Agenda

To approve the Minutes of the meetings of Council held 17^th September 2025 (adjourned to 12^th November 2025) and on 12^th November 2025

(time limit 20 minutes)

Young Men’s Mental Health

This motion highlights the urgent need for strengthened support, awareness, and targeted interventions to address men’s mental health across our borough. National evidence shows that men continue to face significant barriers to seeking help. According to a study by Mind, 40% of men do not talk about their mental health due to stigma and fear of embarrassment. NHS data shows that 12.5% of all men in England are living with a mental health disorder, yet many remain undiagnosed or unsupported.

The consequences of this silence are profound. As reported by the BBC, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50 and figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 75% of all suicides in England and Wales in 2024 were male; the highest proportion recorded in the last 25 years. Regionally, the Northwest faces some of the most concerning outcomes, with a suicide rate of 13.7 per 100,000, the second highest of any region in England.

We believe that it is vital that a focus on young men’s mental health needs to be addressed. Mental health can have a severe impact on various areas of life, ones that have detrimental consequence into adulthood. Given the statistics already mentioned, it is no wonder that mental health demonstrates negative impact on school attendance, sleep disruption and ultimately, stress related sickness for young people in employment.

As young men from Oldham Youth Service, we are attempting to address this issue through creation of the MAN (Masculinity and Normality) Project. We hope to reduce discriminatory attitudes, believing this starts with the promotion of good mental health amongst men. October saw our first schools conference, bringing together young men with the theme of ‘breaking the armour.’ This aimed to encourage conversations about supporting one another and being more open-minded about mental health discussion.

But this is just the start. It was evident that of the 80 plus young men in attendance, mental health is still a very prevalent topic affecting our young population. According to Oldham Council’s Suicide Prevention Plan, Oldham’s suicide rate stands at 10.0 per 100,000, emphasising the need for proactive and well-resourced action. Early intervention in young men’s mental health is critical in preventing the onset of long-term impacts.

This motion therefore asks Oldham Council to recognise the scale of the challenge, to prioritise men’s mental health within local strategies, and to work with partners to reduce stigma, improve access to support, and ultimately, save lives.

We also ask Oldham Council to leverage its influence by writing directly to the Government and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, advocating for urgent and targeted investment in young men's mental health services.

As local resources are stretched and the national crisis in young people's mental health, particularly for young men who are less likely to seek help, demands a scaled-up, dedicated funding stream. Targeting support for young men now will significantly reduce  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

(time limit 15 Minutes)

(time limit 90 minutes)

1. Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Growth – including the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held 17^th November 2025 and the minutes of meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held 26^th September 2025.
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

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1: Strengthening Standards and Restoring Confidence in Local Democracy

To be Moved by Councillor Harrison

To be Seconded by Councillor Shuttleworth

This Council notes:

• The Government’s recent response to its consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, following widespread concerns about inconsistent enforcement and inadequate sanctions under the current regime.
• The proposals include:
  • A mandatory minimum code of conduct for all local authorities.
  • A requirement for formal standards committees to oversee breaches and publish investigation outcomes.
  • New powers to suspend councillors or mayors for serious misconduct, including interim suspensions in complex cases.
  • A national appeals body to ensure consistency.
  • A new category of disqualification for gross misconduct or repeated breaches.
  • Measures to empower victims of councillor misconduct and improve transparency.

This Council believes:

• High standards of conduct are essential to maintaining public trust in local democracy.
• A clear, consistent, and enforceable framework will help councillors uphold the integrity of public office and protect the reputation of local government.
• These reforms will strengthen accountability and ensure that misconduct is dealt with swiftly and fairly across all tiers of local government.

This Council resolves to:

1. Welcome the Government’s proposals to strengthen the standards regime and restore confidence in local democracy.
2. Commit to adopting the mandatory minimum code of conduct once implemented in legislation.
3. Ensure our Standards Committee is fully prepared to meet the new requirements, including publishing investigation outcomes transparently and regularly reporting these outcomes to Council.
4. Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government expressing our support for these reforms and urging timely implementation.
5. Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Local Government Association, urging them to consider the development of a training programme aligned with the new standards regime.
6. Ask our Standards Committee to work with the relevant Officers locally to review Oldham’s elected member behaviour standards training programme and ensure it is fit for purpose, with a view to making it a mandatory training unit.

