community Shop’ would be very interested in working with Oldham Council to open an outlet in our Borough.
This opportunity is NOW as they are shortly opening a ‘Company Shop’ outlet at Stake Hill in Middleton, and want ‘Community Shops’ based close by.
I will be happy to send the Leader more details in due course, but my question to him tonight is will he work with me and Council Officers to find the partners, to find the site and to find the money to bring ‘Community Shop’ to Oldham as soon as possible?”
Councillor McMahon responded that other members shared enthusiasm for the scheme and Councillors Roberts and Dearden were progressing plans for a community type store linked to Get Oldham Growing and he would ask them to provide Councillor Sykes with an update.
Question 2 - Investment in Royton and Crompton School
“My second question tonight concerns investment in one of our crumbling secondary schools.
I know the majority of Members in the Chamber will welcome the recent decision, at long last, of the Education Funding Agency to fund a new school for Saddleworth.
Although the chosen site remains controversial, I am sure that we will want to work together on a non-party basis to address the practical issues of locating the school in Diggle, particularly the need to address traffic issues to maintain the safety of school children, staff and local residents.
But my question tonight is not about Saddleworth School. It is rather about another school that for me is both geographically and academically closer to home – it is about Royton and Crompton School.
Royton and Crompton School is in a parlous state. It is a school that requires serious investment to meet the educational needs of pupils and staff in the twenty first century.
And I make a public pledge as I have done privately to help in any way I can to get the school Royton and Crompton deserves.
So can the Leader tonight tell me where we are in looking to secure capital investment from Government to make the school ‘fit for purpose’?”
Councillor McMahon responded by recording his thanks and appreciation for all Councillors on Saddleworth School and would work together to address local issues. He added that Royton and Crompton was not fit for purpose and in a worse state than Saddleworth. The school had an emergency maintenance backlog. Representations had been made to Government and the Council remained hopeful that a capital funding application would be given. The Council would ensure that young people were supported but cross-party representations to Government were needed urgently.
Question 3 - Zero Suicide Target for Greater Manchester
“In Britain last year 4,700 people committed suicide. Three quarters of them were men, and suicide is the largest cause of death for young people and young men in particular.
The North West has the second highest numbers of suicide rates in Britain. Last year 567 men and 146 women took their own lives in the North West.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, recently said: ‘Suicide is, and always has been, a massive taboo in our society. People are genuinely scared to talk about it, never mind intervene when they believe a loved one is at risk.’
The Deputy Prime Minister called for more to be done ‘in every area of our society to ensure that people don’t get to that point where they believe taking their own life is their only option.’
In some areas of the USA, health services have managed to get to a situation where there are zero suicides for people receiving healthcare support.
Some areas of the UK such as Liverpool, the South West and the East of England already have plans in place to achieve this by 2017.
I believe that we should share this ambition for Greater Manchester.
Can I therefore call on the Leader to support me in raising this aspiration with NHS and Public Health Authorities in Greater Manchester so that together we can work to stamp out mental stigma and for a Greater Manchester with zero suicides?”
Councillor McMahon responded that the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner was taking this forward as a project linking in with the NHS and other Council’s across Greater Manchester. A briefing note would be prepared and circulated to Full Council.
4. The Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Hudson, put the following question:
Councillor Hudson referred to the upgrade of Greenfield Rail Station and expressed concern regarding the sale of land which was currently being used for car parking on Shaw Hall Bank Road.
Councillor Hibbert responded that he had spoken to Councillor McCann who had also expressed concerns about the sale of the land. He was not sure which piece of land was being referred to but would find out the relevant information.
5. The Leader of the UKIP Group, Councillor Peter Klonowski, put the following question:
He referred to queries he had received from constituents and asked the following question:
· How many translators are employed in Oldham schools?
· What is the typical hourly rate they are paid?
· How much was spent on translation services in schools in November?
· How much does the council anticipate spending on school translation services in this financial year?”
Councillor Chadderton responded that when schools require translators they are provided through Oldham Language Shop. The Oldham Language Shop charges schools an hourly rate of £35 per booking, meaning that an estimated £455 will have been spent in total on interpretation by maintained schools in November. The council does not itself have any budget for school translation services and does not anticipate any spending in this area in this financial year.
Members raised the following questions:
1. Councillor Heffernan to Councillor Harrison:
“The Oldham Liberal Democrats fully support the aspiration of Oldham Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group to create a dementia-friendly Oldham.
