(time limit 30 minutes)
Motion 1
Councillor McMahon to MOVE and Councillor Stretton to SECOND:
This Council recognises the newly created Office of the Mayor of Greater Manchester and congratulates its newly appointed holder Tony Lloyd. The Office of the Mayor presents a good opportunity for Oldham, through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to present itself to central government as well as helping to forge stronger connections with neighboring boroughs, towns, cities and communities.
The Council stresses the need for the Mayor and indeed the Combined Authority to be publically accountable, through direct elections, emphasising the need for greater public engagement with communities, ensuring towns like Oldham are heard across Greater Manchester.
The Council notes that Greater Manchester generates £48 billion per annum in GVA, 4% of the national economy, but that there is room to grow through the innovation opportunity devolution provides. Through greater flexibility, engagement and communication with central government, Greater Manchester and we in Oldham can get the fair devolution deal we deserve.
The Council Resolves:
Motion 2
Councillor Jabbar to MOVE and Councillor Wrigglesworth
This Council notes that Oldham Council was the fastest public body to close its final accounts last year and has this year beaten its own target by a further seven days. Ensuring both quality and accuracy is vital to future financial planning for the council and the tax payers of Oldham.
The council recognises and is pleased with the report given by the external auditors, who have again granted Oldham Council a clean bill of financial health, especially in regard to the auditors ‘Value for Money’ assessment for which Oldham received its best ever ‘Green’ rating including – for the first time – on borrowing.
The council notes remarks made by the external auditors Grant Thornton who said:
“The draft accounts and working papers were of a high quality. The prompt production of the draft financial statements enabled the members of the Audit Committee sufficient time to review the statements and ask challenging and pertinent questions. Finance staff responded promptly to all audit queries, in line with agreed protocols, contributing to the prompt completion of the audit”.
The Council resolves:
Motion 3
Councillor Moores to MOVE and Councillor Hibbert to SECOND:
This Council was dismayed to hear, that Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin had announced that electrification work on the Transpennine route between Leeds and Manchester was being "paused".
This Council is extremely concerned that any delay in progressing plans for electrification and the introduction of faster and more reliable trains linking Manchester and Leeds will hamper economic recovery. Transport connections and infrastructure are the foundation on which an economy is built; the north already loses out substantially in terms of investment, now it will see this vital projects fall even further back in the queue. This decision is bad for regional growth and jobs. How can the government expect to build a northern powerhouse if it is unwilling fund vital transport links and infrastructure? This decision is another example of the inequality that exists when it comes to regional investment, it will have a negative impact on the residents of Oldham.
This Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary and Hon George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking them to remove the “pause” that was placed on the electrification of the TransPennine route between Manchester and Leeds.
Also to write to Debbie Abrahams MP, AngelaRayner MP and Michael Meacher MP to ask them to support the motion and to use any other parliamentary means available to remove any further delay to the electrification of the TransPennine route between Manchester and Leeds.
Minutes:
Motion 1
Councillor McMahon MOVED and Councillor Stretton SECONDED :
“This Council recognises the newly created Office of the Mayor of Greater Manchester and congratulates its newly appointed holder Tony Lloyd. The Office of the Mayor presents a good opportunity for Oldham, through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to present itself to central government as well as helping to forge stronger connections with neighboring boroughs, towns, cities and communities.
The Council stresses the need for the Mayor and indeed the Combined Authority to be publically accountable, through direct elections, emphasising the need for greater public engagement with communities, ensuring towns like Oldham are heard across Greater Manchester.
The Council notes that Greater Manchester generates £48 billion per annum in GVA, 4% of the national economy, but that there is room to grow through the innovation opportunity devolution provides. Through greater flexibility, engagement and communication with central government, Greater Manchester and we in Oldham can get the fair devolution deal we deserve.
The Council Resolves:
Councillors S Bashforth, Rehman, McCann, Roberts, Dean, Hudson, Sykes and Bates all spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor McMahon exercised his right of reply.
On being put to the VOTE, the meeting UNANIMOUSLY voted IN FAVOUR of the MOTION, which was therefore CARRIED.
RESOLVED that:
1. The Chief Executive be instructed to write to the new Mayor of Greater Manchester on behalf of the council welcoming him to his post.
2. The Chief Executive be instructed to write to Oldham’s three Members of Parliament updating them on the Devolution deal to date.
At this point in the meeting the Mayor advised that the time limit for this item had expired.
Motion 2
Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Wrigglesworth SECONDED :
“This Council notes that Oldham Council was the fastest public body to close its final accounts last year and has this year beaten its own target by a further seven days. Ensuring both quality and accuracy is vital to future financial planning for the council and the tax payers of Oldham.
The council recognises and is pleased with the report given by the external auditors, who have again granted Oldham Council a clean bill of financial health, especially in regard to the auditors ‘Value for Money’ assessment for which Oldham received its best ever ‘Green’ rating including – for the first time – on borrowing.
The council notes remarks made by the external auditors Grant Thornton who said:
“The draft accounts and working papers were of a high quality. The prompt production of the draft financial statements enabled the members of the Audit Committee sufficient time to review the statements and ask challenging and pertinent questions. Finance staff responded promptly to all audit queries, in line with agreed protocols, contributing to the prompt completion of the audit”.
On being put to the VOTE, the meeting UNANIMOUSLY voted IN FAVOUR of the MOTION, which was therefore CARRIED.
RESOLVED that:
1. The Chief Executive be instructed to write to the Director of Finance (interim) on behalf of the council, thanking the department for its efforts.
2. The progress made in account finalisation by Oldham Council and the positive remarks made by the auditors in regards to the speed and accuracy of Oldham Councils accounts be noted.
3. That Oldham Council has been given a clean bill of financial health by the auditors be noted.
Motion 3
Motion 3 was carried over to the next meeting