Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the correct spelling of Mr Dave McGealy’s name (further to Minute 5), the Minutes or the meeting of Council, held on 1^st November 2023, be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interests.

There was no urgent business for this meeting of Council to consider.

The Mayor referred to the recent sad news of the passing of former Councillor Eileen Joynes, who had represented the Borough’s Hollinwood Ward, on behalf of the Liberal Democrat party and he permitted Councillors Sykes, Jabbar and Sheldon to pay their individual condolences and tributes. Council held a minute’s silence in memory of Councillor Eileen Joynes.

Further to Minute 4 of the meeting of Council held 1^st November 2023, the Mayor reported that he had received a reply from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the cross-party letter that he had forwarded calling for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict in Gaza.

The Mayor welcomed a new political grouping on the Council: the Oldham Group, which comprised the three Hollinwood Ward Councillors.

(Time limit 20 minutes)

There have been no Petitions received.

There were no petitions for Council to consider.

(time limit 20 minutes)

Unused Stationery Within the Council and its Partners

Oldham youth council put forward the motion with the aims to address the issue of access to stationery and educational resources, which has a significant impact on the educational opportunities of our young people.

Council recognises that since the COVID 19 pandemic Oldham Youth Council have made poverty and the cost of living as priority issues and have undertaken work to improve the lives of Oldham’s Young People. This includes:

·         Sitting on the Oldham Town Centre board to input on decisions around the town centre improvements.

·         Working with the Council’s post 16 team around employability and NEET young people

·         2022 motion to Council asking that the Chief Executive writes to Government to extend the offer of the Holiday Activities and Food programme to all young people not just those on free school meals.

Council notes:

·         That according to the Times Educational Supplement survey, in partnership with the National Education Union, 94% of surveyed teachers resort to using their personal funds to purchase necessary equipment for their students.

·         That according to a UNISON survey, of 6,672 of it members, showed that even though they were worried their pay would not cover spiralling living costs, more than one in five (23%) have used their own money to pay for pens and pencils for their students.

·         That energy bills and the pressures of inflation are continuing to burden schools’ budgets with less money to support students financially.

Council recognises:

·         The importance of quality education in shaping the future of our community, but that a significant number of pupils in Oldham face challenges in accessing essential stationery items required for school.

·         With the Council departments currently looking to move to the spindles this is a prime opportunity to take stock of any unused stationery.  With everyone having calculator apps on their laptops or mobile phones, and offices becoming paperless, the need for pens, rulers and physical calculator has reduced.

We propose that Oldham Council therefore resolves to:

·         Ask the Chief Executive to write to all department heads asking that teams look at current stocks of pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, rubbers, rulers and calculators (including badged merchandise), and any items not required for the running of that department, to be donated and used to create packs that can be distributed to students most in need.

·         Ask the Chief Executive to write to partners (including Miocare, Greater Manchester Police, NHS, Action Together, positive steps, OCL, and Greater Manchester fire service) also donate any unused stationery.

·         Work with Oldham Youth Council to create packs containing essential stationery items and help us distribute them to schools.

The Youth Council PROPOSED the following MOTION:
Unused Stationery Within the Council and its Partners

Oldham youth council put forward the motion with the aims to address the issue of access to stationery and educational resources, which has a significant impact on the educational opportunities of our young people.

Council recognises that since the COVID 19 pandemic Oldham Youth Council have made poverty and the cost of living as priority issues and have undertaken work to improve the lives of Oldham’s Young People. This includes:

·         Sitting on the Oldham Town Centre board to input on decisions around the town centre improvements.

·         Working with the Council’s post 16 team around employability and NEET young people

·         2022 motion to Council asking that the Chief Executive writes to Government to extend the offer of the Holiday Activities and Food programme to all young people not just those on free school meals.

Council notes:

·         That according to the Times Educational Supplement survey, in partnership with the National Education Union, 94% of surveyed teachers resort to using their personal funds to purchase necessary equipment for their students.

·         That according to a UNISON survey, of 6,672 of it members, showed that even though they were worried their pay would not cover spiralling living costs, more than one in five (23%) have used their own money to pay for pens and pencils for their students.

·         That energy bills and the pressures of inflation are continuing to burden schools’ budgets with less money to support students financially.

Council recognises:

·         The importance of quality education in shaping the future of our community, but that a significant number of pupils in Oldham face challenges in accessing essential stationery items required for school.

