Decision Maker: Executive Director Place (Deputy Chief Executive)
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
To approve the acceptance of £49,968
funding from The National Archives – Archives Revealed
Cataloguing Grant to deliver the ‘Headliners: Revealing Real
Life Through the Oldham Chronicle’ project. There is no cash
match fund requirement. £30,200 of match-fund-in-kind has
been identified from core Oldham Archives resource (including staff
time for project admin and event spaces) to support the delivery of
this project.
RESOLVED - That:
Accept the £49,968 National Archives – Archives
Revealed Cataloguing Grant with match-fund-in kind commitment. This
option enables the Council to increase access to the Oldham
Chronicle collection held at Oldham Archives and promote local
heritage engagement amongst a broader range of residents supporting
social cohesion and pride in place.
1. Option 1: Accept the £49,968 National
Archives – Archives Revealed Funding Accept the £49,968
National Archives – Archives Revealed Cataloguing Grant with
match-fund-in kind commitment. This option enables the Council to
increase access to the Oldham Chronicle
collection held at Oldham Archives and promote local heritage
engagement amongst a broader range of residents supporting social
cohesion and pride in place.
Option 2: Decline the Funding
Decline the National Archives funding and not proceed with the
Headlines project. This would result in the loss of £49,968
external investment and associated opportunities for residents. It
would limit the Council’s ability to provide access to its
archival collections, reduce heritage
sector capacity, and miss the opportunity to embed community voice
in heritage programming. It would leave the important Oldham
Chronicle collection uncatalogued and difficult to access. In
addition, this option carries a reputational risk for the Council,
in relation to The National Archives.
Option 2: Decline the Funding
Decline the National Archives funding and not proceed with the
Headlines project. This would result in the loss of £49,968
external investment and associated opportunities for residents. It
would limit the Council’s ability to provide access to its
archival collections, reduce heritage
sector capacity, and miss the opportunity to embed community voice
in heritage programming. It would leave the important Oldham
Chronicle collection uncatalogued and difficult to access. In
addition, this option carries a reputational risk for the Council,
in relation to The National Archives.
Other reasons / organisations consulted
n/a
Contact: Subnum Hariff-Khan, Library and Information Manager Email: subnum.hariff-khan@oldham.gov.uk.
Publication date: 01/10/2026
Date of decision: 06/08/2026
Accompanying Documents: