Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barnes, Chauhan, Ibrahim, Sheldon, Taleb and Williamson.

To order that the Minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 15^th July 2026 and on 20^th August 2026 (Extraordinary meeting), be approved and signed as correct records.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council, held on 15^th July 2026, and the meeting of the Extraordinary meeting of the Council, held on the 20^th August 2026, be approved and signed by the Mayor, as a correct record.

Councillor Murphy declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motion 2- Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour).

The Mayor, Councillor Byrne, proposed a variance to the agenda to allow for Items 12, 15 and 11 to be debated after Item 9 and before Item 10.

RESOLVED: That the Agenda of the meeting be varied to allow for Items 12, 15 and 11 to be debated after Item 9 and before Item 10.

There were no communications to report.

(time limit 20 minutes)

To note, in line with the petitions protocol, the petitions received in the Municipal Year 2025/26 and those received to date during 2026/2027 which received over the required 50 signatures.

The Mayor moved, and Councillor Woodvine seconded, the Annual Petitions report for 2025-2026.

RESOLVED: That the Report be noted.

There is not a Youth Council Motion for this meeting of the Council to consider.

There was no Youth Council Motion for the Council to consider.

(time limit 30 Minutes)

As the Council had, thus far, failed to either elect a Leader or form an administration there was no Cabinet in place to reply to the public questions that had been received. Therefore, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.4.4h, the meeting assented that Council moved to the next item of business on the agenda.  

As the Council had, thus far, failed to either elect a Leader or form an administration there was no Cabinet in place to reply to the public questions that had been received. Therefore, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.4.4h, the meeting assented that Council moved to the next item of business on the agenda.  

(time limit 60 minutes)

Motion 1: A new start for Oldham Borough

To be Moved by Councillor Harkness

To be Seconded by Councillor Al-Hamdani

This Council believes that:

Residents of Oldham Borough want their Council to change to reflect the priorities of the people. 

They want their Council to get the basics right, with a laser-focus on improving the performance of frontline services including drain clearance, road repairs and park and green space maintenance.  

Residents want their Council to tackle environmental crimes like littering, dog-fouling, fly-tipping and graffiti. 

It is also time to deliver fair funding to all districts and communities in Oldham Borough and not just keep pouring capital investment into Oldham Town Centre. 

This Council resolves:

To request the relevant officers to produce a budget report to explore how existing funding can be reprofiled to address the priorities set out in this motion and specifically addressing: environmental crime (including littering, dog fouling, fly-tipping and graffiti); frontline services (including drain clearance, road repairs, and park and green space maintenance) and delivering fair district funding.  

The report will come back to the next council where the report can be considered and voted upon.

Motion 2: Tackling Anti-social behaviour

To be Moved by Councillor Hanlon

To be Seconded by Councillor Eyre

This Council notes with deep concern and rising anger the linked problems blighting Oldham residents’ quality of life:

A. Masked and balaclava-clad youths on off-road motorbikes, high-powered e-bikes (including Surron-style machines) and similar vehicles terrorise our streets. They race at high speed on roads, pavements, parks and open spaces, weave recklessly through traffic and pedestrians, ride without lights in dark clothing, and vanish into estates. These vehicles fuel drug dealing, robbery, theft, criminal damage, intimidation and the exploitation of children. Fast speeding cars compound the danger—driven recklessly at excessive speeds through residential roads and estates, creating noise, fear and risk. Residents feel unsafe and powerless. Many say “no one can catch them.” Despite GMP operations such as Operation Hurricane, both problems remain widespread and unacceptable.

B. Illegal and nuisance fireworks. Under the Fireworks Regulations 2004 it is a criminal offence to use fireworks between 11:00 pm and 7:00 am (except limited permitted nights). Throwing or setting off fireworks in streets or public places is also illegal. Repeated early-hours explosions rob residents of sleep, distress children, older people, those with sensory issues or PTSD, and terrify animals. Areas including Chadderton report being woken at 2:00–3:00 am and beyond. Previous promises of better checks and mapping have failed to stop the nuisance.

Effective action demands tight, structured cooperation between the Council and GMP.

This Council believes:

Oldham residents should not have to endure masked bike thugs, reckless speeding cars or illegal midnight fireworks as “just the way it is.”

Existing powers under road traffic law, the Fireworks Regulations, the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, statutory nuisance rules, licensing and tenancy enforcement must be used systematically, robustly and visibly.

Better multi-agency working, intelligence-led targeting, clear escalation and significantly increased visible patrols  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

RESOLVED: That Council suspend Council Procedure Rules 2.1.3 J and K for dealing with Administration and Opposition business.

Motion 1: A New Start for Oldham Borough

Councillor Harkness MOVED and Councillor Al-Hamdani SECONDED the following Motion:

This Council believes that:
Residents of Oldham Borough want their Council to change to reflect the priorities of the people. 

They want their Council to get the basics right, with a laser-focus on improving the performance of frontline services including drain clearance, road repairs and park and green space maintenance.  

Residents want their Council to tackle environmental crimes like littering, dog-fouling, fly-tipping and graffiti. 

It is also time to deliver fair funding to all districts and communities in Oldham Borough and not just keep pouring capital investment into Oldham Town Centre. 