·         With the Council departments currently looking to move to the spindles this is a prime opportunity to take stock of any unused stationery.  With everyone having calculator apps on their laptops or mobile phones, and offices becoming paperless, the need for pens, rulers and physical calculator has reduced.

We propose that Oldham Council therefore resolves to:

·         Ask the Chief Executive to write to all department heads asking that teams look at current stocks of pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, rubbers, rulers and calculators (including badged merchandise), and any items not required for the running of that department, to be donated and used to create packs that can be distributed to students most in need.

·         Ask the Chief Executive to write to partners (including Miocare, Greater Manchester Police, NHS, Action Together, positive steps, OCL, and Greater Manchester fire service) also donate any unused stationery.

·         Work with Oldham Youth Council to create packs containing essential stationery items and help us distribute them to schools.

Councillor Mushtaq spoke in support of the Motion

Councillor Birch spoke in support of the Motion

Councillor Harkness spoke in support of the Motion

Councillor S. Bashforth spoke in support of the Motion

Councillor Arnott spoke in support of the Motion

Councillor Mushtaq MOVED and Councillor Birch SECONDED the MOTION, as presented by the Youth Council.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

(time limit 15 Minutes)

To receive questions submitted by members of the public.

1.    Question from Pat Highley

Please could the council give serious thought to the siting and funding, including maintenance of two AEDs (Automative External Defibrillator) in two of the borough’s largest parks, Tandle Hill Park Royton and Alexandra Park Oldham. 

Both of these parks have a heavy footfall and are used for sporting events as well as walking, running and cycling.

If only one life is saved, then they will be worth every penny. The longer a person goes without effective CPR and defibrillation, the less likely they are to survive.

You can make a difference, please help to save lives.

Councillor Brownridge, Cabinet member for Health and Social Care thanked Pat Highley for her question.  I can confirm that there is a defibrillator in Alexandra Park within the main office, which was donated to the park by a local family. At present, this is only accessible while the office is open, Monday to Friday 7:30 to 17:00, however we will ensure events and groups using the park outside these hours are aware of the defibrillator and have access to it in an emergency.   

We don’t currently have a defibrillator at Tandle Hill Park, but I’ve asked Council teams to explore options for how one can be available in alignment with the Council’s Community Defibrillator Policy.   

We would welcome support from any private sector partners, local businesses or families if they wish to come forward to help supply and maintain community defibrillators. This can be through charitable contributions or social value commitments. 

2.    Question from Megan Birchall

What are we doing to support our businesses across the borough to ensure our people and economy thrive?”

Councillor Fida Hussain, Cabinet member for Business, Employment and Enterprise replied, thanked Megan Birchall for her question. There are a range of things that we are doing to support businesses in the Borough.  This ranges from direct business support aimed at helping businesses to start-up, grow and invest in the Borough through to a series of physical regeneration projects that will provide the foundations for businesses, people and our economy to thrive.   

The direct support includes a general business advice and guidance, sector specific support, workforce development, access to finance, digital and low carbon support.  All of this support is underpinned by a variety of engagement events and comms activity to ensure that businesses know how to access the support on offer. 

The Council also works in close partnership with GMCA Growth Company to broker in support available at a regional level for businesses where applicable.  

In addition to this, there are a series of physical projects aimed at supporting our businesses, people and economy to thrive.  These include plans for a renewed purpose for Oldham Town Centre as a creative place with a vibrant night-time and cultural economy, more jobs and homes, including: 

• Redevelopment of the Spindles to include a new market, retail space, office and events space 

• A new performance and theatre space for Oldham 

• development of the Green  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

(Time limit 90 minutes)

Leader and Cabinet Members to present their reports

Non-executive members may ask questions.

a.    Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Reform and Regeneration – including the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held 16^th October 2023; and the meetings of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held 29^th September 2023 and 27^th October 2023

b.    Deputy Leader and Housing and Licensing Portfolio

c.    Deputy Leader and Children and Young People’s Portfolio

d.    Education and Skills Portfolio Holder

e.    Health and Social Care Portfolio Holder

f.     Communities and Culture Portfolio Holder

g.    Neighbourhoods Portfolio Holder

h.    Business, Employment and Enterprise Portfolio Holder

i.      Finance and Corporate Resources Portfolio Holder

Council agreed that the Council Procedure Rules would be varied so that there would be 10 minutes for questions to the Leader from Group Leaders and 10 minutes for the section on portfolio responsibilities.