It was very credible that a local target set to train 500 Dementia Friends across the borough has been comfortably exceeded. Liberal Democrat Councillors are looking forward to undertaking this training so that we can gain accreditation as friends.
The Dementia Friends initiative is very worthy. There are 1,700 Oldham residents diagnosed with dementia, but this figure is only two-thirds of that to be expected in a borough such as Oldham. There are therefore many other residents who are living unknowingly with dementia but without a diagnosis.
Through developing a greater understanding of the disease, Dementia Friends can help people living with dementia – often close family or dear friends – to live independently for longer and to continue to enjoy hobbies and social contacts.
I would like to please ask the Cabinet Member what has so far been done to recruit and train Dementia Friends; how many have so far been trained; and if any special efforts have been made to recruit and train Council staff as Friends through the Employee Supported Volunteering Scheme?”
Councillor Harrison, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Public Health gave the following response:
“The Oldham Dementia Action Alliance set a target on World Alzheimer’s Day in September to provide face to face dementia friends sessions for 500 people by Christmas.
A dementia friend session is an hour long information session that helps people to understand a bit more about dementia, and the little ways they can help.
I’m pleased to announce that we have more than doubled our target and as of 3 December 1,051 people in Oldham have become dementia friends since the summer. Of these 330 were council employees.
Overall there are 26 dementia friend champions from a variety of organisations in Oldham delivering dementia friend sessions. The Council and CCG are hosting a peer support network for the champions and we thank the Champions for all their hard work in achieving the above total.
As well as sessions for the public, the champions have delivered sessions to a wide range of organisations including Oldham Community Leisure, Age UK Oldham, a number of care homes, a school and Oldham College, housing associations, Oldham Theatre Workshop, Oldham Chronicle, Dr Kershaws, Oldham CCG Governing Body.
Via the team brief and core brief, council teams have been offered the opportunity to book sessions for their teams or to attend a rolling programme of sessions that are open to all. A number of council staff have trained to become dementia friends champions and are delivering dementia friends sessions as part of the employee volunteering scheme. This opportunity has been promoted in the team brief.
Three sessions have been arranged for the Councillors and we are proud that the Mayor has become a dementia friend. If you would like to arrange a session please contact Sue Neilson at the CCG.”
2. Councillor Harkness to Councillor Chadderton:
“At this year’s annual council, councillors supported a motion brought by the Liberal Democrat Group about young carers.
Council will recall that as part of the motion it was agreed that the Director of Children’s Services to write to the Head-teachers and Principals of all schools, academies and colleges in the Borough, asking them to support young carers at their establishment by:
· Identifying a designated member of staff with specific responsibility for supporting young carers;
· regularly monitoring the performance and well-being of young carers through their Governing Body;
· working with the Oldham Young Carers Project and the Young Carers Trust to ensure young carers are supported, and not disadvantaged, because of the caring role they perform.
As six months have now passed, I would like to please ask the Cabinet Member for an update as to how many schools and colleges now have a designated member of staff, how many bring regular reports to their Governing Body about young carers and how many have begun working with the Oldham Young Carers Project and Young Carers Project?”
Councillor Chadderton, Cabinet Member for Education, gave the following response:
“Young Carers are a priority for the Council and officers have been looking at the best way to ensure that a designated member of staff is identified in all schools, academies and colleges with responsibility to support young carers.
Our intention is to integrate this to the existing work of Oldham’s Virtual School, which has a network of designated teachers from each school who will be consulted on this addition to their responsibilities. The Virtual School Head would then have oversight of support for young carers in schools and would liaise with the Oldham Young Carers Project and the Young Carers Trust in quality assuring this. These arrangements would also enable the Council to hold school governing bodies to account for the wellbeing and academic progress of young carers.
Positive Steps has responsibility for delivering the Targeted information, advice and guidance service for young people in Oldham, funded by Oldham Council.
Young Carers are part of the overall Targeted cohort and we work with each school to identify the young people in each of the targeted groups. There are currently 372 young carers registered with the service of which 159 young carers are participating in positive activities and Positive Steps have made 71 referrals to other agencies on behalf of the young carers.”
The Mayor advised that the time limit for this item had expired.
Observations:
Members made observations on the following:
Councillor Roberts observed on the Leader of the Opposition’s question related to Community Shop. She had been approached by the Leader regarding the Goldthorpe Co-operative Model and looking at way to tie in a community based initiative. Work had already been done by the Food Bank and Get Oldham Growing and was interested to hear what Councillor Sykes had said and hoped that this was something the Council could take forward.
