Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ball, Bashforth, Chauhan, Dean, Ibrahim, Quigg and Wilkinson.

To order that the Minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 10^th December 2025 and 4^th March 2026 (to be circulated) be approved and signed as correct records.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 10^th December 2025 and 4^th March 2026 (Budget Meeting), be approved as correct records.

The Mayor informed Council that in relation to agenda item 11, Opposition Motion 2 (Keep the Covenant) the Director of Legal Services had given a dispensation, allowing members that have served in the armed forces, or who have family members who were formerly in the armed services to fully participate and vote on this Motion.

Councillor Ghafoor declared a personal interest in agenda item 7 (Youth Council), insofar as his son, Hassan Ghafoor, was co-presenting the Youth Council’s Motion.

Councillor Lancaster declared a personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item 11, Opposition Motion 2 (Keep the Covenant) insofar as he was employed by the Royal British Legion. Councillor Lancaster left the room during the consideration and determination of this Motion.

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

a.             Former MP Phil Woolas

The Mayor referred to the recent death, on 14^th March 2026, of Mr. Phil Woolas, the former Member of Parliament for Oldham East and Saddleworth. Mr Woolas represented the constituency in Parliament between 1997 and 2010. During this time, he held a series of ministerial roles including Minister of State for Borders and Immigration, Minister of State for the Environment, Minister of State for Local Government, Minister of State for Social Inclusion, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury.

Accordingly, Councillors Shah, Sykes, Nasheen, Iqbal, Jabbar, Hince and Byrne addressed Council paying their individual condolences and tributes.

Council held a minute’s silence in memory of the former MP for the Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency, Mr. Phil Woolas.

b.             Councillor Hobin

The Mayor permitted the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Brian Hobin, to address the meeting, firstly to thank members and officers for their assistance during his medical emergency at the last Council meeting on 4^th March 2026 and secondly to apologise for his comments and behaviour at the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 21^st May 2025.

c.              Retiring Members

The Mayor informed Council that there were four Members who had indicated they would be retiring at the end of the current Municipal Year.

Councillors Shah, Byrne, Iqbal, Harrison, Jabbar, Al-Hamdani, Ghafoor and Akhtar paid tribute to the work of Councillor Peter Dean.

Councillors Shah, Ghafoor, Woodvine, Jabbar, Arnott, Harkness, Hobin and Akhtar paid tribute to the work of Councillor Howard Sykes. Councillor Sykes was permitted to respond to Council.

Councillors Shah and Williamson paid tribute to the work of Councillor Marie Bashforth.

Councillors Woodvine, Shah, Sheldon, Charters, Bishop and Hobin paid tribute to the work of Councillor Lancaster. Councillor Lancaster was permitted to respond to Council.

d.             Agenda item 11 – Notice of Opposition Business

The Mayor reported that the timings for the Motions to be considered at item 11 (Notice of Opposition Business) be allocated as follows: Liberal Democrat’s 15 minutes and Conservative Group 15 minutes.

(time limit 20 minutes)

There are no petitions for this Council meeting to consider.

There were no petitions for this meeting of the Council to consider.

(time limit 20 minutes)

Opposing the Under-16 Social Media Ban

In January 2026, the House of Lords voted in favour of an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The amendment sought to introduce a total ban on social media for children under the age of 16, requiring platforms to implement "highly effective" age-assurance measures.

On 9^th March, in the final stages of the Bill’s passage through the Commons, the Government formally addressed the proposed amendment for a total blanket ban on social media for under-16s. While the immediate, universal ban was ultimately voted down in favour of a more evidence-based approach, we at Oldham Youth Council worry that the Government’s commitment may lead to introducing significant statutory limitations Instead, which could be used to restrict Internet access to under 18s.

When cars were invented and got faster, we realised car crashes were very dangerous, but we didn’t ban children from being in cars, we made them safer with seatbelts, anti-roll bars, air bags, and other safety measures. Social media wasn’t created by young people but it’s the world that we have grown up in and much of everyday life is linked to it.  We didn’t create the monster, but a wide scale ban would potentially see us punished for it, even those who use it responsibly and safely which is the majority of young people. 

