Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mohon Ali, Fida Hussain and Mushtaq.

The Chair advised that there was one item of urgent business (Pride in Place Impact Fund Grant Acceptance), which would be considered at item 13. The grounds for urgency being that a formal decision to accept the grant funding, referred to in the submitted report, was required prior to the next scheduled Cabinet meeting on 17^th November.

The Chair added that agenda items 12 (and the associated confidential appendices at item 18) and 13, were exempt from the call-in process by virtue of Rule 14 of the Constitution, following consultation with the Chair of Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board.

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

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 22^nd September 2025, are attached for approval.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 22^nd September 2025, be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Finance

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Finance that provided members with an update, as at 31^st August 2025 (Month 5), of the Council’s 2025/26 forecast revenue budget position (detailed at Annex 1 to the report) alongside the financial position of the capital programme together with the revised capital programme 2025/26 to 2029/30 (detailed at Annex 2 to the report).

The forecast adverse position for 2025/26 at the end of Month 5 was estimated to be £23.209m (£20.822m at the end of Quarter 1 – 30^th June 2025). The details within the revenue monitoring report for Month 5 followed on from the Quarter 1 report previously presented and outlined the general direction of travel for this financial year, highlighting any significant areas of concern which may not just impact on the current year, but also when preparing future budgets.

A forecast adverse position based on the Month 5 revenue controllable budget was £23.209m which was an unfavourable movement of £2.387m from the position previously reported. The increasing need for support of the Council’s services from residents and businesses, the complexity of the support needed, and inflationary costs continue to put pressure on service budgets and is demonstrated by the Month 5 forecast outturn position. These pressures, in the main were driven by escalating costs in essential statutory services supporting the most vulnerable residents, reflecting the broader challenges the Council and numerous Councils across the country are facing. This is particularly acute in statutory and heavily inspected services where there is little flexibility to mitigate rising costs, for example increasing pressures on social care budgets due to the support needs of vulnerable children and complexity in the needs of adult requiring support.

There was also an increasing need to support children with Special Educational Needs (SEND) and whilst significant work has been done in the last 12 months, homelessness presentations and use of temporary accommodation is still of concern given the numbers accessing this service.

Since the last report was presented to the Cabinet, the Executive Team had implemented enhanced controls on expenditure with future revenue monitoring reports expected to show the positive impacts of these management actions. Details on these controls were included in Annex 1 to the submitted report. Given, the in-year financial position of the Council, the level of reserves available and the budgetary gaps already within the MTFS, the outcome of the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026/27 and future years will have a significant influence on the financial sustainability of the Council and the Council’s ability to set a balanced budget over the short term. The budget pressures the Council has faced in recent years cannot continue to be mitigated without significant action both to reduce projected spend in year and to reduce costs over years to come. Further details of mitigations underway were included at Annex 1 to the submitted report.

The Director of Finance’s report outlined the most up to date capital spending position for 2025/26 to 2029/30 for approved  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that seeks the designation of a new Site of Biological Importance (SBI) and to adopt changes that have occurred to other SBI boundaries within the borough.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of Place (Deputy Chief Executive) which sought the designation of a new Site of Biological Importance (SBI) and to adopt changes which had occurred to other SBI boundaries within the borough.

Appendix 1, of the submitted report, provided a map of the new SBI (Ladcastle Heath) and maps of the other SBI boundary changes (in respect of Medlock Headwater and Strinesdale, Moorgate Quarry and Armit Road Lodge). These changes were outlined at Appendices 2 and 3, to the report, alongside details of the other SBIs reviewed.

The Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU) periodically survey SBI’s across Greater Manchester as part of a continuous process and notifies the council when there are changes that need to be made to the designations. The submitted report outlined changes to SBIs from site surveys carried out by GMEU in 2022 (received 2025).

The report therefore seeks to designate a new Site of Biological Importance (SBI) – Ladcastle Heath and to adopt changes which have occurred to other SBI boundaries within the borough, as outlined in Appendices 1, 2 and 3.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1 - To designate a new Site of Biological Importance (SBI) – Ladcastle Heath and to adopt changes which have occurred to other SBI boundaries within the borough, as outlined in Appendix 1, 2 and 3. The advantage of this option is that the SBI will be subject to the principles set out in National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to avoid, mitigate and as a last resort compensate any harm. It will also contribute to the GM Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) Target 1: To increase the amount of land designated for nature by 5,000ha by 2035, growing this from 11% to 15% of the city-region. There are no disadvantages to this option.

Option 2 – To not designate a new Site of Biological Importance (SBI) – Ladcastle Heath and to not adopt changes which have occurred to other SBI boundaries within the borough, as outlined in Appendix 1, 2 and 3. The disadvantage is that the new SBI and boundary additions will not have been designated and therefore the full extent of the SBI’s may not be given due consideration under NPPF, Places for Everyone (PfE) and the Local Plan. This option would not contribute to the LNRS Target 1: To increase the amount of land designated for nature by 5,000ha by 2035, growing this from 11% to 15% of the city-region. There are no advantages to this option.

