(time limit 30 minutes – maximum of 2 minutes per question and 2 minutes per response)
Minutes:
The Leader of the Opposition raised the following questions:
1. Oldham’s Education Deficit
“Schools in Oldham have recently received public attention, but regrettably for all of the wrong reasons.
If Oldham were itself a pupil, there is no doubt that the Borough’s Annual School report would read: ‘once again failed to reach its potential and could do much better if it just applied itself’.
Oldham has the third worst record in the country for the number of infant pupils taught in classes of more than 30.
More than 2,300 children (nearly one in three) of five to seven year olds.
In junior schools more than 2,900 children are in classes over 30 in size.
In fact the average class size in Junior School in Oldham Borough is 28.9 pupils, the seventh highest in the country.
In addition nearly a fifth (20%) of Oldham pupils will not be able to attend their first choice Secondary School as places at the most popular schools do not meet demand.
This is understandable as demand at popular schools will continue to rise as Oldham’s Secondary Schools overall are judged poorly with only 36.5% of our pupils in ‘good or excellent’ Secondary Schools which is less than half the UK national average of 73.5%.
I am sure that the Leader will agree with me that much more needs to be done.
We are currently failing to give thousands of our children the opportunities they deserve.
Our Borough’s children deserve an excellent education to help reach further and higher education, set them up to become productive and well remunerated in the workplace, active citizens and positive parents and role models for their own children.
Let me be clear the Liberal Democrat Group will do all in its power to assist in changing the current state of affairs.
Labour has promised much for the Oldham Education Commission – indeed it would appear to have its work cut out – so can the Leader tell us all what this Administration is doing and will do to address the clear educational deficit in Oldham and when we might expect to have sight of the Commission’s final report, remembering its interim report in January was never published?”
Councillor McMahon, Leader of the Council responded that solutions were not simple and, where the school was a free school or an academy, the Council had no input. The Council was however positive about improvements to education and the Education and Skills Commission would be very important in finding solutions that worked for all in the community. This was due to report at the end of summer and the Council would then need to assess what it could do, involving both parents and the community.
2. Sunday Trading
“The Chancellor proposed in last weeks’ Budget that areas such as Greater Manchester should be permitted to extend Sunday trading hours if we wish to do so.
Extended Sunday trading hours could provide additional jobs and additional business as a stimulant to the retail economy of our Borough, and may lead to the Borough becoming a ‘destination’ of choice for weekend shoppers accessing our retail offer by Metrolink, particularly if the Princes Gate development is the ‘game-changer’ the Leader has promised it will be. It could also be used to build upon the cultural offer town centre.
However it can also encroach on quality time and family life.
I would therefore like to ask the Leader whether within the new Combined Authority he would support the proposal for extended Sunday opening hours within Greater Manchester and specifically on Oldham, or not?
In essence would he echo the view that: “Sunday was the most miserable day of the week” before retail laws were relaxed, or support the view that limited opening hours on Sunday are sacrosanct as it is the only day that shop workers and their families can “bank on some time with their kids?” ”
Councillor McMahon, Leader of the Council responded that there were other higher priorities and pressures for the Council. He currently had no view on the issue and would consider the evidence and form a view at the appropriate time. He would expect the issue to be decided by the people of Oldham.
The Mayor reminded Members that the Council had previously agreed that, following the Leaders’ allocated questions, further questions would be taken in an order which reflected the political balance of the Council.
Members raised the following questions:
1. Councillor Shuttleworth to Councillor McMahon
“STOP THE MADNESS was the headline on a political leaflet, which was more about talking Oldham down than political, doing the rounds in parts of Oldham during the recent local and general election campaign.
Taking into account the Old Town Hall development, Princes Gate with its proposed store and residential accommodation, M&S, the much welcomed return of T J Hughes, to name but a few, could the Leader of the Council tell the good people of Oldham when they can expect some more MADNESS!”
Councillor McMahon, Leader of the Council, responded that he had been indifferent about the leaflet, except when it had been talking down the town. Oldham was now in a very different place and people were behind what the Council was doing, especially where it was investing growth, for example the leisure centre.
2. Councillor Ball to Councillor Brownridge
“Last October and November the Royal British Legion and our Cadets worked hard raising money on the poppy campaign. Could the cabinet member give an indication as to the amount of money raised by Oldhamers, and what is being done to encourage our cadets to continue this good work?”
Councillor Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives, responded that Oldham raised over £149,273.41 in 2014/15 for the Royal British Legion Poppy Award.
The money was used by the Royal British Legion to give financial and emotional support to people who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces and their dependents.
The Royal British Legion Oldham Branch were again awarded The Norman Webster Shield for the most money raised in one year, for the 4th year running. The shield was proudly on display in the civic silverware to showcase Oldham’s dedication to raising money.
The Royal British Legion Oldham Branch also worked very closely with the cadets helping to raise huge amounts of money. The poppy is an enduring symbol of remembrance, and last year was particularly important as we commemorated the centenary of the start of the First World War.