We feel that these limitations pose concerns for young people within their learning and educative experiences through social media. This ultimately may also end up hiding diverse content and peer-led support groups for topics such as mental health and LGBTQ+ communities, effectively "sanitising" an online experiences.

Our own Youth Mayor was able to put a question to the Prime Minister about this legislation and he informed her that the Government is currently consulting with young people, along with parents and other adults who work with young people.  We as a youth council have been able to complete the survey but numbers and statistics, don’t always show a true picture.  While the Prime Minister did say consultation will happen with focus groups, this seemed to be with large youth organisations and not the young people it will affect most.

Concerns that we feel should be addressed and considered through this consultation process and amendment of the bill are as follows:

a.    A potential increase in usage of unregulated apps. Young people may move into dangerous and less visible spaces and bypass age restrictions by using VPNs or by giving incorrect details which would lead to less adult oversight.

b.    Ofcom reports that 80% of 12–17-year-olds use social media for school and homework assistance, while 52% use it for learning new skills. This would dramatically decrease access to those young people whose learning style benefit from access to digital engagement.

c.     Limitations of access to social media when used correctly would disproportionally harm marginalise groups of young people, such as the LGBTQ+ community, who rely on social media for support and socialisation that  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

The Youth Council PROPOSED the following MOTION (introduced by Hassan Ghafoor and Asad Ranja):

Opposing the Under-16 Social Media Ban

In January 2026, the House of Lords voted in favour of an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The amendment sought to introduce a total ban on social media for children under the age of 16, requiring platforms to implement "highly effective" age-assurance measures.

On 9^th March, in the final stages of the Bill’s passage through the Commons, the Government formally addressed the proposed amendment for a total blanket ban on social media for under-16s. While the immediate, universal ban was ultimately voted down in favour of a more evidence-based approach, we at Oldham Youth Council worry that the Government’s commitment may lead to introducing significant statutory limitations Instead, which could be used to restrict Internet access to under 18s.

When cars were invented and got faster, we realised car crashes were very dangerous, but we didn’t ban children from being in cars, we made them safer with seatbelts, anti-roll bars, air bags, and other safety measures. Social media wasn’t created by young people but it’s the world that we have grown up in and much of everyday life is linked to it.  We didn’t create the monster, but a wide scale ban would potentially see us punished for it, even those who use it responsibly and safely which is the majority of young people. 

We feel that these limitations pose concerns for young people within their learning and educative experiences through social media. This ultimately may also end up hiding diverse content and peer-led support groups for topics such as mental health and LGBTQ+ communities, effectively "sanitising" an online experience.

Our own Youth Mayor was able to put a question to the Prime Minister about this legislation and he informed her that the Government is currently consulting with young people, along with parents and other adults who work with young people.  We as a youth council have been able to complete the survey but numbers and statistics, don’t always show a true picture.  While the Prime Minister did say consultation will happen with focus groups, this seemed to be with large youth organisations and not the young people it will affect most.

Concerns that we feel should be addressed and considered through this consultation process and amendment of the bill are as follows:

-          A potential increase in usage of unregulated apps. Young people may move into dangerous and less visible spaces and bypass age restrictions by using VPNs or by giving incorrect details which would lead to less adult oversight.

-          Ofcom reports that 80% of 12–17-year-olds use social media for school and homework assistance, while 52% use it for learning new skills. This would dramatically decrease access to those young people whose learning style benefit from access to digital engagement.

-          Limitations of access to social media when used correctly would disproportionally harm marginalise groups of young people, such as the LGBTQ+ community, who  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

(time limit 15 Minutes)

1.    Question from John Whatmough

Why has this food hub/allotment been built, without consultation with residents, impacting on a resident’s house, a pensioner in poor health, unable to access her boundary hedge and fencing impacting her privacy and adding stress. The council had a whole lot of space on the park to put this on but chose to erect against a homeowner's property, blocking off green space promised as a privacy area, many years ago by a Councillor?

Councillor Taylor, Statutory Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, replied, thanking Mr Whatmough for his question, noting that the food?growing hub at Berriesfield Park is a community?led project designed to support residents, improve local wellbeing and encourage residents to grow their own food.

