Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Lancaster.

Councillor Shuttleworth MOVED, Councillor McLaren SECONDED and Councillor Mushtaq SUPPORTED the election of Councillor Eddie Moores, as Mayor of the Borough and Chair of Council, for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

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

Councillor Moores signed the declaration required by law, which enabled him to act in the Office of Mayor.

The retiring Mayor (Councillor Zahid Chauhan) invested the newly elected Mayor with the chain of office; the Mayor’s Consorts were presented with their chains.

(The Mayor, Councillor Moores, in the Chair).

The Mayor then made a speech of acceptance of office.

RESOLVED

1.         Councillor Eddie Moores be appointed Mayor of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council and Chair for the 2025/2026 Municipal Year.

2.         The sincere thanks and appreciation of the Council be recorded to Councillor Zahid Chauhan for his valuable services during his term of office as Mayor of the Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council.

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Chauhan and his Consorts.

Councillors Ghafoor, Woodvine and Sykes addressed the Council paying tribute to Councillor Chauhan.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Chauhan to address the Council.

Councillor Hindle MOVED and Councillor Navesey SECONDED the appointment of Councillor Hobin as Deputy Mayor and Vice Chair of Council for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

AMENDMENT

Councillor Sykes MOVED and Councillor Woodvine SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

“That the nomination of Councillor Brian Hobin as Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2025/26 be amended to instead nominate Councillor Alicia Marland, inline with the 50-year custom of this Council which has ensured the political neutrality of the Mayor’s Office.

That Councillor Alicia Marland be appointed as Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2025/26.”

A recorded vote, in line with Council Procedure Rules was then taken on the AMENDMENT as follows:

.

On a recorded VOTE being taken 28 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT with 31 VOTES cast AGAINST and there were 0 ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.

A recorded vote, in line with the Regulations was then taken on the MOTION (to appoint Councillor Hobin as Deputy Mayor and Vice Chair of Council for the forthcoming Municipal Year), as follows:

RESOLVED:

That subject to an amendment to Minute 10 (Questions to Leader and Cabinet), to reflect that Oldham Rugby League Club had reached the semi-final of the 1895 Cup and not the Challenge Cup, as stated, the Minutes of the meeting of the Council, held on 9^th April 2025, be approved and signed by the Mayor, as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interests.

There were no matters of urgent business to report.

There were no communications relating to the business of the Council to report.

To note the appointment agreed by Council on 24^th May 2023

Councillor Taylor MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED a report of the Assistant Director of Governance which reminded Members that under the Leader and Cabinet model of governance, Councillor Shah had been elected as Leader of the Council on 24^th May 2023 for a period that would end on the day when the Council holds its first annual meeting after the Leader’s normal day of retirement, as a Councillor unless: she resigned from the office; was no longer a Councillor; or she would be removed from office by a resolution of the Council.

AMENDMENT

Councillor Ghafoor MOVED and Councillor Wahid SECONDED the following AMENDMENT.

‘That Council note the election of Councillor Arooj Shah as the Leader of the Council from 24^th May 2023 and ending on the day when the Council holds its first annual meeting of the Leader’s normal day of retirement as Councillor as outlined at paragraph 1.2 of the report.

It is noted that the report references the appointment of the Leader of the Council, Cllr Arooj Shah, made at the Council meeting held on 24^th May 2023. However, a Leader may be removed from office by resolution of the Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (the Council).

This amendment seeks to REMOVE Cllr Arooj Shah as the Leader of the Council with immediate effect, and that a new Leader be elected by the Council at the Annual Council Meeting on Wednesday, 21^st May 2025.

The mover and seconder of this amendment hereby nominate Cllr Kamran Ghafoor to be elected as the new Leader of the Council.”

A recorded vote, in line with Council Procedure Rules was then taken on the AMENDMENT as follows:

.

On a recorded VOTE being taken 28 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT with 31 VOTES cast AGAINST and there were 0 ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive a report detailing:

a.    The number of Councillors to be appointed to the Cabinet.

b.    Appointments made to the Cabinet.

c.    The appointment of the Deputy Leader.

d.    The allocation of responsibilities (Portfolios).

e.    The appointment of Deputy Cabinet Members).