Councillor Sykes, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group

Question 1: Newsome and Ridgeway Report

Councillor Sykes noted that it was now approximately 18 months since the shocking details of the Newsome and Ridgeway report into the review into historic safeguarding practices in the borough of Oldham was published, which revealed how responsible agencies in the borough had let many children down. Councillor Sykes asked, if, 18 months on from the report’s publication how many officers of the Greater Manchester Police, health care services and of the relevant departments of the Council had faced disciplinary action as a result of the widespread failings?

Councillor Shah, Leader of the Council, replied that the findings of the report were indeed shocking but in the intervening years since the events occurred there had been big changes in working cultures and relevant staff had received a full training programme in how to deal with cases relating to sexual abuse and other safeguarding concerns. Councillor Shah advised that she did not have, to hand, details of the numbers of people who had faced disciplinary actions, relating to this matter but she undertook to write to Councillor Sykes with the information that he had requested.

Question 2: Oldham Coliseum Theatre

Councillor Sykes asked about proposals to redevelop the Oldham Coliseum theatre. Previous attempts to redevelop the theatre in 2013 and 2019 had ‘fell through’ and a further attempt in 2022 resulted in plans for a revamped theatre but with a reduced seating capacity of 260, down from the current capacity of 55 at its Fairbottom Street site. Initial reports had indicated that the Fairbottom Street site was at the end of its life but a report, commissioned by the Theatre’s Board of Trustees had found otherwise. Therefore, Councillor Sykes asked if it would be more prudent to invest funding in preserving the existing site at Fairbottom Street site rather than risk investing in a new site. Given that there was a report indicating that maintaining a working theatre at the Fairbottom Street site was still viable, Councillor Sykes asked if the Council had been misled about future intentions regarding the Coliseum theatre.

Councillor Shah, Leader of the Council, replied that her administration was aware of the importance of the Coliseum Theatre for residents of the Borough and accordingly was involved in ongoing meetings with interested parties to maintain a viable theatre in the town centre.

Councillor Sheldon, Leader of the Conservative Group

Councillor Sheldon referred to recent well publicised dog attacks and the inclusion of the XL Bully Dog on the ‘banned breeds list’ noting that the current time would be an opportune moment to encourage responsible dog ownership. Councillor Sheldon noted that the vast majority of dog owners were responsible people who cared deeply for their pets but there was a minority  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1

To be moved by Councillor Mushtaq

Seconded by: Councillor Charters

Delivering Children’s Services in the community

The Sure Start programme, one of the greatest achievements of the last Labour government, ensured that millions of children received the best possible start in life, giving parents the ability to access childcare, early years learning, health services and family support. In doing so, child poverty was reduced, parents felt supported when returning to work, and thousands were able to become successful parents.

The government has introduced a new model to local authorities, known as Family Hubs, which focus on two areas: a universal 0-19s offer, ensuring that young people get the support they need throughout their childhood and adolescence; and a programme focused on the first 1001 days of a child’s life, from pregnancy to age 2. This is a critical time for development, and the interventions made during this time period will help give a child the best start to life.

As we face another year of cuts from central government, the council has sought to improve the services we offer to families out in the districts, refurbishing centres and creating a service based on delivering outcomes in community settings, rather than being anchored to buildings. By creating an agile service, we can deliver the much needed family support in areas where families are, rather than expecting them to come to us.

This Council notes:

·         That since the ending of ringfenced funding for Sure Start centres in 2011, there has been a significant reduction in the availability of children’s services across England, resulting in poorer starts for millions of children across the country.

·         That since the cuts to Sure Start were implemented, childhood obesity levels have risen and more children are starting school below expected development milestones.

·         Despite continued funding cuts from 13 years of Tory government, Oldham Council has continued to deliver services and support families.

·         That on Monday 4^th December the Council began consulting on an improved model for delivering children’s services in the community, recognising the need for an agile service that is delivered not from static sites, but through outreaching services based in hubs but delivered within a community setting.

This Council resolves to:

·         Continue supporting residents through the Family Hubs service, providing a 0-19s universal service across the borough, accessible to all families in Oldham at each hub.

·         Work alongside partners in the NHS, Department for Education and VCFSE organisations to ensure a comprehensive offer across the borough, utilising council owned assets, community assets and other suitable locations to ensure that families can access the support they need within their communities.

·         Thank council staff, NHS staff and school partners who have aided in the design and delivery of this new model.

This council further resolves to:

·         Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Department for Education, Members of Parliament and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, highlighting the exceptional work done in designing and delivering this model of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Motion 1: Delivering Children’s Services in the community

Councillor Mushtaq MOVED and Councillor Charters SECONDED the following Motion:

The Sure Start programme, one of the greatest achievements of the last Labour government, ensured that millions of children received the best possible start in life, giving parents the ability to access childcare, early years learning, health services and family support. In doing so, child poverty was reduced, parents felt supported when returning to work, and thousands were able to become successful parents.

The government has introduced a new model to local authorities, known as Family Hubs, which focus on two areas: a universal 0-19s offer, ensuring that young people get the support they need throughout their childhood and adolescence; and a programme focused on the first 1001 days of a child’s life, from pregnancy to age 2. This is a critical time for development, and the interventions made during this time period will help give a child the best start to life.

As we face another year of cuts from central government, the council has sought to improve the services we offer to families out in the districts, refurbishing centres and creating a service based on delivering outcomes in community settings, rather than being anchored to buildings. By creating an agile service, we can deliver the much-needed family support in areas where families are, rather than expecting them to come to us.

This Council notes:

·         That since the ending of ringfenced funding for Sure Start centres in 2011, there has been a significant reduction in the availability of children’s services across England, resulting in poorer starts for millions of children across the country.

·         That since the cuts to Sure Start were implemented, childhood obesity levels have risen and more children are starting school below expected development milestones.

·         Despite continued funding cuts from 13 years of Tory government, Oldham Council has continued to deliver services and support families.

·         That on Monday 4^th December the Council began consulting on an improved model for delivering children’s services in the community, recognising the need for an agile service that is delivered not from static sites, but through outreaching services based in hubs but delivered within a community setting.

This Council resolves to:

·         Continue supporting residents through the Family Hubs service, providing a 0-19s universal service across the borough, accessible to all families in Oldham at each hub.

·         Work alongside partners in the NHS, Department for Education and VCFSE organisations to ensure a comprehensive offer across the borough, utilising council owned assets, community assets and other suitable locations to ensure that families can access the support they need within their communities.

·         Thank council staff, NHS staff and school partners who have aided in the design and delivery of this new model.

This council further resolves to:

·         Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Department for Education, Members of Parliament and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, highlighting the exceptional work done in designing and delivering this model of children’s services despite austerity, and make representations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1

To be moved by Councillor Kenyon

Seconded by Councillor Gloster

20 is Plenty

Council notes that:

• Speed limits on Britain’s Roads are 60% higher than in Europe.

• More than half of all accident casualties occur on roads with 30mph limits.

• A pedestrian is 7 times more likely to die if they are hit by a vehicle travelling at 30mph than they are at 20mph, rising to 10 times more likely if aged 60 or older.

• Reducing speed limits on residential roads has been found to reduce air pollution, the incidents of accidents, and the numbers of fatalities and serious injuries that result.?

• Over 20 million citizens live in local authorities in the UK which have adopted or are adopting a default speed limit of 20mph on residential roads.?

• The default speed limit of 20mph has been adopted by other local authorities without the need for the implementation of physical calming measures.?

• Road safety experts from 130 countries adopted the ‘Stockholm Declaration’ recommending 20mph as the preferred default speed limit on residential roads in February 2020, and this was endorsed by the UN General Assembly in August 2020.?

Council further recognises that:

• Covid-19 and the challenges that have come with building back from it demonstrate that one of our key concerns must be to address all aspects of public health.?

• This should include lowering the default speed of motor vehicles on residential roads to reduce the danger they pose to residents and the pollution they emit.?

• Such a measure should be comprehensive and cover all residential roads in the Council Area – unless there are specific and unique exceptions that necessitate a faster speed limit.?

Council therefore resolves to:

• Establish an all-group working party to seek to implement a Council-wide 20mph speed limit on residential roads as soon as possible. This should include identifying roads where the lower speed limit may not be appropriate and exploring enforcement measures such as average speed cameras and Community Speedwatch initiatives.?

• Ask the Chief Executive to write to the leaders of all other Councils in the region that haven’t already implemented 20mph speed limits as the default in their authority area, and to write to Highways England requesting that speeds are reduced on sections of the motorway network in our Council area to tackle pollution.

Motion 2

To be moved by Councillor Woodvine

Second by Councillor Lancaster

Community First Aid

St. John’s Ambulance is the country’s first aid and health response charity. From helping young people become the health care professionals of tomorrow, to their world class training, St. John’s empowers people of all ages with lifesaving skills. They deliver compassion and care as ambulance crews, at marathons and festivals, in hospitals, and through a range of inspiring youth programmes.

St. John’s Ambulance has always supported NHS Trusts in periods of high demand. During the Covid pandemic, volunteers stepped forward to serve the nation in the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Motion 1: 20 is Plenty

Councillor Kenyon MOVED and Councillor Gloster SECONDED the following Motion:

Council notes that:

• Speed limits on Britain’s Roads are 60% higher than in Europe.

• More than half of all accident casualties occur on roads with 30mph limits.

• A pedestrian is 7 times more likely to die if they are hit by a vehicle travelling at 30mph than they are at 20mph, rising to 10 times more likely if aged 60 or older.

• Reducing speed limits on residential roads has been found to reduce air pollution, the incidents of accidents, and the numbers of fatalities and serious injuries that result.?

• Over 20 million citizens live in local authorities in the UK which have adopted or are adopting a default speed limit of 20mph on residential roads.?

• The default speed limit of 20mph has been adopted by other local authorities without the need for the implementation of physical calming measures.?

• Road safety experts from 130 countries adopted the ‘Stockholm Declaration’ recommending 20mph as the preferred default speed limit on residential roads in February 2020, and this was endorsed by the UN General Assembly in August 2020.?

Council further recognises that:

• Covid-19 and the challenges that have come with building back from it demonstrate that one of our key concerns must be to address all aspects of public health.?

• This should include lowering the default speed of motor vehicles on residential roads to reduce the danger they pose to residents and the pollution they emit.?

• Such a measure should be comprehensive and cover all residential roads in the Council Area – unless there are specific and unique exceptions that necessitate a faster speed limit.?

Council therefore resolves to:

• Establish an all-group working party to seek to implement a Council-wide 20mph speed limit on residential roads as soon as possible. This should include identifying roads where the lower speed limit may not be appropriate and exploring enforcement measures such as average speed cameras and Community Speedwatch initiatives.?

• Ask the Chief Executive to write to the leaders of all other Councils in the region that haven’t already implemented 20mph speed limits as the default in their authority area, and to write to Highways England requesting that speeds are reduced on sections of the motorway network in our Council area to tackle pollution.

1^st AMENDMENT

Councillor Lancaster MOVED and Councillor Byrne SECONDED the following AMENDMENT

Council notes that:

Speed limits on many of our Borough’s roads residential and otherwise, are inappropriately high and permit excessive speeds.

Issues with speeding are not limited to residential roads, but all roads across the highway network.

There are benefits to reducing speed limits on residential roads, including reductions in the incidents of accidents, and the numbers of fatalities and serious injuries that result.

Speed limits require the implementation of physical calming measure and active enforcement, namely permanent cameras, otherwise they are largely permissive and general speeds still exceed the limit.

The recent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To consider the Annual Report from the Elected Member Steering Group on Child Sexual Exploitation and to agree proposals to change the terms of reference for the Steering Group to include all constituted political groups and any elected members with portfolio or shadow portfolio responsibilities for children’s services.

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Mushtaq SECONDED a report of the Assistant Chief Executive which asked for consideration of the Annual Report from the Elected Member Steering Group on Child Sexual Exploitation and to agree proposals to change the terms of reference for the Steering Group to include all constituted political groups and any elected members with portfolio or shadow portfolio responsibilities for children’s services.

Following the publication of the independent assurance review into historic safeguarding practice, Oldham Council had established a cross party Elected member Steering Group on Child Sexual Exploitation.

The Steering Group committed, as part of its terms of reference to provide a summary of its activity to Full Council on an annual basis. The submitted report sough to present that summary to Full Council, as detailed at Appendix A.

The report also sought to agree changes to the terms of reference, established in 2022, to reflect the changing political landscape within Oldham Council and to ensure representation from all political groups. These proposed changes were outlined in a proposed updated terms of reference at Appendix B.

RESOLVED

1.    That Council formally receives the Annual Report of the Elected Member Steering Group on Child Sexual Exploitation detailing the assurance work undertaken in the last twelve months.

2.    That Council agree the proposed changes to the Steering Group’s terms of reference to:

a.    Extend the membership of the group to include two representatives from each political group,

b.    That the two group representatives on the Steering Group will be the Group Leader and, where the role exists within that group, the member with portfolio or shadow portfolio responsibilities for children and young people.

c.    Where no such role exists within a group the Group Leader will determine the second member.

To appoint to committees of the Council in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and give consideration to committees not allocated strictly in accordance with proportionality under the Act.