It was publicised as part of the wider park improvement work, but we recognise that some residents wanted further opportunities to engage about the project. After issues were raised, officers met at the site on 17^th February 2026 with representatives. Officers were asked whether the new fence could be moved further into the park.

It was explained that this was not possible, however to address the resident’s concerns, the Council will cut back the hedge to the boundary line, which will create additional space and make future maintenance easier – this proposal was supported. We have also looked into whether this area was ever formally designated as a privacy buffer, and we have found no record of such a designation.

The Council is committed to supporting the resident and addressing their concerns, while also ensuring the growing hub continues to benefit the wider community.

2.    Question from Hannah Roberts

2026 is the National Year of Reading. Could the Cabinet Member report on activities in Oldham so far and outline what else is planned to get people reading across the borough?

Councillor Mohon Ali, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills replied, thanking Hannah Roberts for her question. We’re using the National Year of reading to amplify our amazing library reading offer which includes events and activities for all ages – from theatre to baby groups and everything in between. We’ve also programmed extra events and activities to encourage people to get into reading.

We got off to a flying start with the launch of our reading calendars in January – residents can pick up a calendar in any library to read along with our monthly themes and get book recommendations from the library team. A programme of book displays runs alongside the calendars to make it super easy to find a book. A personal shopper – for books.

We launched our book selection appointments for anyone who is looking to get back into reading and would like some guidance. Tell us a bit about yourself and your reading tastes and habits, and we’ll find the perfect book for you.

The National Year of Reading events programme offers something for everyone including author events, World Book Night celebrations, the Summer Reading Challenge, StoryFest and the Greater Manchester  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

(time limit 90 minutes)

1. Leader of the Council and Growth Portfolio Holder – including the Minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held 1^st December 2025, 15^th December 2025 and 19^th January 2026, urgent executive decisions made during 2025/26 (under ‘Rule 13’ and ‘Rule 14’ of the Constitution) and the minutes of meetings of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held 28^th November 2025, 12^th December 2025 and 30^th January 2026.
2. Statutory Deputy Leader and Neighbourhoods Portfolio Holder
3. Deputy Leader and Finance, Corporate Services and Sustainability Portfolio Holder
4. Children and Young People’s Portfolio Holder
5. Adults, Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder
6. Education and Skills Portfolio Holder
7. Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder
8. Enterprise Portfolio Holder
9. Transport and Highways Portfolio Holder

The Mayor invited the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members to present their reports and further invited non-executive members to ask questions thereon. Written questions and answers submitted to the Leader and Cabinet Members were attached at Appendix A (and have been published to the Council’s website):

a.    Councillor Shah, Leader of the Council and the Growth Portfolio holder, presented her report, including the Minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held 1^st December 2025, 15^th December 2025 and 19^th January 2026, the urgent executive decisions made during 2025/26 (under ‘Rule 13’ and ‘Rule 14’ of the Council’s Constitution and the minutes of the meetings of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held 28^th November 2025, 12^th December 2025 and 30^th January 2026.

Councillor Ghafoor, Leader of the Oldham Group

Question 1: Inconsiderate Parking

Councillor Ghafoor referred to numerous recent incidents of unsafe and inconsiderate parking of motor vehicles in Oldham. This was causing an obstruction for other road users, including, occasionally, for emergency vehicles. The problem, he stated, was particularly prevalent in the St. Mary’s Ward of the Borough, which was represented by the Leader of the Council. Councillor Ghafoor asked what the administration were doing and planning to do, to address this issue?

Councillor Shah replied that the Council had instigated and issued a Traffic Assessment for the St Mary’s Ward, the results of which were outlined in a public meeting in the Ward. The Traffic Assessment was intended to address some of the issues raised by Councillor Ghafoor. In addition, Councillor Shah noted that a lot of the issues relating to inconsiderate parking, including double parking on narrow residential streets were being caused by members of the Oldham Group, including the Oldham Group’s Chair. Councillor Shah referred to an incident, where a close family relative of hers would have missed, or been late for, a medical appointment if she had not personally intervened, because the Chair of the Oldham Group had parked in a way that obstructed other road users.

