Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Fida Hussain.

There were no public questions for this meeting of the Cabinet to consider.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3^rd March 2025 are attached for approval.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3^rd March 2025, be approved as a correct record.

To consider the Council’s financial position at the end of Month 10 (January 2025) - 2024/25.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Assistant Director of Finance that provided Members with an update, as at 31^st January 2025 (Month 10), of the Council’s 2024/25 forecast revenue budget position (detailed at Annex 1) alongside the financial position of the capital programme together with the revised capital programme 2024/25 to 2028/29 (detailed at Annex 2).

In terms of the revenue position the forecast overspend position based on the Month 10 profiled budget was £12.164m which, if not addressed, would result in a year-end overspend of £14.597m (£14.178m at Month 9). This financial monitoring report followed on from the previously reported positions and detailed the potential year end position if no further action was taken to reduce net expenditure.

The management actions already implemented for 2024/25 had been factored into the current forecasts and have had a positive impact on the adverse position from that reported at Quarter 1 (£26.033m). Work continued across the organisation to address this position and reduce this position even further.

An update on the Month 10 2024/25 position was detailed within Annex 1. Information on the forecast year end position of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), and Collection Fund were also outlined in the submitted report.

In term of the capital position, the report outlined the most up to date information for 2024/25 to 2029/30 for approved schemes. The revised capital programme budget for 2024/25 was £87.460m at the close of Month 10 (£87.260m at Month 9), a net increase of £0.200m. The actual expenditure to 31^st January 2025 was £59.145m (67.63% of the forecast outturn).

Options/alternatives considered:

a.    To consider the forecast revenue and capital positions presented in the report.

b.    To propose alternative forecasts.

The preferred option was ‘a.’ above.

Resolved that the Cabinet:

1.    Notes the contents of the report.

2.    Approves forecast profiled budget, being an adverse position of £12.164m at Month 10 and the forecast potential adverse position by year end of £14.597m, with mitigations in place to reduce expenditure as detailed at Annex 1.

3.    Approves the use of general earmarked reserves to fund any year end revenue overspend for 2024/25.

4.    Notes the forecast positions for the Dedicated Schools Grant and Collection Fund.

5.    Approves the revised capital programme for 2024/25 including the proposed virements and the forecast for the financial years to 2029/30 as at Month 10 as outlined in Annex 2 to the report.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive (Place) – to accept grant funding.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which advised members that following receipt of grant notification on 21^st February 2025, from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), on behalf of national government, the submitted report was seeking approval to accept £20,100,000 (twenty million, one hundred thousand pounds). Members were reminded of previous announcements about Oldham being included in the Levelling Up Partnership on behalf of national government. The notification had also confirmed that the programme has changed its name to the Oldham Community Regeneration Partnership. 

Within MHCLG, a sub-team called the Communities Delivery Unit (CDU) had led the work which began in April 2024, and included community engagement and, data insight and assessments to assess the “need” for Levelling Up Oldham.  The CDU undertook further scoping work, desk-based research, literature reviews and work with analysts to develop an evidence base on the opportunities and challenges for Oldham.

Due to the timing of the General Election, the programme was paused from June to November 2025; however, all the work then resumed and informed a cross-government process to develop a long-list of policy options and interventions, as set out in the submitted report. The finalised selection of projects/list of interventions was developed and confirmed by the CDU in February 2025, following ministerial sign off and approval: again, the detail of which was set out in the submitted report.

On acceptance of the grant, the Council and the MHCLG will form the Oldham Community Regeneration Partnership, and after reviewing the identified programme, the proposals are fully aligned with the Oldham Plan and Creating a Better Place framework to create jobs, build homes, and enhance buildings and communities across the borough.

Options/alternatives considered:

Option 1: To accept the list of projects identified by MHCLG and the proposed grant funding allocation as set out in this report which will create the opportunity to delivery significant outcomes across the borough aligned to the Oldham Plan priorities and expend the grant in accordance with the development and delivery plan approved in line with the delegations recommended in this report. Parts of the grant may be used by the Council to purchase works, supplies or services or it may be used to make onward grants to third parties.

Option 2: To decline the offer of the external funding. This option is not supported or recommended as it would result in a significant missed opportunity to deliver a range of activity, across the borough, where funding does not currently exist and associated outcomes will not be achieved.

