Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Wilkinson and Williamson.

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

The Minutes of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board held on 13^th November 2025 and 12^th January 2026 are attached for approval.

Resolved:
That the Minutes of the meetings of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board, held on 13^th November 2025 and on 12^th January 2026 be approved as correct records.

A report, of the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive requesting consideration of the Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss Masterplan and Spatial Design Code, prepared in accordance with Places for Everyone, criteria 1 of JPA 10 Beal Valley and criteria 1 of JPA 12 Broadbent Moss, and its incorporation into a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

The Council’s Constitution provides for an ‘Overview and Scrutiny body’ to invite people other than those Members and Officers referred to in Procedure Rule 12 to address it, discuss issues of local concern and/or answer questions. Such people may be, for example, representatives from partner organisations, other stakeholders or members of the public.  Attendance by those persons is entirely optional, except where attendance is required by law. 

The Committee will therefore follow the procedure outlined below in respect of this agenda item:

1.    The Chair to invite Officers to provide a short presentation on the item.

2. The Chair to invite members of the committee to raise any questions arising from the presentation to officers.
3. The Chair to invite a speaker (raising concerns/objections about the item/masterplan) to present their views/concerns to the committee (max 10 minutes to present).
4. The Chair to invite members of the committee to raise any questions with the first speaker.
5. The Chair to invite a speaker (speaking on behalf of the developer) to present their views to the committee (max 10 minutes to present).
6. The Chair to invite members of the committee to raise any questions with the second speaker.
7. The Chair to open the floor to committee members to discuss the item further and, ultimately, propose motions/recommendations on the item for the committee to vote on – speakers cannot engage in this part of the discussion, but members of the committee can ask further questions of the officers if they wish.

Further to Minute x of the meeting of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board, held on 12^th January 2026, Members received a report of the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive that sought consideration of the Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss Masterplan and Spatial Design Code, that had been prepared in accordance with Places for Everyone, criteria 1 of JPA 10 Beal Valley and criteria 1 of JPA 12 Broadbent Moss, in light of the Motion agreed at the Council meeting on 10^th December, (“Ensuring Statutory Scrutiny and Enforceability for Places for Everyone Masterplans”), that necessitated the requirement of the preparation of a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) incorporating this Masterplan and Spatial Design Code.

The report was due to be presented to the Cabinet, at its meeting on 23^rd February 2026, where Members would consider any comments and observations presented by this Scrutiny Board. A version had already been considered by the Cabinet on 15^th December 2025.

In considering the report, Members of the Scrutiny Board sought clarification on:

a.    How much greenspace land was planned to be retained. The Assistant Director of Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery undertook to write to Members thereon, however he did confirm that it was intended to retain a lot of underdeveloped land to ensure opportunities were available for nature and recreation purposes.

b.    The number of housing units that would be available? It was envisaged that around 1,700 houses across the area would be available.

c.     In terms of the delivery plan Members asked about the site’s topography, such as did this plan consider risks and mitigation's which could affect the delivery plan.  The meeting was advised that, officers would explore any challenges where they were apparent to get the infrastructure required. 

d.    Members noted that one benefit of the site was the metrolink line, that the Council was a landholder of.

e.    Flood mitigations? Members note that some of the area could not be developed. Those parts of the site that were going to be developed members needed assurances that the fold risk was being addressed. The Environment Agency had been involved in the development of the site and the Council had encouraged the developer to engage with United Utilities and the Environment Agency in terms of drainage and flood requirements. 

The Scrutiny Board was addressed by Mr. Broadbent, who raised a number of concerns regarding air pollution and contamination. He added that the Places for Everyone (PfE) programme had specific and explicit concerns and expectations of the master planning process. One key issue raised, in PfE was air quality. An integrated assessment expected the Master Plan to reduce the impact of traffic on local highway and to mitigate extra traffic. Mr Broadbent was concerned that it was planned to commence the development before the Metrolink stop came into operation in the year 2030.  A Supreme Court Judgement to bring nitrogen dioxide levels down to legal levels by 2026 was proving to be problematic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Report of Director of Communities to be circulated

The Scrutiny Board received a presentation from the Director of Community Services regarding the Council’s Policy in relation to Temporary Accommodation.

The Board were informed that the Council held a housing register of all applicants that wished to access social housing in the borough who had a defined housing need as per the Allocation’s Policy. Housing applications were assessed against that Policy and the priority banding subsequently allocated. Social Housing Landlords also used the Council’s web-based platform to advertise their available social homes.

The Council had a team of Homelessness Prevention Officers who worked with households who were homeless or had been threatened with homelessness to either help them remain in their current home or secure them alternative housing. The Council also had a team of Move on Support Officers who worked with households that are placed into Temporary Accommodation (TA). They would create individualised moves or support plans for households and help them to move on into their own accommodation as soon as possible.