Question 2: Investment in Oldham town centre

Councillor Ghafoor noted that since 2019 over £1 billion had been invested in regeneration projects in Oldham’s town centre, yet a recent independent report noted that Rochdale had fallen from 19^th to the 11^th most deprived area in England, so, was, therefore still experiencing high levels of deprivation. He asked if the Administration had a plan to address this?

Councillor Shah replied that under the Labour government the Council had received millions of pounds of additional funding, for projects aimed at tackling deprivation. Councillor Shah indicated that Councillor Ghafoor was confusing the two issues which were separate from each other.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the Leader and Portfolio Holder reports be noted.

2.       That the written questions and answers submitted to the Leader and Portfolio Holders, as published on the Council’s website, be noted.

3.       That the Minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held 1^st December 2025, 15^th December 2025  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8.1 of the Council’s Constitution, the Mayor ceased consideration of the previous agenda item (Questions to Leader and Cabinet, during the presentation of item 9i (Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways)), as the time had reached 9.30pm when this Council meeting was scheduled to conclude.

Councillor Sykes MOVED and Councillor Al-Hamdani SECONDED that the remainder of the Council business be re-scheduled as follows:

a.    (Item 10) Notice of Administration Business (10 minutes)

b.    (Item 11) Notice of Opposition Business (10 minutes)

c.     Agenda items 12 – 19 inclusive (minutes 13 – 20, below) (10 minutes).

On being put to the vote the MOTION was CARRIED.

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1: Tackling Fly-Tipping, Waste Crime and Litter in Oldham

To be Moved by Councillor Taylor

To be Seconded by Councillor Nazrul Islam

This Council notes:

·       That fly-tipping is more than an environmental inconvenience. It is a form of organised crime that blights communities, overwhelms overstretched local authorities, and allows unscrupulous operators to profit at the expense of the public. Across England, 1.26 million fly-tipping incidents were recorded in 2023 to 2024, and the total cost of waste crime to the UK economy is estimated at around £1 billion per year.

·       That tackling environmental crime is an Oldham-wide priority, embedded in the borough's Corporate Plan 2024 to 2027. That plan sets out an explicit ambition for neighbourhoods where people are proud to live and commits this Council to working with residents to keep our streets clean and green.

·       That the problem is not evenly distributed. Fly-tipping and persistent littering disproportionately affect the most deprived neighbourhoods in our borough, where residents live alongside illegal dumping, often on their own doorsteps, while rural areas experience repeat offending in fly-tipping hotspots Environmental crime is not a trivial matter: it is an injustice forced upon communities that can least afford it.

·       This administration continues to place a high priority on maintaining clean neighbourhoods and tackling fly?tipping across the borough. We are taking firm enforcement action against those responsible whenever sufficient evidence is available. Central to this effort is the newly established Rapid Action Team, which provides a dedicated, fast?response capability to identify and remove fly?tipping before it blights our communities. This work is in addition to Labour’s ongoing Don’t Trash Oldham campaign which enables the Council to target areas requiring focused intervention, while working closely with residents and voluntary community groups to deliver a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment for the long term.

This Council further notes:

·       That where evidence is found, first-time offenders are currently given the opportunity to pay a fixed penalty notice, with the maximum fine for fly-tipping currently set at £1,000.

·       That evidence collated by the Local Government Association shows that when cases do reach court, the fines issued are frequently lower than the fixed penalty powers councils already hold. The current enforcement framework does not provide a sufficient deterrent, and that the financial penalties available do not cover the true cost of clean-up.

·       That steps have been taken nationally to strengthen enforcement. New government guidance now enables councils to search, seize and destroy vehicles used in fly-tipping, and updated statutory litter guidance published in March 2026 introduces fixed penalty notices of up to £500 for littering, with unpaid fines doubling after 28 days and vehicle owners liable where litter is thrown from a vehicle and the culprit cannot be identified. Waste carriers, brokers and dealers are now subject to full environmental permitting regime,  welcome progress in tackling the rogue operators who profit most from this trade.