Option 1 is the preferred option.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet agrees to

1.    To designate a new Site of Biological Importance (SBI) – Ladcastle Heath and adopt changes which have occurred to other SBI boundaries within the borough, as outlined in Appendix 1, 2 and 3; and to

2.    Note the District Synopsis and District Fact Sheet.

A report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) that details current arrangements in relation to key elements of temporary accommodation provision and to present options to ensure the Council has adequate access to accommodation for homeless households.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Communities which advised that the Council has a statutory duty to house homeless households under the Housing Act 1996, as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Where prevention was not possible, and permanent housing couldn’t be found in sufficient time, the Council was obliged to provide temporary accommodation, until households could be accommodated permanently.

The current arrangements in relation to key elements of temporary accommodation provision in Oldham were due to expire in the coming year, and required re-procuring, to ensure that the Council had adequate access to accommodation for homeless households.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1: That a robust, transparent procurement and commissioning process is undertaken to procure the following:

a.             A new framework for nightly-paid temporary accommodation

b.             The provision of short-term emergency provision for temporary accommodation, via a dynamic market notice.

That framework and contract-award decision making responsibilities are delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), ensuring that the exercise and contract award are carried out in a timely fashion, in order to ensure that we have sufficient provision in place to meet our obligations around homelessness.

Option 2: That some or all of the above procurement exercises are not agreed. This would mean that the Council would have less access to appropriate short-term and temporary accommodation and may struggle to meet our statutory obligations.

Option 1 was the preferred Option.

Resolved that:

1.             That a robust, transparent procurement and commissioning process is undertaken to procure the following:

a.             A new framework for nightly-paid temporary accommodation

b.             The provision of short-term emergency provision for temporary accommodation, via a dynamic market notice

2.             That framework and contract-award decision making responsibilities are delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place).

A report of the Director of Communities to extend the contract term of each of the contracts referenced in the submitted report , in accordance with the terms and conditions of each contract.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods which sought the extension of the contract term of each of the three contracts referenced in the confidential report at item 15, in accordance with the terms and conditions of each contract for the period 1^st April 2026 to 31^st March 2027

The Council is party to three separate contracts for the delivery of Accommodation Based Services. The initial term of each contract ended on 31^st March 2025, and was subsequently extended to 31^st March 2026, at the same time as responsibility and budget for these contracts passed from Adult Social Care to Housing needs.  There was provision within each contract to extend the term for a further 12 months.  The report therefore proposed enacting that extension.

Options/alternatives considered:

These are detailed in the confidential report, to be considered at item 15.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet will consider the confidential recommendations, detailed in the report, at agenda item 15.

A report of the Director of Communities that seeks approval to enter into a grant agreement with GMCA to fund the continued delivery of the Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 2025/27 scheme.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Communities that sought approval to enter into a grant agreement with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to fund the continued delivery of the Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 2025/27 scheme. The scheme was a type of temporary accommodation for prison leavers who are open to His Majesty’s Probation Service and would not otherwise be owed a statutory accommodation duty by a Local Authority. The initial 12 months’ pilot which successfully launched across the region in July 2021 ensured subsequent multi-year grant funding to enable Greater Manchester Authorities to create a unique local authority led model for temporarily accommodating prison leavers.

Options/alternatives considered:

These are detailed in the confidential report, to be considered at item 16.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet will consider the confidential recommendations, detailed in the report, at agenda item 16.

A report of the Director of Public Health seeking confirmation to finalise the move to an agency model for our leisure services delivery model.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health which sought to confirm the Council’s position to finalise the move to an agency model for the Borough’s leisure services delivery model, and approving the necessary contractual modifications, including an updated Deed of Variation with Oldham Active (Oldham Community Leisure)  

Options/alternatives considered:

These are detailed in the confidential report, to be considered at item 17.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet will consider the confidential recommendations, detailed in the report, at agenda item 17.

Report attached

The Cabinet considered a report that sought approval for the acquisition and demolition of a property on Yorkshire Street, Oldham to support the wider regeneration of the area and the continued creation of a cultural quarter in this part of the town centre. Details of the property were noted in part B of this report (item 18), while legal, commercial and financial negotiations were in flight. The details of the acquisition were soon to be made public domain but could not be shared publicly at the present time.

Options/alternatives considered:

These are detailed in the confidential report, to be considered at item 18.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet will consider the confidential recommendations, detailed in the report, at agenda item 18.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive which sought approval and acceptance of £1,500,000 Pride in Place Impact Fund capital grant allocation, from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in September 2025 as part of the 2025 Spending Review.