The preferred Option is Option 1.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet:

1.    Approves the acceptance of the £20,100,000 grant funding award from the MHCLG.

2.    Approves a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with the MHCLG in respect of the grant award and establishment of the Oldham Community Regeneration Partnership.

3.    Notes the extensive consultation and work undertaken by the MHCLG’s CDU Team to collect and assess the longlist of projects and ideas submitted by Oldham’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To note the findings and recommendations set out within the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy and to agree to their publication on the council’s website

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that asked members to note the findings and recommendations set out within the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy; to agree to their publication on the council’s website (the documents were attached at Appendix 1 to the report); and to delegate the approval of future updates of the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy documents to the Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities and Culture, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Decent Homes and Don’t Trash Oldham.

In 2023, Cabinet was advised that Oldham Council had commissioned Knight Kavanagh & Page (KKP) to carry out a Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy (PPOSS). The PPOSS updates the previous (2015) PPOSS and will build on the assessment of outdoor sports facilities undertaken within the Council’s Open Space Study (2022).

The PPOSS provides a more in-depth assessment of the borough’s pitches and outdoor sports sites, identifies the current and future needs for particular sports and sets out an Action Plan for future investment and improvement. The PPOSS provides evidence to support the implementation of existing local planning policies, will inform planning policy within the new Local Plan and will be a material consideration for planning decisions.

The PPOSS will also inform how and where S106 developer contributions are secured and spent. In terms of investment, it is often a requirement that an area/ local authority has an up-to[1]date PPOSS to access funding from Sport England, National Governing Bodies (e.g. the Football Association, England and Wales Cricket Board, England Netball, Rugby Football Union etc), and other organisations.

As such the PPOSS can be used to help sports clubs and the council gain access to funding and investment. In particular, the PPOSS provides:

•      Evidence of supply and demand of playing pitch and outdoor sports provision.

•      A vision for the future improvement and prioritisation of playing pitches and outdoor sports facilities.

•      A number of aims to help deliver the recommendations and actions.

•      A series of strategic recommendations which provide a framework for the improvement, maintenance, development and, as appropriate, rationalisation of the playing pitch and outdoor sport facility stock.

•      A series of sport-by-sport recommendations which provide a strategic framework for sport led improvements to provision.

•      A prioritised area-by-area Action Plan to address key issues on a site-by-site basis.

The PPOSS was completed in February 2025.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1 was to approve and publish the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy (PPOSS) (2025) on the council’s website and to delegate approval for future updates of the documents to the Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities and Culture, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Decent Homes and Don’t Trash Oldham. The advantages to this were that publishing the PPOSS will inform the planning process and the council’s maintenance and management of pitches and outdoor sport provision, support local sports development, guide investment and support funding opportunities.

Option 2 – Not to approve and publish the Playing Pitch and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Cabinet is asked to agree to adopt the South Pennine Moors Supplementary Planning Document.

The Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which sought agreement to adopt the South Pennine Moors Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The report also sought for the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Decent Homes and Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery to be given delegated authority to agree the date on which the SPD takes effect; and to delegate approval to the Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery to make minor, non-material modifications to the South Pennine Moors SPD before final publication, subject to consultation and agreement with the two other relevant Places for Everyone authorities (Rochdale and Tameside Borough Councils).

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1 - That the Cabinet agrees the recommendations detailed in the submitted report. This will ensure that the South Pennine Moors SPD can become a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and that development does not cause / mitigates adverse impact(s) on the protected habitats and species of the relevant parts of Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside local authority areas. There are no disadvantages to this option.

Option 2 - To not approve the SPD for adoption. This would prevent the SPD from becoming a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and would significantly limit the ability to secure appropriate development in the South Pennine Moors area of the three relevant PfE authorities. There were no reported advantages to this option.

Option 1 was the preferred Option.

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet agrees to adopt the South Pennine Moors Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), attached at Appendix 1 to the report and for the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Decent Homes and Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery to be given delegated authority to agree the date on which the SPD takes effect.

2.    That Cabinet delegates approval to the Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery to make minor, non-material modifications to the South Pennine Moors SPD before final publication, subject to consultation and agreement with the two other relevant Places for Everyone authorities (Rochdale Council and Tameside Council).

