Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ghafoor, Rustidge and Williamson.

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

The Minutes of the meeting of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board held on 12^th June 2025 are attached for approval.

Resolved:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board held on 12^th June 2025, be approved as a correct record.

A report of the Statutory Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods that seeks approval to delegate to AGMA Executive Board the formulating and preparing of a joint development plan document with the other 9 Greater Manchester councils.

The Scrutiny Board considered a report of the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive that sought approval from the Cabinet to delegate to the AGMA Executive Board the formulation and preparation of a joint development plan document with the other nine Greater Manchester councils (Bolton Bury, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters were executive functions. This report had been considered by the Cabinet (Minute 9 refers) at its meeting held on 21^st July 2025.

The leaders of the Greater Manchester authorities, at the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) Executive Board meeting on 28^th March 2025, had agreed to the production of a statutory Greater Manchester Joint Minerals and Waste Plan (GMJMWP).  The submitted report considered the necessary steps required in relation to seeking approval from all the Greater Manchester districts to commence preparation and to delegate its preparation to the AGMA Executive Board. 

The existing Greater Manchester Minerals and Waste Plans was required to be updated in full because they were currently out of date having previously been adopted over a decade ago. Their replacement, with a single, joint minerals and waste plan would ensure efficient compliance with national planning policies. 

The options and alternatives that the Cabinet had considered were:

a.    Option 1 - following the approval in principle of the above recommendation by Council to the making of a joint development plan document with the other 9 Greater Manchester councils (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester, Cabinet is recommended to: Delegate to AGMA Executive Board the formulating and preparing of the joint development plan document to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters are executive functions. This option is the most efficient option and will ensure an up-to-date minerals and waste plan. There are no disadvantages to this option.

b.    Option 2 - to not delegate to the AGMA Executive Board, the formulating and preparing of the joint development plan document to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters are executive functions. This will mean that the minerals and waste plan would be unable to be delegated to the AGMA Executive Board by all ten districts, which will put at risk the timely progression of the minerals and waste plan.

Option 1 was approved by the Cabinet.

The Scrutiny Board were informed that as this matter was a key decision, the proposal had previously been considered by the Council’s Cabinet at its meeting on 21^st July 2025. It had been agreed by the Cabinet that the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods, be granted delegated authority to take the final decision on the delegation, having considered any comments made thereon by this meeting of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board.

Resolved:

That the Scrutiny Board endorses the decision made by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

A report of the Statutory Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods that seeks approval for the publication of the Open Space Interim Planning Position Paper on the council’s website.

The Scrutiny Board received a report that had previously been approved by the Cabinet at its meeting on 21^st July 2025 (Minute 10 refers), which had asked Members to consider a report of the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive which had sought approval of the Open Space Interim Planning Position Paper, for publication on the council’s website, to assist in the interpretation and implementation of existing planning policies in Oldham’s Local Plan.

The Interim Planning Position Paper supported the implementation of policy 23 ‘Open Spaces and Sports’ within Oldham's Local Plan – The Joint Core Strategy and Development Management Development Plan Document, adopted November 2011. The report presented to the Cabinet, superseded the previous ‘Open Space Interim Planning Position Paper’ published by the council in March 2012.

The submitted report had established the council's updated position in relation to open space policy, including the threshold for policy application, the seeking of new and enhanced open space and playing pitches and outdoor sports provision.

It was intended to be read alongside the Local Plan as a whole, but in particular - Local Plan Policy 23 ‘Open Spaces and Sports’. It should also be read alongside Places for Everyone (PfE) policy JP-P7 ‘Sport and Recreation’. The submitted report was also informed by the council’s Open Space Study (2022) and the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy (PPOSS) (2025) as key evidence-based documents.

The report provided updated evidence to inform the interpretation and implementation of the policies in Oldham’s Local Plan. It was a material consideration and was intended to be used in decision making as appropriate.

The council's approach to updated national guidance and local evidence was to be considered further and to inform policy preparation as part of the Local Plan Review. 

The options and alternatives that the Cabinet had considered were:

a.    Option 1 - To approve the Open Space Interim Planning Position Paper for publication on the council’s website, to assist in the interpretation and implementation of policy 23 ‘Open Spaces and Sports’ in Oldham’s Local Plan. The advantages to Option 1 were that approving the Open Space Interim Planning Position Paper for publication would ensure effective and consistent decision-making which is in line with local evidence and local and national planning policy. It will provide guidance to developers and planning officers on the interpretation and implementation of open space policy within the current Local Plan. There were no reported disadvantages to Option 1.

b.    Option 2 - To not approve the Open Space Interim Planning Position Paper for publication on the council’s website. There were no reported advantages to Option 2. The disadvantages to Option 2 were that not approving the Open Space Interim Planning Position Paper for publication could affect consistent decision-making and adversely impact the effective implementation of local planning policy.

Option 1 was the Option, which the Cabinet ultimately chose.

The Scrutiny Board were informed that as this matter was a key decision, the proposal had previously been considered by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme for 2025/26

The Scrutiny Board considered its Work Programme for 2025/26.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

The Scrutiny Panel gave consideration to the Key Decision Document which outlined key decisions that the Cabinet were due to take at its meeting on 21^st July 2025 and at future meetings.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

The Scrutiny Board is asked to note the Call-in Procedure

Resolved:

That the Call-in Procedure be noted by the Scrutiny Board.

A report that updating on the Creating a Better Place Programme

The Scrutiny Board considered the ‘public’ version of the report of the Assistant Director – Creating a Better Place which informed members that the  Creating a Better Place (CaBP) programme continued to be on track delivering significant transformational projects across the borough, to build much needed new homes, to create jobs and support businesses to grow, and to deliver against our Green New Deal commitments ensuring Oldham is a great place to live, work and visit with lots of family friendly and accessible places to go. The report had been presented to the Cabinet on 16^th June 2025 and which has subsequently been called-in by Councillors Al-Hamdani and Kenyon.

The report had provided the Cabinet with a formal update on the strategic progress of the CaBP regeneration and redevelopment programme, including external funding opportunities secured, benefits realised for specific projects and the associated social value generated to Create a Better Place.

The submitted report was seeking approval on the recommendations for various projects following a review of the Council’s regeneration and redevelopment capital programme, including outcome delivery, social value capture, positive opportunities and impacts for Oldham’s residents and local businesses, and where applicable note the challenges and mitigations in place linked to reprofiling of capital resource to allow the continued delivery and completion of flagship projects.

Resolved:

That the Place, Economic Growth Scrutiny Board notes the recommendations detailed in the contained in the ‘public’ version of the public’ version of the report of the Assistant Director – Creating a Better Place which informed members that the  Creating a Better Place (CaBP) programme Creating a Better Place which informed members that the  Creating a Better Place (CaBP) programme, that the Cabinet had previously considered and approved at its meeting on 12^th June 2025.

To consider that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item 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.

The Scrutiny Board considered excluding the press and public from the following item of business (agenda item 13 – Creating a Better Place – Update. Members of the Scrutiny Board requested that it would be in the public interest for the item to be considered during public session.

The Chair of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board, requested that legal advice be considered on this matter prior to a decision on whether the press and public be excluded from agenda item 13, is made.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8.4(k) it was MOVED that this Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board meeting be adjourned until Thursday, 27^th August 2025 at 6.00pm.

On being put to the VOTE, the Motion was CARRIED.