Agenda

To order that the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 16th July 2025 be signed as a correct record.

(time limit 20 minutes)

There are no petitions for this Council meeting to consider.

(time limit 20 minutes)

There is no Youth Council business for this Council meeting to consider.

(time limit 15 Minutes)

(time limit 90 minutes)

a.    Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Growth – including the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held 16^th June 2025; the minutes of meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held 27^th June 2025; and the minutes of the meeting of the AGMA Executive Board held 27^th June 2025.

b.    Statutory Deputy Leader and Neighbourhoods Portfolio Holder

c.    Deputy Leader and Finance, Corporate Services and Sustainability Portfolio Holder

d.    Children and Young People’s Portfolio Holder

e.    Adults, Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder

f.     Education and Skills Portfolio Holder

g.    Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder

h.    Enterprise Portfolio Holder

i.      Transport and Highways Portfolio Holder

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1: Recognising Palestine and the famine in Gaza

To be Moved by Councillor Mushtaq
to be  Seconded by Councillor Taylor

Next month will mark two years since the horrific attack of October 7^th, leaked data from the IDFs own figures indicate a civilian death rate of 83% in the Gaza war that followed those attacks, causing experts from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) to state “That proportion of civilians among those killed would be unusually high, particularly as it has been going on for such a long time.”

When compared to conflicts tracked by UCDP since 1989, only the Rwandan Genocide, the Russian siege of Mariupol and Srebrenica have a higher proportion of civilian casualties.

The number of civilians impacted by this war in Israel and Palestine is unpalatable to thousands of people across Oldham. The war is having a profound effect on millions of people worldwide as we witness unimaginable suffering.

This Council notes:

• The UK Government’s announcement on 29 July 2025 that it will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September.
• The joint statement issued on 21 July 2025 by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and 28 international partners, which condemned the Israeli government’s aid delivery model as “dangerous, fuelling instability and depriving Gazans of human dignity,” and called for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire”.
• The speech delivered by UK Ambassador to the UN, Dame Barbara Woodward, on 23 July 2025, in which she described the Israeli aid system as “inhumane, ineffective, dangerous and fuelling instability,” and called for Israel to end attacks on civilians, cooperate with the UN, and uphold international humanitarian law.
• The official declaration by the United Nations backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and humanitarian agencies that famine conditions now exist in Gaza, with over 640,000 people facing catastrophic food insecurity and millions more in emergency or crisis conditions.
• The IPC concluded that the decision was based on evidence of extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition and starvation-related deaths.
• That the famine is a man-made disaster, resulting from prolonged conflict, displacement, and severe restrictions on humanitarian access.

This Council believes:

• That recognition of the State of Palestine is a vital step toward a just and lasting peace in the region.
• That the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza demands urgent and coordinated international action to prevent further loss of life.
• That Israel should immediately allow full and unrestricted humanitarian aid agencies into Gaza to immediately address the famine.
• That the UK Government’s recent statements reflect a growing international consensus on the need for accountability, humanitarian access, and a political resolution, but the time for action has never been more apparent given that a famine has been declared.
• That local authorities have a role to play in advocating for human rights, peace, and justice globally as our residents care deeply about these issues.
• That residents across Oldham have displayed their commitment to supporting aid efforts and minimising suffering in Gaza by raising awareness and fundraising for  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Appointment of the Vice Chair of the Audit Committee 2025/26

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1: Provision of Free School Travel for all Children in Temporary Accommodation

To be Moved by Councillor Akhtar

To be Seconded by Councillor Chowhan

1.    Reason for Motion

To ensure that children living in temporary accommodation (TA) in Oldham are not disadvantaged by their housing situation and can maintain stability in education.

“No child should be punished for their family’s housing situation”.

2.    Background (Latest Facts)

  Oldham picture

•  At 31 March 2025, there were 562 households in temporary accommodation in Oldham (Table TA4).

•  In Q1 2025 (Jan–Mar) there were 310 households with children (748 Children between 0-18) in TA (most recently published government data).

•  TA is intended to be short-term (around six weeks), but Oldham data show many households remain beyond 6 months across B&B and nightly-paid placements.

•  Composition (Oldham, 31 Mar 2025):

o B&B: 173 households (incl. cases over 6 months).

o Nightly paid, self-contained: 259 households (many 6–12 months and 1–2 years).

o Hostels: 5 | Private sector leased: 87 | LA/HA stock: 38.

National/GM context

•  England total: 131,140 households in TA (31 Mar 2025).

•  Law already provides free school travel if:

a.     >2 miles (under 8) or >3 miles (8+), or

b.    no safe walking route, or

c.    child cannot walk due to SEND/disability/mobility needs.

•  Locally, children with an EHC Plan are supported from a SEN perspective and continue to receive travel assistance where already in place.

•  GM operating practice: when a family is in paid nightly TA in another GM borough, they can apply for bus passes from the host borough, but only if they meet standard distance criteria—leaving a gap for many placed nearer than the mileage thresholds yet far from their original school.

Political momentum: The Manchester Evening News campaign calls for free bus passes for children in TA living >30 minutes’ walk from school. As of 25 Aug 2025, six GM MPs publicly back the campaign. No GM local authority has yet adopted a borough-wide concession.

Why discretionary action is needed

Children rehoused (often suddenly) can face long, complex, and costly journeys to their existing school—leading to lateness, absence, and stress.

The statutory mileage rules do not cover many TA cases; discretionary support is therefore required to protect educational continuity.

3.    Current Position in Oldham

Oldham complies with national transport duties and supports pupils eligible under distance/safety/SEND criteria. Children in TA who fall short of mileage thresholds (or are rehoused across GM) face a policy gap. Acting now would make Oldham the first GM authority to introduce a dedicated concession for children in TA.

4.     Proposal

This Council resolves:

1.    To extend free school travel (bus pass or taxi, as appropriate) to all school-aged children living in TA in Oldham, irrespective of statutory mileage thresholds.

2. To instruct officers in Children’s Services, Education and Transport to:

a. Define eligibility based on verified TA status (including placements within and across GM).

b. Develop delivery models (bus passes, pre-approved  ...  view the full agenda text for item 17.