(time limit 30 minutes – maximum of 2 minutes per question and 2 minutes per response)
Minutes:
The Leader of the Main Opposition, Councillor Sykes, raised the following two questions:
Question 1:
“My first question relates to how this Council supports small businesses in this Borough. I am sure the Leader is aware that in April of this year the Leader of her party announced that a Labour Government would ‘declare war’ on late payment to small businesses. Speaking at an event organised by the Federation of Small Businesses, the Labour leader called it ‘a national scandal’ that big companies were withholding more than £26 billion from suppliers, forcing 50,000 of them out of business every year.
Local Labour MP Debbie Abrahams commented favourably on this. She has been championing a similar local campaign ‘Be Fair – Pay on Time’. She reported that over 400 businesses in Oldham East and Saddleworth have said they are struggling to pay staff because of late payments and 66 went bust.
All very commendable – I am sure we all want to see a thriving small business sector in our country and especially in our Borough – and cash flow difficulties caused by late payment kills businesses.
So why is it that Debbie doesn’t seem to have publically taken Oldham Council to task?
For the average length of time this Labour Council takes to pay an invoice was 24 days in 2015/2016, when it was only 15 when the Liberal Democrats ran the Council, I was Leader.
Mr. Corbyn also said that a Labour government would require any company bidding for a public sector contract to pay its own suppliers within 30 days and would look at introducing fines for persistent late payers.
This Council will have to be careful that the promised legislation doesn’t extend to penalising Councils who follow the same practice – for it is likely that Oldham would have to pay a hefty fine.
For in 2015/16, the number of invoices this Council paid after 30 days was 15,247, when it was only 8.051 under the Liberal Democrats. And the current system does not even allow us to identify which invoices are delayed because of disputes and which because of inefficiency.
This Administration makes a great play of its deal with Oxygen Finance whereby suppliers can be paid in five days instead of 30 in return to paying an ‘Early Repayment Fee’, but why should businesses pay us money to receive the money that they are owed by us more quickly?
In my day, the Liberal Democrat Administration simply placed more emphasis on paying our suppliers, especially our local suppliers promptly.
So can I ask the Leader tonight what she will now do to ensure that this Council will ‘Be Fair to our small businesses and Pay on Time’?”
Councillor Stretton, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise responded that she was behind the movement to pay small businesses on time and would ask for an immediate review on the number of businesses not paid within 30 days and for a report to come back to her.
Question 2:
“For my second question I would like to turn to the issue of bulky waste collections. I was glad to see that that the Council is looking to retender for the bulky waste collection service. I would like to reveal what appears to be a closely kept secret – that under the current contract delivered by Bulky Bobs some residents are still able to access a free bulky waste collection services. I say closely kept secret – because even I did not know it until recently and I am sure that many members in this Chamber will not know it either. For a little known fact is that when charging was first introduced by the new Labour Administration in 2012 there was, in part due to the pressure and concerns the Liberal Democrats had, an acknowledgement that certain low income groups must still be able to access a limited free bulky waste collection service. This was to ensure that they were not ‘disproportionately disadvantaged’ by the charge for this service, as defined by the 2010 Equalities Act. So any customers who are – I quote – ‘Any customers physically disabled, infirm due to old age, or pregnant, are entitled to one free collection a year.’
Interestingly, this proviso is not mentioned on the Council’s website or in any public papers for the recent Cabinet meeting at which it was agreed to retender the contract. Nor can the information be found on the website of Bulky Bob or on Bulky Bob’s Facebook page. So if you were one of these eligible ‘disadvantaged’ customers, or a carer for them, you would not know the concession existed or how to access it.
So my second question to the Leader tonight is. Can she confirm that this concession exists under the current contract and that it will be maintained under the new contract? And can she also say how this concession will be publicised to eligible customers in the future?”
Councillor Stretton, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise confirmed that the concession existed and the current contract had that provision. The situation would be reviewed and the situation rectified whereby the information was not obvious on the website. The details of the future scheme were being work through. If there were such concessions, these would be made public.
Question from the Leader of the Conservative Group:
Councillor Hudson’s question related to the taxi rank in Uppermill. Councillor Hudson sought clarification on whether people could park in these much needed spaces in the middle of the village during the day.
Councillor Stretton responded that current signage would be looked at and, if possible, have a scheme where the taxi rank was time limited and appropriate signage be put into place.
The Mayor reminded the meeting that Council had agreed that, following the Leaders’ allocated questions, questions would be taken in an order which reflected the political balance of the Council.