The council had a homelessness strategy team who ensured that the authority had a robust homelessness strategy and delivery plan in place. They would use key data from a local, regional and national level taking into account legislation and horizon scan for upcoming changes in legislation that could impact upon operational service delivery. They were also responsible for securing any additional grant funding that might be available to assist homelessness households. This includes commissioning of relevant services and monitoring impact/service delivery.

There was a team of rough sleeping outreach workers who worked with the Borough’s most intrenched rough sleepers to help connect them into services who could help and support them. The aim being to help prevent and/or reduce rough sleeping altogether wherever possible.

Oldham had struggled significantly with homelessness over the last few years, as had many authorities across the country. 2023/24 saw the numbers of households in TA increase from 394 to 614. In September 2024 there was a peak in households residing in TA, with numbers standing at 722 at the end of the month.? At the end of Quarter 3 in 2024/25 (31^st December 2024), there were 97 households placed in TA and 204 moved out. This was the first positive net change reported since June 2021. Further improvements in the position had been seen since, although the rate of reduction has slowed significantly during 2025/26.

As of the end of November 2025, numbers had reduced substantially, with 551 households residing in TA? - the lowest rate since December 2023. The cost of TA presented a significant challenge to the authority:

a.    In 2024/25, the expenditure was £11million on temporary accommodation

b.    For 2025/26, this was projected to have decreased to £8.7million

The numbers on the Housing Register remained at extremely high levels. A recent data-cleansing exercise has assisted in bringing the number of households on the register down to 6181. However, the number of new households registering for housing is around 270 every month.The number  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Report of Director of Communities to be circulated

The Scrutiny Board received a presentation from the Director of Community Services regarding the Council’s Allocations Policy. The Board were advised that the Allocation’s Policy had last been reviewed in 2019. Since that time there had been a high rise in demand for social housing. However, there were fewer socially rented homes becoming available to let and a marked increase in the demand for temporary accommodation by households who were deemed to be statutorily homeless.

The Allocation’s Policy needed to be reviewed to meet the current prevailing circumstances within the Borough. Before any changes could be effected, the Local Authority was required by law to consult with those who will be most affected by the changes. This included residents of the borough and the Council’s Common Allocation’s Framework (CAF) Partners.

The key changes that were being proposed included:

•       Removing the ‘working-xtra’ scheme.

•       People who own a share of property either in the UK, or abroad, being disqualified.

•       More restrictive income and capital thresholds.

•       Commitment in the Policy for downsizing incentives to offer practical and financial support for those households freeing up larger accommodation units.

•       Creation of a homeless at home criteria.

•       Creation of a continuing duty category.

•       Introduction of an annual lettings plan.

•       Direct matches permitted for urgent housing categories.

•       Clarification provided on who may be included on housing applications, such as joint parental responsibility

The key aspects of the policy that were not being proposed to change included:

•       The Policy will still mainly operate through a choice-based lettings framework.

•       There were no significant changes being proposed to the Local Connection Criteria or Qualifying persons criteria.

•       There are no significant changes being proposed to the banding structure - those in most need would still be considered as priority in descending order of priority.

The consultation period ended in November 2025 and the key findings were:

•       Overall positive feedback from residents, CAF Partners and staff on the proposals.

•       Particular interest and approval around the introduction of an annual lettings plan meaning properties will be allocated to each band not just those in ‘Band 1’ priority. This would be let as a percentage of available homes.

•       Partners were keen to focus on Rightsizing and have agreed in principle to jointly fund a post to work across all RSLs in Oldham on a rightsizing scheme freeing up much needed larger homes in the borough. 

A report on the outcomes of the Allocation’s Policy Review was due to be presented to the Cabinet, at its meeting on 23^rd February 2026, with a view to the amended policy being in operation from May 2026.

Resolved:

That the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board endorse the amended Allocation’s Policy and recommend that it be formally approved by the Cabinet, at it’s meeting on 23^rd February 2026.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme 2026/27

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

Resolved:

That the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme for 2025/26 be noted.

Key decision document published 28 days before the proposed Cabinet meeting on 9^th February 2026.

The Scrutiny Board gave consideration to the Key Decision Document which outlined key decisions that the Cabinet were due to take at its meeting on 9^th February 2026 and at future meetings.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

To note any rule 13 or 14 decisions since the previous meeting.

The Scrutiny Board was informed that the Cabinet had not made any decisions under the terms of Rules 13 and 14 of the Council’s Constitution, since the Scrutiny Board’s last ordinary meeting, on 13^th November 2025.