This Council resolves to:

1.    Lobby the Labour Government to strengthen national enforcement powers. Ask  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Motion 1: Tackling Fly-Tipping, Waste Crime and Litter in Oldham

Councillor Taylor MOVED and Councillor Islam SECONDED the following Motion:

This Council notes:

·                that fly-tipping is more than an environmental inconvenience. It is a form of organised crime that blights communities, overwhelms overstretched local authorities, and allows unscrupulous operators to profit at the expense of the public. Across England, 1.26 million fly-tipping incidents were recorded in 2023 to 2024, and the total cost of waste crime to the UK economy is estimated at around £1 billion per year.

·                That tackling environmental crime is an Oldham-wide priority, embedded in the borough's Corporate Plan 2024 to 2027. That plan sets out an explicit ambition for neighbourhoods where people are proud to live and commits this Council to working with residents to keep our streets clean and green.

·                That the problem is not evenly distributed. Fly-tipping and persistent littering disproportionately affect the most deprived neighbourhoods in our borough, where residents live alongside illegal dumping, often on their own doorsteps, while rural areas experience repeat offending in fly-tipping hotspots Environmental crime is not a trivial matter: it is an injustice forced upon communities that can least afford it.

·                This administration continues to place a high priority on maintaining clean neighbourhoods and tackling fly?tipping across the borough. We are taking firm enforcement action against those responsible whenever sufficient evidence is available. Central to this effort is the newly established Rapid Action Team, which provides a dedicated, fast?response capability to identify and remove fly?tipping before it blights our communities. This work is in addition to Labour’s ongoing Don’t Trash Oldham campaign which enables the Council to target areas requiring focused intervention, while working closely with residents and voluntary community groups to deliver a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment for the long term.

This Council further notes:

·                that where evidence is found, first-time offenders are currently given the opportunity to pay a fixed penalty notice, with the maximum fine for fly-tipping currently set at £1,000.

·                That evidence collated by the Local Government Association shows that when cases do reach court, the fines issued are frequently lower than the fixed penalty powers councils already hold. The current enforcement framework does not provide a sufficient deterrent, and that the financial penalties available do not cover the true cost of clean-up.

·                That steps have been taken nationally to strengthen enforcement. New government guidance now enables councils to search, seize and destroy vehicles used in fly-tipping, and updated statutory litter guidance published in March 2026 introduces fixed penalty notices of up to £500 for littering, with unpaid fines doubling after 28 days and vehicle owners liable where litter is thrown from a vehicle and the culprit cannot be identified. Waste carriers, brokers and dealers are now subject to full environmental permitting regime, welcome progress in tackling the rogue operators who profit most from this trade.

This Council resolves to:

1.             Lobby the Labour Government to strengthen national enforcement powers. Ask the Chief Executive to write to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1: Time to Scrap the Spin and Get the Basics Right

To be Moved by Councillor Marland

To be Seconded by Councillor Bishop

This Council notes that:

a.    Residents across Oldham repeatedly tell councillors that the Council is failing to get the basics right — overgrown weeds on pavements, crumbling roads, poorly maintained parks, blocked drains and widespread fly-tipping.

b.    Oldham is now one of the worst areas in the region for fly-tipping, with rubbish blighting neighbourhoods, attracting vermin and leaving residents feeling ignored.

c.     Potholes continue to damage vehicles and pose safety risks, while many repairs are temporary and fail within months.

d.    Weed growth along highways and pavements has been allowed to spiral out of control in many areas, making streets look neglected and poorly cared for.

e.    Blocked drains and gullies are frequently left uncleared, increasing the risk of surface water flooding during heavy rain.

f.      Parks and green spaces — once a source of pride — are too often left looking tired and under-maintained.

g.    This visible decline follows two years of deep cuts to Environmental Services and frontline maintenance budgets under the Labour and Independent Coalition.

h.    Rather than reversing these cuts, the administration has too often relied on flashy PR campaigns such as “Don’t Trash Oldham”, which may generate headlines but do not substitute for properly funded, routine street cleaning, enforcement and maintenance.

i.      In successive budgets, the Liberal Democrat Group has proposed amendments to invest more in highways maintenance, street cleaning, environmental enforcement and neighbourhood services — amendments which the ruling Coalition has chosen not to support.