1. Councillor Fielding asked the following question:
“The two year legislative programme for this Parliament set out in the Queens speech did not include? the local government finance bill that was expected. Has the cabinet member for finance received any information that provides clarity on exactly what the government grant regime to Oldham council will look like come 2020?”
Councillor Jabbar, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Human Resources responded that uncertainty remained on the issue regarding the Local Government Grant regime for 2020 and beyond and how this would affect Oldham and the wider Local Government community. Local authorities had only been provided with indicative funding allocations to 2019/20 in line with the end of the Government’s current spending review period. At this stage it was not anticipated that the funding allocations for 2020 and beyond would be provided until at least the 2019/20 settlement round. With regard to the absence of the Local Government Finance Bill, the Department for Communities and Local Government confirmed that such a Bill would not form part of the Parliamentary timetable for this session. Ministers remained committed to local government taking greater control of their income as outlined in the Manifesto. The Government had, for some time, wanted to move to a system of full rates retention for Local Authorities. The schemes piloting these arrangements across Greater Manchester and other regions of the country remained in place. The transfer of control to local authorities was not in statute and the Council would have to wait to see what details came out.
2. Councillor Ali asked the following question:
“Could the Cabinet member for Education and Early Years update us on the Opportunity Area programme being managed by the Department for Education and tell us when we can expect the promised extra funding to come to Oldham?”
Councillor Chadderton, Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years responded that following a delay with the General Election a meeting had taken place with the Chair of the Opportunity Area Board and a representative from the Department for Education. It had been a positive meeting with an understanding of the challenges in Oldham and aspirations. It was anticipated that a partnership plan would be finalised and signed off by the end of September. When agreed, funding would be drawn down. The partnership plan would then be reviewed in 12 months.
3. Councillor Roberts asked the following question:
“Regeneration of the borough is one of this administration’s key priorities and the Old Town Hall Cinema and Parliament Square continue to be successful examples of the work we are doing. Can the Leader confirm the awards the Old Town Hall has received so far and join with me in congratulating all those involved?”
Councillor Stretton, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise responded that the list of awards that the Old Town Hall won was as follows:
From the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS):
RICS North West – Project of the Year, Regeneration Project of the Year and Design through Innovation Project of the Year. All category winners would go on to compete against other regional winners at the RICS Awards Grand Final to be held on Thursday, 2nd November 2017 for the chance to be crowned the overall UK winner in their respective category.
From the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA): RIBA Northwest Award and Conservation Award
From Local Authority Building Control: LABC North West – Best Change of Use of an Existing Building or Conversion
From the Building Design Partnership: BDP – George Grenfell Baines Award for building of the year
From Mix Interiors Magazine: Mixology North Awards – Hospitality Interior of the Year
The Old Town Hall had also won the Manchester Architects Award and the North West Construction Award for preservation and rejuvenation. The Council was currently shortlisted for the British Construction Industry Awards (BCIA) which culminated with the ‘Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award’ and the Architects Journal Architecture Awards which was an impressive haul. This was a testament to the commitment of this administration to invest in the future of the borough and for the investment to be made now to clearly reap benefits for the local economy in the years and decades to come. This was clearly a huge success both in terms of awards and popularity with the public.
4. Councillor Gloster asked the following question:
“The recent announcement that the 4G Pitch at Chapel Road Hollinwood is to close is a blow, not only to the people in the community but its effects will be felt across the Borough and further afield as it is a well-used resource by the community and others from further afield. I must express my disappointment that this matter was not discussed at full council before a decision was taken to close the pitch. I have been contacted by one of my constituents who runs Hollinwood FC and Junior FC. He had received a letter telling him of the proposals and I was fortunately able, via the Chief Executive, to arrange a meeting with Council Officers for the group to discuss ideas for keeping this facility open. This group is supported by some talented people, including a Manchester City Council finance director, who have put together short term proposals and are looking at medium and long term proposals. Can I ask the relevant cabinet member for reassurance that every assistance will be given to this group, and others who may express an interest, by the Council, to ensure it remains open and continues to be a valuable community asset to the Borough?”
Councillor Stretton, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise responded that disposal of any piece of land was not a matter that would routinely be brought to Full Council. There were some inaccuracies in the understanding of the situation that could have been clarified if the matter had been discussed with members and officers who were dealing with the matter. The Council had agreed with Oldham Community Leisure that they would no longer be responsible for the management of the Chapel Road pitch from 30th September 2017. The maintenance cost of the site was significantly greater than the income generated from usage. In addition, there was a supply of better quality local pitches with availability for clubs to use. OCL had written to all clubs that used the site and advised the clubs they may want to seek to book alternative pitch facilities from 1st October until any new arrangements were in place. When it had become clear that not all clubs could have found new accommodation by the deadline, including Hollinwood FC and Junior FC the matter was discussed with officers. It was agreed that some use of the facility on a Saturday would be kept on an interim basis to support local clubs to cover games. This specifically applied to Hollinwood FC whose situation had been the subject of a number of conversations. Options were currently being explored for the future of the site with the preferred intention to retain the site as a community facility. There could be a period of time from September where the facility would not be fully operational. There had been a number of informal enquiries about the facility. The Council would continue to progress this and any organisation that did take over the site must be prepared to accommodate community use, especially from former users and also the use by St. Margaret’s school.