Councillor Rehman on Councillor Sykes’ question, relating to suicide rates.
As there was no other observations the Mayor returned to the Leader and Cabinet questions for the remainder of the time.
3. Councillor Alcock to Councillor Akhtar:
“In March of last year, Cabinet discussed the establishment of the Essentials high street shop to offer residents essential household appliances at a reasonable cost with finance made available through the Oldham Credit Union. Can the Cabinet Member update Council on progress as we are rapidly approaching the 12 month mark. When can we expect to see this store opening?”
Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Employment and Enterprise gave the following response:
“Cabinet Approval was given on 31st March 2014 to proceed with the Oldham Essentials project and to engage a commercial partner. Since then a number of legal, procedural and logistical steps have been taken. There have been some areas that have, due to their nature, caused a delay in terms of final outcome.
The two principle areas that have been the cause of the delays are:
1. The location of the shop – Due to a change in letting policy the original site within the Spindles became unavailable. Nevertheless, a review of all property in Oldham identified Albion Street as the best location as it allows the shop to reach those residents most in need of the services and facilities that the new venture has to offer. The partner and the contractor have made final preparations ready to commence the refurbishment and fit out.
2. The partner’s consumer credit fund – This is being made available from their ethical and socially responsible lending partners. The negotiations between these organisations have been complex due to the nature of the proposition and the need to ensure that not only fair credit provision will be available, but also to guarantee that there will be an ethical and transparent approach to any bad debt issues.
Without the consumer credit fund in place the commercial partner would not be able to proceed. Their financial partners have now signed all necessary agreements and are in the last stages of due diligence to make the fund available. Once the fund is available building works will commence. The estimated time from commencement to opening is 12 weeks.
The new shop will offer residents the chance of buying through a reputable and ethical organisation, whose primary focus is inclusion, minimising costs to their customers and offering the best possible alternative to their current lending options.
Oldham Credit Union was not part of the option chosen and agreed at Cabinet in March 2014: option chosen was ‘Option 2: Partnering with a Commercial Partner’.
The new shop minimises any financial risk to Oldham Council, whilst still providing a sustainable and more ethical alternative to residents’ current lending options for household goods. Homemaker is the name of the Charity that our partner, FRC, have set up for this initiative. The brand name for the shop will be ‘Our House’, subject to confirmation of successful registration.”
4. Councillor Williamson to Councillor Brownridge:
“Late last year, Public Health England revealed that three quarters of victims of domestic abuse are targeted by an abusive partner whilst they are at work.
One in four women and one in six men will experience domestic violence in their lives, whether physical, verbal, emotional or financial abuse.
Harassment by abusive partners by email, on the telephone or a personal approach in a workplace setting has an impact on work performance.
More than half of female employees who are abused miss at least three days of work and two in every hundred employees ultimately suffer dismissal as a consequence of absenteeism caused by domestic abuse.
Public Health England is asking managers to watch out for situations of domestic abuse amongst their employees as part of their duty of care and has published guidance to help them in doing so.
Will the Leader tell me what steps this administration is taking to ensure that every line manager receives a copy of this guidance and what training and support will be provided to ensure that best practice is followed?”
Councillor Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives gave the following response:
“The Local Children's Safeguarding Board is responsible for running a suite of training courses specific to domestic violence and these are open to all managers.
Community Safety Services are responsible for the delivery of the Domestic Violence Strategy and coordinate a communication plan which is tailored to periods of risk and raises awareness of domestic violence and sign post support for both the community and OMBC employees. The communication plan draws on the 'End the Fear' Greater Manchester wide campaign developed through the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner. This uses both traditional materials e.g. posters but also targeted social media resources. Community Safety Services also run specific domestic violence workshops within staff conferences again to raise awareness of domestic violence but also to sign post services.
Community Safety Services offer a comprehensive service to all victims of domestic violence which covers but situational crime prevention eg home security to support of the victim through the Independent Domestic Violence Service. Domestic violence is a key driver for the jointly commissioned services in the 'All age early help offer'
Work to align domestic violence across the Domestic Violence Partnership and the Health and Well-being Board is well advanced and in January OMBC took part in a Greater Manchester wide Peer Review Panel Process to assess each areas domestic violence strategy to ensure that they are aligned and of a high standard.
Feedback from this process will be given to the Director of Public Health and this will form the basis of a joint action plan.”
The Mayor advised that the time limit for this item had expired.
RESOLVED that the questions raised and the responses given, together with the observations made, be noted.