Cabinet is requested to approve and adopt the Holcroft Moss Supplementary Planning Document.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that sought adoption of the Holcroft Moss Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report and for the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Decent Homes and Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery to be given delegated authority to agree the date on which the SPD takes effect; to agree to provide Warrington Metropolitan Borough Council (as the responsible authority for implementing a mitigation strategy for Holcroft Moss), as necessary and through an appropriate mechanism, with S106 funds collected in accordance with the Holcroft Moss SPD; and to delegate approval to the Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery to make minor, non-material modifications to the Holcroft Moss SPD before final publication, subject to consultation and agreement with the eight other relevant Places for Everyone authorities.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1 – that the Cabinet approves the recommendations detailed in the submitted report. This option will ensure that the Holcroft Moss SPD can become a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and that developer contributions required to mitigate adverse impact(s) on the protected habitats and species of Holcroft Moss can be collected and appropriately handled. There are no disadvantages to this option.

Option 2 - To not approve the Holcroft Moss SPD for adoption. This would prevent the SPD from becoming a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and hinder the collection of developer contributions required to mitigate adverse impact(s) on the protected habitats and species of Holcroft Moss. There were no reported advantages to this option.

Option 1 was the preferred Option.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet:

1.    Agrees to adopt the Holcroft Moss Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), attached at Appendix 1, and for the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Decent Homes and Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery to be given delegated authority to agree the date on which the SPD takes effect.

2.    Agrees to provide Warrington Metropolitan Borough Council (as the responsible authority for implementing a mitigation strategy for Holcroft Moss), as necessary and through an appropriate mechanism, with S106 funds collected in accordance with the Holcroft Moss SPD.

3.    Delegates approval to the Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery to make minor, non-material modifications to the Holcroft Moss SPD before final publication, subject to consultation and agreement with the eight other relevant Places for Everyone authorities.

Cabinet is asked to approve and to agree the publication of Oldham Council’s policies and objectives to conserve and enhance biodiversity – ‘Complying with the Biodiversity Duty – Our Policies and Objectives for Thriving Wildlife in Oldham’. The report includes actions to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

The Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that sought approval and subsequent publication of Oldham Council’s policies and objectives to conserve and enhance biodiversity – ‘Complying with the Biodiversity Duty – Our Policies and Objectives for Thriving Wildlife in Oldham’.

The submitted report included actions to conserve and enhance biodiversity. The Environment Act 2021 introduced a strengthened ‘biodiversity duty’ into the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 which required all public authorities in England to consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

Oldham Council as a public authority, was required to:

a.    Consider what we can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

b.    Agree policies and specific objectives based on our consideration.

c.    Act to deliver our policies and achieve our objectives.

Following this initial consideration, Oldham Council must agree our policies and objectives as soon as possible after. This report fulfils this second step. This decision will ensure that the council is meeting its legal duties in relation to the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 and helping to support implementation of other plans and strategies such as the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Options/alternatives considered:

Option 1: To approve the recommendations detailed in the submitted report. This would ensure that the council was meeting its legal duties in relation to the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 and helping to support implementation of other plans and strategies such as the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. There were no reported disadvantages however some resources such as funding may be needed to be identified for management plans however most actions can be met through internal and partnership work.

Option 2: To not approve the recommendations detailed in the submitted report. This would mean that the council was currently failing to take account of environmental law in relation to the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 and would not through this report be supporting implementation of other plans and strategies such as the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. There were no reported advantages to this option as the council would need to consider how it was going to meet the strengthened biodiversity duties.

Resolved:

1.    That the Cabinet approves and publishes Oldham Council’s policies and objectives to conserve and enhance biodiversity – ‘Complying with the Biodiversity Duty – Our Policies and Objectives for Thriving Wildlife in Oldham’.

2.    That the Cabinet supports implementation of the actions identified within Tables 4 to 9 of the submitted report.

Cabinet approval is required to enable the Waste Team to procure and contract for the provision of various domestic and non-domestic waste collection receptacles to replace existing life cycle expired waste collection receptacles.

The Cabinet received a report of the Director of Environment that sought approval to enable the Waste Team, to procure and contract, for the provision of various domestic and non-domestic waste collection receptacles to replace existing life cycle expired waste collection receptacles, lost and damaged receptacles, to supply new receptacles to new dwellings and businesses as well as to repair and service the goods for a total term of 6 years duration.