Each year, the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester held a presentation evening to recognise the achievements of the cadets from across the County, and Oldham 2200 Air Training Cadets were awarded as Greater Manchester’s overall winning unit after they raised a tremendous £15,014.30. The squadron had now won the trophy for the third year running.
3. Councillor Malik to Councillor Akhtar
“The increase in the Primary age population is placing great pressure for places on the Boroughs Schools Can the Cabinet Member concerned confirm that OMBC has plans to deal with this demand to ensure all the Borough’s infants find places in local schools.”
Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills responded that Oldham was aware of the current pressure. There was a robust forecasting method in place taking in to account births, housing and new arrivals. The Local Authority had expanded schools in many areas of the borough to ensure there was sufficient additional capacity to meet the increased demand. Since 2013 the Council had created 1,050 additional primary school places, with a further 840 places planned to be available by September 2016.
The additional capacity had created more choice for parents applying for reception places for September 2015. 90% of parents received places in their first choice of school, with 95% getting a place at one of their preferred schools. Although the pressure on primary places remained in the Year 1 to Year 5 cohort, the Council was working closely with Primary colleagues to look at creative solutions to ease this pressure, including a possible increase in schools planned admission numbers in the areas with most demand and least capacity. Councillor Malik would be aware there was a new three-form entry school being planned in his ward.
4. Councillor Gloster to Councillor Stretton
“Crompton Health Centre is outdated and no longer fit for purpose. The people of Shaw and Crompton rightly compare the current shoddy condition of their local facility with the excellent, modern health centres available to the people of Royton and Werneth, and wonder when they too can expect something new.
Under the proposals for devolution in Greater Manchester, the health care budget will be devolved to come under the control of the new Mayor and combined authority.
Can the relevant Cabinet Member assure me that this Administration will back Ward Councillors in fighting for the money to replace outmoded health centres in this borough as the local Lib Dem Councillors in Shaw and Crompton are keen to take up this fight for a modern facility fit for the patients of our district?”
Councillor Stretton, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, responded that the Council had been working with the NHS Oldham over many years and this had included joint work to improve the estate from which primary and community health services are commissioned and delivered.
Responsibility for such developments previously resided with Oldham PCT and the LIFT programme (Local Improvement Finance Trust) saw the development of excellent new buildings in Oldham from which health and occasionally leisure services are now delivered.
That responsibility moved to NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act and was currently less subject to local control. As Councillor Gloster stated, the devolution of health and social care to Greater Manchester would bring this responsibility under the new Mayor and combined authority with the opportunity for more local influence. The detail of how this would be done had yet to be determined.
The Council was continuing to work with Oldham CCG to commission and deliver first rate health and social care services and plans for the future would include the development of buildings and facilities wherever in the Borough that was required. The Council would ensure that Oldham got the best possible benefit from the devolution deal.
5. Councillor Bashford to Councillor Hibbert
There had recently been travellers on Clayton Playing Fields, who had left no mess and there had been a co-ordinated response. Had there been risk assessments and checks made on open spaces?
Councillor Hibbert, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Highways, responded that everything had been done to protect residents from unwelcome visitors. This group had moved on within twenty-four hours and officers were constantly reviewing their procedures to ensure there was a swift response.
6. Councillor Rehman to Councillor Akhtar
What was the Council doing to assist families who could not support their children in education, for example where parents were unable to help their children with homework?
Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills responded that there were a number of initiatives including homework clubs and youth clubs. The Education and Skills Commission would produce recommendations to assist all children across the borough.
7. Councillor Harkness to Councillor Akhtar
“A former Council employee was recently found guilty of stealing a sizable quantity of shopping vouchers with a value of £17,000 intended to reward Oldham students for excelling in their academic performance.
Rather than the students enjoying the benefit of these vouchers, they were instead spent by the guilty party for her own benefit.
Now that the court case has been concluded, can the Cabinet Member for Education please tell me what administrative safeguards have now been put in place to ensure that this situation cannot arise again?”
Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills responded that, following this incident, an audit of the administration of all vouchers within the Council was undertaken as a priority. The objective of the audit was to ensure our systems in this area were as secure as possible.
The overall opinion by Internal Audit of the operation of the controls for the cash incentive scheme was that they were adequate based on the work carried out. A number of recommendations were made and implemented in order for the service areas to improve past processes. The implementation of these recommendations had been followed up and this work had made the Council’s systems more secure.
8. Councillor Chauhan to Councillor McMahon
Had Oldham seen any investment from Greater Manchester to assist with the Borough’s regeneration?
Councillor McMahon, Leader of the Council, responded that there was a continual process to get grants and loans to Oldham businesses. A number of them had benefitted and the Council had also had benefits. Oldham was getting its fair share, as it had good plans and it delivered them.
9. Councillor Williams to Councillor McMahon
What would devolution mean for Oldham?
Councillor McMahon, Leader of the Council, responded that it was hard to be specific at this point as the devolution debate had happened very quickly. There was a need to ensure proper checks and balances, especially with regard to police, fire and transport. He would expect strong Oldham representation and for these representatives to be properly heard.
At this point in the meeting the Mayor advised that the time limit for this item had expired.
RESOLVED that the questions asked and responses provided be noted.