(time limit 15 Minutes)
Minutes:
The Mayor advised the meeting that the next item on the agenda was Public Question Time. The 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, then the question would be read out by the Mayor.
The following questions were submitted:
1. Question received from Nye Goodwin:
Could the relevant cabinet member please update the residents of Oldham on the future of the Tommyfield Market Hall and of any plans of moving the indoor market into Spindles or Town Square?
Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Employment and Enterprise, responded that the Council was committed to ensuring the future of Tommyfield Market and was working hard to progress and accelerate the plans for a new market in the Shopping Centre.
As many were aware, initial designs for the new market were shared just over a month ago.
These showed the new market being located in the Town Square side of the Shopping Centre - occupying the former TJ Hughes unit and additional space around it which would be completely redeveloped.
On the upper level, accessed directly from the mall, there would be a general market with dedicated fresh produce areas.
On the lower level, that fronted onto Parliament Square, there would be an area dedicated to supporting existing food retailers and traders with a food court area.
The Council continued to work closely with market traders listening to their ideas about stall security, importance of enhanced footfall, access to the bus station and tram stops and continued to gather feedback from them on the initial designs. The Council was delighted that they liked them and could really see the project coming to life now.
There would be wider consultation with members of the public soon as part of the commitment to meaningful engagement with our communities – this feedback would help share updates on the initial designs for both the new market as well as an events venue, workspace, and archives hub, which were also being developed in the Shopping Centre.
This feedback was important as work moved to the next phase in developing more detailed designs, ahead of a planning application being submitted later in the year.
The new market had received a boost over the summer when it was awarded £6.1million from the Town Deal Fund.
2. Question received from Robert Barnes
Will the Council Leader stand up for the workers of the Elbit factory who have the right to work in a safe and secure environment without fear of violence and intimidation.
Given that Oldham produced the likes of Sir Winston Churchill as its MP, does the Council Leader want to keep the Elbit factory open or closed?
Councillor Shah, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economic and Social Reform replied that everyone had the right to work in a safe and secure environment. Violence and intimidation was not acceptable inside or outside of the workplace.
Peaceful protest would be facilitated but it should not involve violence or intimidation. The Council regularly worked with the police and our partners to stop that happening and it was aware that Elbit were in regular dialogue with Greater Manchester Police.
The Council worked with and supported all businesses who wanted to provide decent, well paid jobs in Oldham.
3. Question received from Maggie Scarisbrick
Does the council have any plans for a memorial or commemoration for Oldham residents that have died of Covid19?
Councillor Chadderton, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, responded that the Council would be doing something to commemorate all those that sadly lost their lives to Covid. Options were being looked at and an announcement would be made in due course.
4. Question received from Michael Warrington
Could the relevant cabinet member provide information on how many residents have been recruited in Oldham under the Kickstart initiative?
Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Employment and Enterprise, replied that the Council noted that the Kickstart Scheme, launched by the Chancellor, was an appropriate response to supporting young people who had been the most affected by the pandemic.
This funding should have been able to support 280,000 young people into work nationally. Unfortunately DWP had not been willing to share localised performance data and so the Council had to resort to parliamentary questions to understand how effective it had been locally.
As of the 3rd June 2021, there had been nearly 138,000 opportunities advertised but only 31,200 filled nationwide. The North West region was leading the way after London, with around 13% of the Kickstart opportunities, or 17,610, being advertised, of which just 4,130 have been filled.
Oldham had 3.2% of the North West Working age population, so it was estimated that, as of the 3rd June, there were around 560 opportunities that had been created, with 130 filled. Yet there was funding allocated for around 1,500 opportunities in Oldham.
Councillor Akhtar intended to write to the Minister for Employment, to request local authority data, an extension of the programme until March 2023 and devolution of the programme to local Councils to ensure that places like Oldham really could Level Up.
5. Question received from Peter Roberts
What plans does the council have to honour Oldham’s Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Matt Walls following his success at the recent Olympic Games?
Councillor Shah, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economic and Social Reform replied that she was delighted to confirm that, prior to the start of this meeting, the Council at a special meeting had agreed to honour Matt by bestowing him with the title of Honorary Freeman of the Borough.