The Cabinet were informed that the Council is a duty holder in connection with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as updated by the Environment Act 2021. Therefore the provision of domestic and non-domestic waste collection was a statutory obligation under the legislation. In order to fulfil its duty, the Council must procure an adequate supply of waste collection receptacles to cater for the volumes and types of waste generated by businesses and households, and the Council must be able to maintain satisfactory stocks of waste collection receptacles as shall enable the Council to respond quickly to operational needs. The Council’s duties and obligations were ongoing and the continual depletion of its stock of replacement waste collection receptacles means that the Waste Team needs a quick, effective and compliant route to market to ensure the replenishment supply arrangements are satisfactory.

Options/alternatives considered:

Option 1: This entailed agreeing a 6-year procurement strategy in consultation with the Commercial Procurement Unit.

Options 2 and 3: these Options sought agreement to a 4-year procurement strategy in consultation with the Commercial Procurement Unit, with variations in the specific detail for each of these Options.

Option 1 was the preferred Option.

Resolved:

1.    That the Cabinet approves the Procurement Strategy, detailed in the submitted report at Option 1.

2.    That the Cabinet delegate authority to the Director of Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Don’t Trash Oldham, the Interim Director of Finance, the Interim Borough Solicitor and the Head of the Commercial Procurement Unit, or each of their nominees to approve all expenditure linked to Option 1 and to implement the Procurement Strategy under Option 1, to agree and implement the specific commissioning arrangements for each of the requirements under Option 1 and to award and enter into contracts with the preferred suppliers identified in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

3.    That the Cabinet delegates authority to the Interim Borough Solicitor or his nominated representative to carry out all legal formalities associated with Option 1, detailed in the submitted report, including the execution of all contracts.

Report of the Director of Adult Social Care/DASS to follow

Resolved:that consideration of this item be deferred to the Cabinet’s next meeting on 7^th April 2025.

Report of the Director of Education, Skills and Early Years detailing the travel assistance policy for children and young people with special education needs and/or disability.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Education, Skills and Early Years that provided Members with details of a formal review and consultation of Oldham’s SEND Travel Assistance Policy, that was carried out from early December 2024 to the end of January 2025.  The Cabinet was requested to approve the revised policy and to formally adopt it (as set out at Appendix 1 to the report).

Local authorities were advised to keep their school travel policy under regular review to ensure it continued to meet local needs and that it complied with statutory requirements.  An up-to-date policy must be available each year, so that parents/carers may take it into account when deciding which schools to apply for during the normal admissions round.

Oldham’s current policy had been reviewed with partners and a targeted public consultation had taken place.  In consideration of those activities, the submitted report described the current position and also set out proposals for a revised policy.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1: was to approve and adopt the proposed policy, with a primary offer (for those eligible) of a personal travel budget, with effect from September 2025 for all current and new post 16 learners. 

Option 2: was to maintain the current policy, with no changes.  This would mean that statutory review of the policy has not been considered and acted upon.

The preferred Option was Option 1.  This would allow for changes to be made from September 2025, that would apply equally to all young people who are affected by the change to an emphasis on personal travel budgets, rather than council organised transport.  This would enable a focus on more independence for the majority of post 16 learners.  There would also be budget savings associated with this option, as set out in the finance section of the submitted report.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet approves the proposed Travel Assistance Policy, with effect from September 2025, including adoption of the proposed policy, of a primary offer (for those eligible) of a personal travel budget, with effect from September 2025, for all current and new post 16 learners.

Cabinet is requested to accept a £400,000 grant from GMCA for Get Oldham Working on behalf of the Council to deliver the In Work Progression project.

The Cabinet received a report of the Director of Education, Skills and Early Years that requested acceptance of a £400,000 grant from Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) for Get Oldham Working on behalf of Oldham Council to deliver the In Work Progression project over the next two years starting January 2025.

GMCA had secured and offered each Local Authority funding for In Work Progression activity. Oldham Council have developed a proposal for Get Oldham working to support approx. 150 residents per year for next two calendar years, starting in January 2025 to support residents in work to progress, obtain better earning potential, find more hours or change jobs due to individual circumstances.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option One: to accept the grant and deliver project.

Option Two: to not accept the grant and therefore not to deliver the project.

Option One was the preferred Option.

Resolved:

1.    That the Cabinet accepts the £400,000 grant from GMCA for Get Oldham Working on behalf of Oldham Council.

2.    That the Cabinet authorizes the application of the funding, as outlined in the submitted report, to deliver the In Work Progression project over the next two calendar years starting January 2025.