Appendix to follow

Consideration was given to a report of the Leader of the Council which detailed the Cabinet portfolios and the appointments to the Cabinet for the 2025/2026 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that the appointment of the Deputy Leaders, Cabinet Members, Deputy Cabinet Members, the allocation of portfolios to Cabinet Members and the determination of delegations to executive functions for 2025/2026 be noted as outlined below:

Note - the executive functions are those as described in Part 3 of the constitution as amended by item 15.

Report to follow

RESOLVED:

That the appointment of the main Opposition Leaders and the Shadow Cabinet, members, as set out below, be noted:

a.    Liberal Democrat Group

Leader – Councillor Howard Sykes

Deputy Group Leader – Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Group Shadow Cabinet:

b.    Oldham Group

Leader – Councillor Kamran Ghafoor

Deputy Group Leader – Abdul Wahid

Oldham Group Shadow Cabinet:

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

Appendix to follow

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Taylor SECONDED a report of the Assistant Director of Governance which sought a review of the political composition of committees and the composition of political groups as previously notified under Regulation 8(1) of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 and under Sections 15 and 16 of the Local Government Housing Act 1989.

RESOLVED:

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

2. The committees detailed in paragraph 1.2 of the reportbe appointed with the Terms of Reference and delegated powers as detailed in the Constitution.

3. The number of seats on the various Committees for the 2025/26 Municipal Year be as detailed in paragraph 1.5, of the report.

4. Council confirms unanimously 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 detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, as far as is practicable.

 5. Council appoints a Chair and Vice-Chair of each of the various Committees for the 2025/26 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 1, to the submitted report, except for the Appeals Committees.

6.    The Council appoints District Lead and Deputy Lead Members as follows:

                                          i.    Central District Lead – Councillor Malik (no Deputy Lead Member required)

                                        ii.    North District Lead – Councillor Hince and Deputy Lead – Councillor Adams

                                       iii.    East District Lead – Councillor Cosgrove and Deputy Lead – Councillor Bishop

                                       iv.    South District Lead – Councillor Hindle (no Deputy Lead Member required)

                                        v.    West District Lead – Councillor Shuttleworth (no Deputy Lead Member required)

7. The Co-opted Members detailed at paragraph 1.9 of the report be appointed to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Board and the Co-optees be given full voting rights in respect of education matters only.

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

9. Council ratifies the Leader’s nominations to the Health and Well-being Board, as listed in Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

To appoint Councillors to serve on Outside Bodies in 2025/26

Appendices to follow

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Taylor SECONDED a report of the Assistant Director of Governance which detailed the appointments to Outside Bodies for the Municipal Year 2025/26.

RESOLVED that:

1.         The appointments to the Outside Bodies as listed in the Appendices as circulated for the 2025/26 Municipal Year be agreed.

2.         Any outstanding appointments be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Leaders of the main Opposition Groups.

To re-affirm the Constitution

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Taylor SECONDED a report of the Interim Borough Solicitor, which invited Council to re-affirm the Council’s Constitution as a matter of good governance.

RESOLVED:

That Council re-affirms the Council’s Constitution.

a.    To confirm the meetings of Full Council to be held on the undermentioned dates during 2025/26, commencing at 6.00pm, unless otherwise stated:

           Wednesday, 16^th July 2025

           Wednesday, 17^th September 2025

           Wednesday, 12^th November 2025

           Wednesday, 10^th December 2025

           Wednesday, 4^th March 2026 (Budget Meeting)

           Wednesday, 18^th March 2026

b.    To approve the calendar of Meetings for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Director of Governance which set out the Calendar of Meetings for the 2025/2026 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The meetings of Full Council be held on the undermentioned dates during the 2025/2026 Municipal Year, commencing at 6.00pm unless otherwise shown:

16^th July 2025

17^th September 2025

12^th November 2025

10^th December 2025

4^th March 2025

18^th March 2026

2.    The Council’s calendar of meetings for 2025/2026 be approved.

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

(time limit 30 minutes)

None received.

There were no items of Opposition Business to consider.

(time limit 30 minutes)

None received

There were no items of Administration Business to consider.