Motion 2: Fairer Parking Charges at Manchester Airport

To be Moved by: Councillor Shah
to be Seconded by: Councillor Charters

This Council notes:

• Manchester Airport is the third busiest airport in the UK and a vital gateway for Greater Manchester residents and businesses.

·       Current drop-off and pick-up charges at Manchester Airport are £5 for five minutes, £6.40 for up to 10 minutes, and £25 for up to 30 minutes, with fines of £100 (reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days) for late payment under the barrierless system. 

·       The RAC has ranked Manchester Airport among the most expensive UK airports on a cost-per-minute basis. 

·       Jim McMahon MP has called for a full review of signage, an end to the practice of stacking up charges, an extension of the time allowed to pay, and greater transparency on income from these charges.

This Council believes:

• Parking charges should be fair, transparent, and not penalise genuine mistakes.
• The current system risks disproportionately impacting local residents and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1: Werneth Park Music Rooms – Community-Led Regeneration and Asset Transfer

To be Moved by Councillor Ibrahim

To be Seconded by Councillor Akhtar

 This Council Notes:

 Historical Significance

The Grade II listed Werneth Park Music Rooms is one of Oldham’s most significant historic buildings.

Located in Werneth Park – Oldham’s second most eminent Victorian park – it has served local communities since the 1930s, when it was gifted to the Borough under covenants requiring continued community use.

Long-Term Closure and Decline

The Music Rooms were closed in 2001 due to budget cuts.

Since closure, the building has remained derelict, suffering extensive vandalism and deterioration, driving up potential refurbishment costs.

Responsibility for the building currently sits within Environmental Services, and the Council continues to incur annual costs of approximately £125,025 for a building that remains closed and unused. 

Evidence of Community Need and Previous Work

· A 2002 SRB6-funded study identified a shortage of community facilities in Werneth and Freehold and found strong resident support for restoring the Music Rooms.

· A feasibility study in 2007 estimated renovation costs in the region of £2.85m–£4.1m, and a steering group was subsequently formed to progress a Heritage Lottery Fund bid.

· There has been no updated feasibility or options appraisal work for nearly a decade, despite continuing community interest.

Current Position and Financial Context

Continuing to pay to hold a derelict listed asset represents poor value for money for Oldham residents, especially in the context of severe financial pressures on the Council.

Funding Opportunities

The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) currently offers grant routes from £100,000 to £5 million, which are well suited to the restoration and reuse of derelict historic buildings.

· The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) provides development funding and support for community-led heritage schemes, including business planning and governance development.

Taken together, these funds provide a realistic route to securing the capital required for restoration, provided there is strong community involvement and a clear, sustainable business model.

Vision for the Music Rooms

The music rooms could benefit the local community by offering:

· A permanent curated exhibition space for Oldham’s cultural heritage;

· A community tea room and social space; and

· A flexible events and performance venue for music, arts, learning and community activity.

· Regeneration would create employment and apprenticeship opportunities, support local suppliers, and enable partnerships with major cultural institutions.

This Council Believes:

Werneth Park Music Rooms is an iconic historic building and a symbol of Oldham’s cultural heritage; its continued dereliction sends a damaging message about Oldham’s commitment to its history and its parks.

This Council Resolves To:

1.Support in Principle any suitable Community-Led Regeneration of Werneth Park Music Rooms

2.Explore all options that could be applicable for this building to bring it back into use for the community, 

3.Work proactively with interested community organisations and Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust to explore viable options for the future of Werneth Park Music Rooms and to support in any way possible.

4.Request that relevant officers prepare a progress report  back  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive, making recommendations arising from a consultation exercise.

To consider the appointment of Independent Members of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

To receive the Annual Report of the Audit Committee 2024/25.

To receive the Annual Report of the Scrutiny Boards 2024/25.

To consider the Council’s Treasury Management position – mid-year 2025/26.

Report to follow.