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED a reportof the Director of Legal Services which advised that the Council has received notification that three Members of the Council wish henceforth to be known as the Oldham Group, further to Regulation 8 (1) of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 and under Section 15 and 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. The three members are Councillors Ghafoor, Irfan and Wahid and Councillor Ghafoor is to be Leader of the Group with Councillor Wahid as Deputy Leader

In light of this the Council was asked to review the political composition of committees and to note the composition of the political groups as previously notified under Regulation 8 (1) of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 and under Section 15 and 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

The establishment of the new group means that the Conservative Group on the Council was reduced from 11 to eight and the Liberal Democrat Group, with 10 members, were the Council’s main opposition Group. Their Shadow Portfolio positions were detailed at Appendix 1, of the report.

RESOLVED That:

1.    The composition of the political groups, as shown in paragraph 1.1 of the report, be noted.

2.    The number of seats on the various Committees for the remainder of the 2023/24 Municipal Year, as detailed in paragraph 1.5 of the report, be approved.

3.    Council confirms the allocation of seats to the political groups and makes appointments to fill the seats in accordance with Sections 15 and 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as far as is practicable, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report, including those Committees that are not strictly politically balanced, namely the four Scrutiny Boards.

4.    Any outstanding appointments, where Group are entitled to a committee seat, be delegated to the Chief Executive in accordance with the wishes of the relevant political group.

5.    The Liberal Democrat Group Shadow Cabinet positions be noted.

6.    Any outstanding appointments to be delegated to the Chief Executive to determine, in accordance with the wishes of the relevant political group.

To consider a calendar of meetings for 2024/25

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED a report of the Director of Legal Services which sought approval of the draft Calendar of Meetings for the 2024/2025 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that:

1.   The Council’s Calendar of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2024/2025 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

2.   Approval of any outstanding dates be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with Group Leaders.

To update council on actions from the previous Council meeting held on 1^st November 2023 and meetings earlier in this municipal year.

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED a report of the Director of Legal Services, which informed members of actions taken following the meeting of the Council on 1^st November 2023 to all Council members.

Resolved:

That the actions regarding motions and issues from the meeting of the Council on 1^st November 2023 be noted.

A report advising Council of the performance of the Treasury Management function of the Council for the first six months of 2023/24 and provides a comparison of performance against the 2023/24 Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators.

Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Shah SECONDED a report of the Director of Finance, which advised Council of the performance of the Treasury Management function of the Council for the first half of 2023/24 and which also provided a comparison of performance against the 2022/24 Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators.

The Council was required to consider the performance of the Treasury Management function in order to comply with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management (revised 2021). This submitted report provided an additional update and included the new requirement in the 2021 Code, mandatory from 1^st April 2023, of quarterly reporting of the treasury management prudential indicators. This report therefore sets out the key Treasury Management issues for Members’ information and review and outlines:

• An economic update for the first half of the year of 2023/24.

• A review and updates of the Council’s current treasury management position

• Council Borrowing.

• Treasury Investment Activity.

• Treasury Performance for the first six months.

• Treasury Management Prudential Indicators.

The Audit Committee is the council’s body charged with the scrutiny of Treasury Management activities for Oldham Council, and therefore considered and approved the contents of the Half Year Report at its meeting of 31^st October 2023. The Committee was therefore content to commend the report to Cabinet. As such, Cabinet, at its meeting on 11^th December 2023, approved the content of the report and was content to commend it to Council.

Council was, therefore, requested to approve the Treasury Management Half Year Report 2023/24 to ensure full compliance with the Code.

RESOLVED
That Council approves:

1.    The Treasury Management Half Year Report 2023/24.

2.    The proposed revisions to the Operational Boundary and Authorised Limit as presented at paragraph 2.6.9 of the submitted report.

Council is asked to consider and amendment to the Code of Conduct

Councillor H. Harrison MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED a report of the Director of Legal that sought Council’s consideration of a proposed amendment to the Code of Conduct.

The Council have agreed a Members Code of Conduct which has been re-confirmed at an earlier meeting. At its meeting on 12^th July 2023, Council had resolved to develop and adopt a mandatory duty to report safeguarding concerns, including child sexual abuse and exploitation, into the Members Code of Conduct. Council was therefore asked to consider the following proposed paragraph for insertion into the code of conduct at paragraph 11, which has been recommended by the Standards Committee, (at its meeting on 30^th November 2023)  - “If any member has any safeguarding concerns, including child sexual abuse and exploitation, in connection with any person, it is the duty of the member to report these concerns to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)”.

RESOLVED

That the proposed amendment to the Code of Conduct be approved.