This Council further notes that:

At the 2026/27 Budget-setting meeting, this Labour administration – backed by the Shaw & Crompton Independents – voted down Liberal Democrat alternative budget proposals including:

·       Additional investment in parks and green spaces.

·       Additional investment in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

·       Additional investment in youth services.

This Council believes that:

·       Residents do not want slogans — they want clean streets, safe roads, maintained parks and visible action.

·       The Council should quietly and competently deliver the everyday services that residents pay their council tax to receive.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1.    Prioritise reversing the deep cuts to Environmental Services and neighbourhood maintenance in the next budget cycle.

2.    Reallocate funding away from non-essential publicity and marketing campaigns and into frontline services including:

o   Pothole prevention and permanent repairs.

o   Regular weed clearance on highways and pavements.

o   Systematic drain and gully cleaning.

o   Increased park maintenance.

o   Stronger enforcement and rapid response to fly-tipping.

3.    Produce a public action plan within three months setting out clear service standards and response times for environmental and highways issues.

4.    Report quarterly to Full Council on performance in tackling fly-tipping, potholes and street cleanliness, including benchmarking against neighbouring authorities.

Motion 3: Keep the Covenant

To be Moved by Councillor Arnott

To be Seconded by Councillor Adams

Following a campaign led by The Royal British Legion, the Armed Forces Covenant became enshrined  ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Motion 1: Time to Scrap the Spin and Get the Basics Right

Councillor Marland MOVED and Councillor Bishop SECONDED the following Motion:

This Council notes that:

1.    Residents across Oldham repeatedly tell councillors that the Council is failing to get the basics right — overgrown weeds on pavements, crumbling roads, poorly maintained parks, blocked drains and widespread fly-tipping.

2.    Oldham is now one of the worst areas in the region for fly-tipping, with rubbish blighting neighbourhoods, attracting vermin and leaving residents feeling ignored.

3.    Potholes continue to damage vehicles and pose safety risks, while many repairs are temporary and fail within months.

4.    Weed growth along highways and pavements has been allowed to spiral out of control in many areas, making streets look neglected and poorly cared for.

5.    Blocked drains and gullies are frequently left uncleared, increasing the risk of surface water flooding during heavy rain.

6.    Parks and green spaces — once a source of pride — are too often left looking tired and under-maintained.

7.    This visible decline follows two years of deep cuts to Environmental Services and frontline maintenance budgets under the Labour and Independent Coalition.

8.    Rather than reversing these cuts, the administration has too often relied on flashy PR campaigns such as “Don’t Trash Oldham”, which may generate headlines but do not substitute for properly funded, routine street cleaning, enforcement and maintenance.

9.    In successive budgets, the Liberal Democrat Group has proposed amendments to invest more in highways maintenance, street cleaning, environmental enforcement and neighbourhood services — amendments which the ruling Coalition has chosen not to support.

This Council further notes that:
At the 2026/27 Budget-setting meeting, this Labour administration – backed by the Shaw & Crompton Independents – voted down Liberal Democrat alternative budget proposals including:

·       Additional investment in parks and green spaces

·       Additional investment in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour

·       Additional investment in youth services

This Council believes that:

·       Residents do not want slogans — they want clean streets, safe roads, maintained parks and visible action.

·       The Council should quietly and competently deliver the everyday services that residents pay their council tax to receive.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1.    Prioritise reversing the deep cuts to Environmental Services and neighbourhood maintenance in the next budget cycle.

2.    Reallocate funding away from non-essential publicity and marketing campaigns and into frontline services including:

a.    Pothole prevention and permanent repairs.

b.    Regular weed clearance on highways and pavements.

c.     Systematic drain and gully cleaning.

d.    Increased park maintenance.

e.    Stronger enforcement and rapid response to fly-tipping.

3.    Produce a public action plan within three months setting out clear service standards and response times for environmental and highways issues.

4.    Report quarterly to Full Council on performance in tackling fly-tipping, potholes and street cleanliness, including benchmarking against neighbouring authorities.