Oldham had been allocated £1,500,000 capital from the Pride in Place Impact Fund from MHCLG to be spent over 2025/26 and 2026/27. The Pride in Place Impact Fund will cover the following objectives:

a. Community spaces: creating, extending, improving or refurbishing existing community facilities and enabling community organisations to take control or ownership of underused but valued local assets.

b. Public spaces: enhancing the physical environment in public spaces - examples of initiatives include new or improved green spaces or public squares, improved outdoor play, sports and leisure spaces, installing street furniture, public art or wayfinding.

c. High street and town centre revitalisation: making these areas more attractive and welcoming places where people congregate and which encourage economic activity. Examples of initiatives that could be funded are shop frontage improvements, adaptations that bring premises back into use, streetscape improvements, public art, trails and wayfinding, and creating or improving the infrastructure for regular markets.

Resolved:

1.    That the Cabinet approves the acceptance of the £1,500,000 capital Pride in Place Impact Fund from MHCLG and undertaken the following objectives:

A.    Community spaces: creating, extending, improving or refurbishing existing community facilities and enabling community organisations to take control or ownership of underused but valued local assets.

B.    Public spaces: enhancing the physical environment in public spaces - examples of initiatives include new or improved green spaces or public squares, improved outdoor play, sports and leisure spaces, installing street furniture, public art or wayfinding.

C.   High street and town centre revitalisation: making these areas more attractive and welcoming places where people congregate and which encourage economic activity. Examples of initiatives that could be funded are shop frontage improvements, adaptations that bring premises back into use, streetscape improvements, public art, trails and wayfinding, and creating or improving the infrastructure for regular markets.

2.    That the Cabinet notes that MHCLG has issued a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which has been reviewed by the Council ‘s financial services.

3.    That the Cabinet agrees to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place (Deputy Chief Executive) to agree the terms of the MoU issued by MHCLG and any funding agreement in respect of the grant award in consultation with the Directors of Finance and Legal Services and approve appointments of professional teams and contract award in respect of the agreed budget.

4.    That the Cabinet agrees to delegate authority to Director of Finance, or Chief Executive, to finalise and enter into the MoU issued by MHCLG and any funding agreement in respect of the grant award subject to the completion of any necessary due diligence on subsidy control compliance and authority to agree and complete any project change requests under the MOU and/or funding agreement.

5.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

To consider that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following three items of business, pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that discussions may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, under paragraph 3 as defined in the provisions of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting, for the following four items of business, on the grounds that they contain exempt information under paragraph 3 Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and it would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose the reports.

To consider confidential recommendations

The Cabinet considered the commercially sensitive information in relation to agenda item 9 ‘Extend the Contract Term for Delivery of Accommodation Based Services’.

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet approves a one-year extension to the contract term in respect of those contracts referenced in the submitted report, each of which relates to the delivery of Accommodation Based Services, noting that this is within the delegated authority of the Director of Adult Social Services in consultation with the Lead Member for Adult Health and Social Care

2.    That Cabinet approves the transfer of delegated authority relating to these contracts from the Director of Adult Social Services (in consultation with the Lead Member for Adult Health and Social Care) to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods. This is in recognition of the previous transfer of these contracts from Adult Social Care to Housing Needs.

To consider confidential recommendations

The Cabinet considered the commercially sensitive information in relation to agenda item 10 ‘Approval of Grant Funding Agreement with GMCA for the provision of Community Accommodation Service.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet authorises Oldham Borough Council to agree and enter into a grant agreement with Greater Manchester Combined Authority for the continued delivery of the service captured in the grant agreement namely CAS-3, as outlined in the submitted report.

To consider confidential recommendations

The Cabinet considered the commercially sensitive information in relation to agenda item 11 ‘Oldham Active – Agency Model’.

Resolved:

1.    That the Cabinet approves the work and transition to an agency model for the delivery of leisure services in Oldham.

2.    That the Cabinet authorises officers to finalise and enters into a Deed of Variation with Oldham Active to reflect the agency model.

3.    That the Cabinet delegates authority to the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure in consultation with the Director of Public Health, the Director of Finance, and the Director of Legal to approve and execute the Deed of Variation.

4.    That the Cabinet notes that the new agency model will allow the Council and OCL to explore long term options for the delivery of leisure services in the borough such as Teckal/LATCo company model when the current contract ends (March 2028 or earlier).

Report to be circulated

The Cabinet considered the commercially sensitive information in relation to agenda item 12 ‘Property Acquisition – Oldham Town Centre’.

Resolved:

1.    That the Cabinet approves the acquisition of the long leasehold interest (777 years remaining) of former Harry’s Bar, Yorkshire Street, Oldham.

2.    That the Cabinet approves the demolition of the building following acquisition.

3.    That the Cabinet approves the creation of a new public square on the cleared site to improve the setting and visibility of the Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

4.    That the Cabinet delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive, Place, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Growth, to finalise negotiations, legal documentation, demolition, and delivery of the public realm scheme.

5.    That the Cabinet notes that the Chair of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board has exempted this item from Call-in by virtue of Rule 14 of the Council’s Constitution.