Agenda item
Public Questions
(time limit 15 minutes)
The following pubic questions were not reached in the time allocated.
Minutes:
The Mayor advised that the next item on the agenda was Public Question Time. Questions had been received from members of the public and would be taken in the order in which they had been received. Council was advised that if the questioner was not present, the question would be read out by the Mayor.
The following questions were submitted:
1. Question received from Ruth Major via email:
Councillor Ur-Rehman, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods Services, thanked Ms. Major for her fantastic campaign and service to the community. While the Council had invested to increase the amount of street cleaning in the borough, Oldham would only be clean and tidy with the support and efforts of residents and Ms. Major represented the very best in that regard. It was confirmed that all the appointments had now been made with the additional funding put into street cleaning and the Council continued to work with local schools on a variety of campaigns often supported by the work of local communities which varies in each of the local Districts. For a more detailed update in each area and how best to engage with local activity, residents were encouraged to contact the local District officers. A full list was available on the Council’s website.
2. Question received from Maureen Aldred via email:
“My husband and I took our Grandchildren to the Oldham Christmas Lights Switch On and I just want to say what a fantastic event it was. It was well organised and the Grandchildren particularly enjoyed Hey Duggee from CBeebies. Despite the cuts, and the criticism which I am sure you must get from some quarters for spending money on this, I want to praise the Council for continuing to run this event. It is great for families and, of course, is free. I hope that you will continue to run these types of events and wonder if you could tell us what other free Council-organised events we have to look forward to over the coming months?”
Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise thanked Mrs. Aldred for her question and feedback. The Leader responded that there was no better place to be at Christmas than Oldham. There were a number of free high-quality events lined-up across the festive season which included Santa’s Reindeer Parade, Oldham’s Christmas Lights Switch-On and Brass Monkeys. There was no shortage of fantastic entertainment to enjoy and a penny did not have to be spent. In February 2020 Oldham would be seen in a new light as three of the town centre’s most iconic venues played to the borough’s late-night arts festival, ‘Illumnate’, followed by ‘Accelerate’ in May, part of the UK’s only festival of art dedicated to transport, travel and motion – ‘SpareParts’. Oldham Pride in July was a community led day of celebration which included a parade and participatory programme. Whilst Oldham Histories Festival in September will be the largest heritage festival in Greater Manchester including heritage open days and other events. The Council would also have the ‘Big Bang Festival of Fire’ in November to mark Bonfire Night with fire drawing, live performances and a fantastic fireworks display. There were also loads of free activities and exhibitions at Gallery Oldham and Oldham Libraries or take at a look at the visitor website at VisitOldham.com for more inspiration of things to do, many of which were free.
3. Question from Huma Bibi via email:
Councillor Jabbar, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, responded that the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement was notified to the Council on 20 December 2019. It advised the Council of major grant funding allocations for 2020/21 which would enable the budget for 2020/21 to be finalised. The settlement confirmed that the Government had halted the continuing reduction in Government funding experienced since 2010. Instead, general grant funding had been uplifted for inflation and other major grants had been continued at 2019/20 values. Additional funding had also been allocated for Social Care. This was much better than the initial estimated budget reduction. However, £208m had been taken out of the Council’s budget under austerity and there were still major funding shortages which included social care, Dedicated Schools Grant and Home to School Transport. The local government sector had been the first to face cuts. It was hoped that when the new budget was set more funding would be provided. The Council had lost one-third of its workforce but continued to provide the same services, especially in social care.
4. Question received from Mark Rooney via email:
“The council leader posted on Facebook that he has made a bid to greater Manchester for money from the housing investment loans fund to support residential developments in Oldham town centre. He said that this could offset green belt allocations in the GMSF. Is the Leader confident that there is a market for residential property in Oldham town centre?”
Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise responded that the Council had approved a refreshed vision for the town centre in June last year, whereby a town centre would be created where people would want to live. The vision comprised a number of priority areas and work on these was underway. Public realm improvements in the town centre would begin this summer. The Council had set up a Night-time economy task force which was looking at how the leisure offer in the town centre could be improved. Work on the refurbishing the former library on Union Street into the new Heritage and Arts Centre would start in the spring. The Council continued to work with the Coliseum and Arts Council to bring forward plans for a new performance space in the town. The Leader was confident that these improvements, together with emerging plans for Tommyfield Market, would transform Oldham Town Centre and an attractive place to visit, work and live be created. Further announcements and other proposals would be forthcoming in the next few weeks. If there was interest in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) further announcements would be made over the next few weeks.
5. Question received from Deborah Barratt via email:
“Can the council tell the people of Oldham why they have sold land at under-market value to communities who have or did not pay for nearly 20 years like with Oldham Central Mosque and not pay one penny in interest in all that time and can the council tell the people of Oldham why they sold Glodwick Baths during the time of purdah when the bidding system had already closed and can the council tell the people of Oldham who allowed the land to be sold for yet another place of worship on Copsterhill road when the land could have been used to build the much needed homes.”
Councillor Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise responded that the question referred to three separate land transactions. In respect to the terms and sale price of land to Oldham Central Masjid and Mosque, this was agreed by the Council in 1995 at a price below market value. In accordance with the agreed procedure for selling land at under value, the consent of the Secretary of State (Environment) was sought and agreed in August 1997. The sale of this land at under value was therefore subject to independent scrutiny by Central Government and followed due process and provided independent scrutiny of the sale price and process. With regard to Glodwick Baths, a full response had already been given to a Freedom of Information request submitted and published in the public domain. The property was declared surplus on 17 November 2015 and a tender exercise was undertaken as per the Land and Property Protocols. Cabinet agreed to this sale at its meeting on 25 January 2016 and the transaction was then progressed by officers which resulted in the sale and the Council received the full amount of the agreed sale price. The decision by the Cabinet to agree to sell this surplus asset was not in the purdah period which began on 23 March 2016. With regard to the disposal of the former Copsterhill Road, the Council undertook a restricted tender exercise of interested parties to sell the site which included a housing provider. The outcome of this was considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 26 February 2018. At this stage, the transaction was not yet completed therefore the Leader could not be specific about the price submitted by the successful bidder. However, the Council accepted the most economically advantageous offer and had to-date received the stage payments expected from the sale of the land. The transaction had followed the Council’s Land and Property Protocols.
6. Question received from Shirley Blower via email:
“I have heard talk of a new secondary school in Oldham possibly being run by Blue Coat. If this is true I think it would provide more choice for parents. Is it true and if so would it be open in time for my daughter who is in year 3 to attend there?
Councillor Mushtaq, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, responded that the Council was working with the Cranmer Trust who had made a successful bid to the ESFA to build a free school in Oldham. The Cranmer Trust ran Bluecoat. Preparations were still early but it was anticipated the new school may be ready for opening by September 2022. It this timing remained on tracker, this would mean that the child in year 3 would be eligible to apply for a place in the new school. The new Blue Coat School would be a significant addition to Oldham, providing more place for Oldham children to gain an excellent education and an excellent start in life.
At this point in the meeting the Mayor advised that the time limit for this item had expired.
RESOLVED that the questions and responses provided be noted.
Supporting documents:
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