5. Councillor Shuttleworth asked the following question:
“I have personal knowledge of an individual receiving a warning notice from TfGM for allegedly using the Metrolink service without paying the required fare, an action which no one can condone. However, the individual involved was not even in the country at the time of the offence levelled at them and the warning notice was received 48 hours after they returned home. The offender on this occasion was unable to provide a correct date of birth, home post code of correct home telephone number. As you may gather the offender was able to provide a correct name and address, other than as I have said the post code, so he clearly knows the innocent party. Is the Cabinet Member responsible for transport able to advise just how the ticket inspectors ensure that those who behave in such a manner are not providing false information, thereby escaping without punishment, while leaving an innocent party having to provide proof they are not the guilty party, but If, as in this case, they are unable to do so, having to face the consequences for the actions of another?”
Councillor F. Hussain, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services responded that TfGM had confirmed that the new Metrolink operator had a rigorous process in place for enforcement against Metrolink fare evasion, which included obtaining information from the Electoral Register which should have prevented a fine being issued to an innocent party. TfGM wanted to investigate the case outlined in the question further to understand how this happened given the process in place. If the details could be provided a full investigation would be undertaken.
6. Councillor Ali asked the following question:
“Can the relevant cabinet member briefly provide an update on the performance of the GCSE and A Level results across Oldham. Are the results as expected? and what strategies are in place to improve the results further?”
Councillor Chadderton, Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years responded that there had been changes to the markings in GCSE in English and Maths and that others would follow in the next two to three years. As a result it was difficult for the marks to be predicted and unable to be compared with previous years. At this time provisional returns showed that 59% of Oldham students achieved a Grade 4 or above. The data available at the moment would not be validated until the end of November. Caution was urged on the use of the data but provisional returns suggested a 98.6% A* - E pass rate which was impressive but masked more complex issues such as not pushing higher achieving students harder. A lot of work was ongoing to improve attainment. Further information would be provided to members when available.
7. Councillor Garry asked the following question:
“Increasingly I seem to have witnessed more and more hair raising antics from children riding bikes. For example, riding 4 abreast down the road while doing wheelies. Three people piled on one bike, one passenger on the handlebar obscuring the vision of the rider. Performances like this belong in a circus, not on the roads. How long before we have a serious incident and injured children? When I was a child, if you wanted to ride to school on your bike you would have to have passed a cycling proficiency test in order to demonstrate that you had a basic understanding of the dangers of riding a bike on the road and the fundamentals of safe conduct whilst doing so.“
Councillor F. Hussain, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services responded that earlier this year the Council had been awarded £327,045 from the Department for Transport to deliver the national cycle training ‘Bikeability’ programme throughout Oldham until the end of March 2020. In addition to the core Bikeability levels 1 – 3, aimed at primary and high schools for the first time ever, the DfT had introduced Bikeability plus. This was a series of modules designed to ensure that children and families were given the opportunities and skills they needed to make cycling a part of their everyday life. One of these modules was called ‘Bikeability Balance’ which aimed to prepare Reception and Year 1 children with the balance and coordination skills they needed to learn to ride and participate in Bikeability level 1. Unity’s Road Safety Officers were working to help provide the training with the School’s Games Organisers to deliver the Bikeability Balance module on Oldham’s behalf. The courses had proved to be very popular and highly subscribed.
8. Councillor Murphy asked the following question:
“I was really pleased to receive reassurances that the street lights I see lit during the day in parts of Oldham are not costing the tax payer money; the cost in electricity is actually being paid for by Eon as part of the street lighting renewal programme. I would like to ask the Cabinet member for Environmental Services how he plans to reduce the amount of faulty lit street lamps thus helping to reduce Oldham’s carbon foot print?”
Councillor F. Hussain, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services responded that the contractor under PFI had put in place a team dedicated to reduce street lamps which were lit during daylight hours. This had already demonstrated a positive impact and the contractor was committed to energy saving, which in turn, reduced their costs under the contract.
At this point in the meeting, the Mayor advised that the time limit for this item had expired.
RESOLVED that the questions and responses provided be noted.