His achievements at the Olympics were fantastic and she knew people across the borough thought of him as one of their own and took inspiration from what he had done.
6. Question received from Anita Lowe
I enjoy visiting outdoor markets of all types including artisan food markets and farmers markets including the famous Bury Market which appears to continue to thrive tremendously. Also Altrincham market which also continues to be busy ...
I have recently visited Oldham indoor Market ... or sadly what is left of it. It comes across as quite poor when taken into consideration it once attracted many visitors over the years.
How can the traders be encouraged to transit into the Spindles?
I have spoken to numerous long standing traders and they fear for their business and the lack of footfall currently happening in the Town especially the indoor market. What plans if any are currently in place to help rectify this lack of footfall?
As a lifelong Oldhamer it really is sad to see.
Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Employment and Enterprise, responded that Tommyfield Market continued to be a retail and community hub in the town centre. There were 94 traders, selling everything you would expect to see on a traditional market. Over the last year, it had gained 7 new traders, including some fantastic food stalls offering Indian, Thai and Portuguese cuisine. Recently, the Oldham, Rochdale and Bury branch of CAMRA also named the micro-pub as its “Pub of the Year”.
Most High Streets and markets had seen a reduction in visitors as a result of the pandemic. Traders had responded to the economic challenged by adapting and several now had online shops for sales and deliveries. The Council continued to promote Tommyfield Market and, with Covid restrictions lifting, planning was underway for Halloween and Christmas events to attract visitors back to the high streets and market hall.
The new Market in the Shopping Centre would benefit from higher footfall. It would be in the heart of the Town Centre and have better visibility, being next to the Old Town Hall as well as the main car parks. The new events venue and workspace that were being developed in the Shopping Centre would also drive footfall. The Council was working closely with traders to understand their requirements for the new Market.
Councillors understood and appreciated how difficult it was for traders at the moment. They therefore urged everyone to support the Market. When you bought from a local business, you were putting money directly into the hands of local families - so please do continue to shop local.
7. Question received from Neil Wilby
Why is it the case that certain departments within the Council have serious difficulties in responding to emails or other communications, such as freedom of information requests. Even when there is a lawful requirement to do so?
Even as a journalist, with not inconsiderable leverage, the effort expended in persuading paid officers to respond appropriately, if at all, is disproportionate and unnecessarily stressful.
Can, therefore, the Leader of the Council and the interim chief executive, whose presence I very much welcome, assure Madam Mayor and Full Council that all necessary steps will be taken, under the new regime, to ensure that those residents of Oldham, absent of such leverage, are not being disadvantaged by either unanswered emails or unsatisfactory responses.
Councillor Stretton, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services responded with thanks to Mr Wilby for his question.
The Council was absolutely committed to responding to questions from members of the public, journalists, and any other interested party in a clear, timely, and transparent way. She was sorry if Mr Wilby felts the Council had fallen short.
She could assure him that the Council took its commitment to providing fair and accurate information very seriously.
It would always seek to improve where it could and provide the best possible services to the communities across Oldham.
8. Question received from Allan Townson
Dear members how can it be right for a factory which is 20 feet away from first choice homes property which is Heywood house Eldon street estate starts at 6am which is not allowed by law and can make noise which is more than 75 decibels which is also not allowed by law be allowed to continue as well as the worker's on breaks are smoking weed and allowed to drive stacker trucks and then drive home I've complained about this to the environment health in 17 and 18 but they do not care as I've had no reply since can you please discuss this and reply at your earliest.
Councillor Chadderton, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, replied that she was aware that, in 2017 and 2018, you complained about the noise from the factory and this was investigated and the factory owners spoken to at the time.
In order for the Environmental Health team to investigate the noise issues again they needed to ensure that they gathered the evidence of the noise being caused and assessed whether, in line with legislation, the noise was causing a statutory nuisance. There were a number of factors the assessment took into consideration including the location, time of day, frequency and loudness.
She had passed the details onto the team and asked for the investigation to commence again.
Concerning the allegations of drugs being used on the site, this was a matter for the Police and she urged the questioner to contact them.
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.