This Council resolves:
To request the relevant officers to produce a budget report to explore how existing funding can be reprofiled to address the priorities set out in this motion and specifically addressing: environmental crime (including littering, dog fouling, fly-tipping and graffiti); frontline services (including drain clearance, road repairs, and park and green space maintenance) and delivering fair district funding.  

The report will come back to the next council where the report can be considered and voted upon.

Councillors Jabbar and Bishop addressed Council in relation to the Motion.

Councillor Harkness exercised his right of reply.

On being put to the vote, MOTION 1 was CARRIED.

Motion 2: Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour

Councillor Hanlon MOVED and Councillor Eyre SECONDED the following motion:

This Council notes with deep concern and rising anger the linked problems blighting Oldham residents’ quality of life:

A. Masked and balaclava-clad youths on off-road motorbikes, high-powered e-bikes (including Surron-style machines) and similar vehicles terrorise our streets. They race at high speed on roads, pavements, parks and open spaces, weave recklessly through traffic and pedestrians, ride without lights in dark clothing, and vanish into estates. These vehicles fuel drug dealing, robbery, theft, criminal damage, intimidation and the exploitation of children. Fast speeding cars compound the danger—driven recklessly at excessive speeds through residential roads and estates, creating noise, fear and risk. Residents feel unsafe and powerless. Many say “no one can catch them.” Despite GMP operations such as Operation Hurricane, both problems remain widespread and unacceptable.

B. Illegal and nuisance fireworks. Under the Fireworks Regulations 2004 it is a criminal offence to use fireworks between 11:00 pm and 7:00 am (except limited permitted nights). Throwing or setting off fireworks in streets or public places is also illegal. Repeated early-hours explosions rob residents of sleep, distress children, older people, those with sensory issues or PTSD, and terrify animals. Areas including Chadderton report being woken at 2:00–3:00 am and beyond. Previous promises of better checks and mapping have failed to stop the nuisance.

Effective action demands tight, structured cooperation between the Council and GMP.

This Council believes:

Oldham residents should not have to endure masked bike thugs, reckless speeding cars or illegal midnight fireworks as “just the way it is.”

Existing powers under  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Mayor, Councillor Byrne, MOVED and Councillor Woodvine SECONDED the Changes to the Constitution report.

Councillor Al-Hamdani addressed Council in relation to the report.

On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED.

Report to follow.

The Mayor, Councillor Byrne, MOVED, and Councillor Hobin SECONDED, that the Council resolved into committee in line with council procedure rule 12.4.4(o) to allow officers to address the meeting.

On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED.

The Mayor, Councillor Byrne, MOVED and Councillor Hobin SECONDED the Interim Governance Report

The Chief Executive addressed the Council.

Councillors Wilkinson and Councillor Shah addressed Council in relation to the report.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rules, 8.4(k) it was MOVED that this Council meeting be ADJOURNED at 6.30 p.m.

The meeting reconvened at 7:15 p.m.

Councillors P. Taylor, Hobin and the Mayor, Councillor Byrne, addressed Council in relation to the report.

On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED.

To note the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Annual Review of Complaints for 2025-26.

The Mayor, Councillor Byrne, MOVED, and Councillor Al-Hamdani SECONDED the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Review of Complaints 2025/26.

Councillor Harrison addressed Council in relation to the Report.

RESOLVED: That the Report be NOTED.

To consider and comment upon the Treasury Management Outturn report and the Treasury Management activity and outturn position.

The Mayor, Councillor Byrne, MOVED, and Councillor Al-Hamdani SECONDED the Treasury Management Outturn Report 2025/26.

RESOLVED: That the Report be NOTED.

To consider the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel, and its recommendations, as set out in Appendix 1, and adopts the interim scheme as set out in Appendix 1, for the remainder of municipal year 2026/27, or until a Council Leader is appointed, effective from 17 September 2026.

The Mayor, Councillor Byrne, MOVED and Councillor Ghafoor SECONDED the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED.

To note the contents of this report and that it will no longer be possible to adopt Supplementary Planning Documents for Masterplans for Places for Everyone allocations.

The Mayor, Councillor Byrne, MOVED, and Councillor E. Taylor SECONDED the Item: Ensuring Statutory Scrutiny and Enforceability for Places for Everyone Masterplans.

RESOLVED: That the Report be NOTED.

To approve the Oldham Children, Young People and Families Plan 2026-27

The Mayor, Councillor Byrne, MOVED, and Councillor Wilkinson SECONDED the Oldham Children, Young People and Families Plan 2026/27.

On being put to the vote, the REPORT was CARRIED.

To approve the Oldham Youth Justice Service Plan 2026-27.

The Mayor, Councillor Byrne, MOVED, and Councillor Wilkinson SECONDED the Youth Justice Plan 2026/27.

On being put to the vote, the REPORT was CARRIED.

To update on actions from previous Council meetings.

The Mayor, Councillor Byrne, MOVED and Councillor Ghafoor SECONDED the Report on Updates on Council actions.

RESOLVED: That the actions regarding motions and issues from the meetings of the Council held on 15^th July 2026 and 20^th August 2026, be noted and confirmed.