AMENDMENT

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

This Council notes that:

1.     Fly-tipping blights neighbourhoods, attracts vermin and leaves residents feeling ignored. The council has cleared over 1,100 tonnes of illegally dumped waste in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Council is recommended to approve the submission of the Oldham Local Plan: Publication Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for examination following the period of representations.

Councillor Taylor MOVED and Councillor Shah SECONDED a report of the Deputy Chief Executive/Executive Director of Place, the purpose of which was to approve submission of the Oldham Local Plan: Publication Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for examination, following a period of representations.

The report advised that on 19^th January 2026, the Cabinet had approved the Oldham Local Plan: Publication Plan, Policies Map and supporting documentation for publication and consultation, pursuant to Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 for a six-week period for representations to begin no earlier than 28^th January 2026.

The ‘Publication Plan’ stage was a formal ‘statutory’ consultation, providing an opportunity for organisations and individuals to submit their final views on the content of the Plan Consultation on the Publication Plan commenced on 4^th February 2026, and following an extension to the consultation period, was due to end on 27^th March 2026.

Council approval was sought for the submission of the Oldham Local Plan: Publication Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for examination following the end of the consultation and once representations and the necessary supporting documentation have been collated. Submission was expected to be in May or June 2026. This was called the ‘Submission stage’, pursuant to Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

RESOLVED:

That the Council approves the Oldham Local Plan: Publication Plan, Policies Map and supporting documentation for submission to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for examination following the period of representations, pursuant to Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

A report which affords Oldham Council the opportunity to make a valid objection to the TransPennine Route Upgrade.

Councillor Goodwin MOVED and Councillor Charters SECONDED a report of the Deputy Chief Executive/Executive Director of Place which advised that for Oldham Council to make a valid objection to the TransPennine Route Upgrade, it must be endorsed by a majority of the authority’s members at a meeting of the Council, held after the requisite notice of that meeting having been given.

The report further advised that Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council supported the strategic objectives of the TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and recognised its importance in improving rail capacity, reliability, connectivity and long-term environmental outcomes across the North of England. The Council had engaged constructively with Network Rail throughout the development of the scheme and remained committed to working collaboratively to maximise public benefit.

However, while supportive in principle, the Council had submitted a formal objection to elements of the draft Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) due to several unresolved concerns that impact on public safety, statutory responsibilities, public rights of way, highway operations, land interests and future development potential.

The Council’s principal objections can be summarised as follows:

a.    Public Rights of Way and Highway Safety.

b.    Moorgate Halt Level Crossing.

c.     Land Interests and Development Impacts.

d.    Construction Programme and Local Events.

The Council overall position was that it supported the TRU in principle but considered that the draft TWAO currently lacked sufficient clarity, assurance and mitigation in key areas. Therefore, until detailed information was provided, and satisfactory solutions were agreed — particularly in relation to public safety, rights of way, highway design governance, land impacts and construction programming — the Council was unable to withdraw its formal objections.

The Council remained willing to continue working constructively with Network Rail to resolve these matters and to support delivery of the scheme in a way that safeguards local communities and which would enable the Council to fulfil its statutory duties.

RESOLVED

That the Council:

1.    Formally endorses the submission of the earlier letter of objection to the TransPennine Route Upgrade (Stalybridge to Diggle) Transport and Works Act Order, as set out in the submitted report and at Appendix 1, to the report.

2.    Authorises the Director of Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, to: Continue engagement and negotiations with Network Rail and the Department of Transport; to make minor amendments to the objection where necessary, provided these did not materially alter the Council’s position; and to withdraw individual objections on behalf of the Council should satisfactory assurances and mitigation be secured in respect of:

a.    Public rights of way and highway safety.

b.    Moorgate Halt level crossing.

c.     Land and development impacts.

d.    Construction programming and local events.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.4 (Individual Member Recorded Vote), Councillor Byrne requested that her opposition to the proposals agreed above, be noted and recorded.

Council to receive a report which provides a comprehensive update on the various elements of the Oldham Green New Deal Strategy 2020 – 2025.

Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Shah SECONDED a report of the Deputy Chief Executive/Executive Director of Place, which provided a comprehensive update on the various elements of the Oldham Green New Deal Strategy (OGNDS) 2020 - 2025, highlighting the successes achieved to date and offering an overview of the initiatives currently in development.

The Council and partner organisations continue to make strong progress in delivering the Green New Deal, which was described as a key element of the Borough’s ‘Creating a Better Oldham Programme’. This work was helping the borough transition to a clean energy system while ensuring that the full range of benefits -jobs, skills, energy security, economic growth and social value - were realised for Oldham’s residents and businesses. The OGNDS underpinned the advancement of both the Council’s economic and environmental ambitions, and the Council has secured significant grant funding to the value of £34.5m, to support timely progress and delivery.

RESOLVED:

That Council notes the various components of the OGND work programme and external grant support received to date to fund progress, as outlined in the submitted report.

Council is requested to consider a draft calendar of meetings for 2026/27.

Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Shah SECONDED a report of the Assistant Director of Governance, which sought approval of the draft Calendar of Meetings for the 2026/2027 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that:

1.  The Council’s Calendar of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2026/2027, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

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

Council is requested to consider the nomination of the Oldham Scottish Pipe Band to receive the Civic Appreciation Award.

The Mayor, Councillor Moores, MOVED and Councillor Shah SECONDED a report of the Assistant Director of Governance that requested consideration of the nomination of the Oldham Scottish Pipe Band to receive the Civic Appreciation Award, in recognition of their service and dedication to the local community and the borough of Oldham.

The Oldham Scottish Pipe Band were being proposed for this award in recognition of their significant voluntary contribution and dedication to the local community and borough of Oldham.  Having been established in 1926, the band was founded by Scottish workers in Oldham who shared a love for bagpipes and highland music, some of whom had backgrounds in Scottish army regiments.

The Oldham Scottish Pipe Band have gone on to represent Oldham and have performed in local and national events and travelled internationally, including trips to Ireland, Germany, France, Belgium, and the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

RESOLVED:

That the nomination for the Oldham Scottish Pipe Band to be granted a Civic Appreciation Award 2026, in recognition of their service and dedication to the local community and the borough of Oldham.

Council is asked to note updates from previous meetings.

Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Shah SECONDED a report of the Executive Director of Resources which updated members on actions taken following the meeting of the Council held on 10^th December 2025 and also on any updated responses from meetings held in the previous 12 months.

RESOLVED:

That the actions regarding motions and issues from the meeting of the Council held on 10^th December 2025, be noted and confirmed.

Council is asked to consider appointing Deputy Electoral Registration Officers.

Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Shah SECONDED a report of the Chief Executive which informed Members that Electoral Commission guidance recommended the appointment of a Deputy Electoral Registration Officer (DERO) to carry out the functions of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and to be available to act in their absence. The Elections Act 2022 placed further obligations on the ERO, which would be more practical for a deputy to undertake. The guidance further recommended that, “Any deputies appointed should have the skills and knowledge required to carry out the functions that they have been assigned.”

The appointment of DEROs provided resilience and ensured that there would be an officer available to discharge these functions.  

RESOLVED

That the Council approves the appointments of Alex Bougatef, Director of Legal (Monitoring Officer), Heather Moore, Assistant Director of Governance and Jenna Madeley, Head of Elections and Land Charges as Deputy Electoral Registration Officers for Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, having the same duties as the Electoral Registration Officer with immediate effect.

Council is requested to review its updated political balance

Councillor Jabbar MOVED and Councillor Shah SECONDED a report of the Assistant Director of Governance which informed Members that the Chief Executive had received notification that Councillor Marie Bashforth had resigned from the Labour Group and would henceforth sit as an independent member.

Considering this, the Council was requested 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 for the remainder of the 2025/26 municipal year.

The effect, in terms of committee places, was that the Labour Group would lose one seat on the Charitable Trust Committee, which will be allocated to Councillor Bashforth.

RESOLVED

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

2.    That the number of seats on the various Committees for the remainder of the 2025/26 Municipal Year be as detailed in paragraph 1.5, of the submitted report, be noted.

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