Agenda item

(time limit 15 minutes)

14^th November 2022

12^th December 2022

23^rd January 2023

Urgent Decisions

The Council was requested to note the minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on14th November 2022, 12^th December 2022 and 12^th January 2023 and to note any urgent decisions that had been taken by Cabinet members and Officers of the Council, using their delegated authority. The Council was asked to receive questions on these minutes and decisions, from members of the Council who are not members of the Cabinet and to receive appropriate responses from Cabinet members.

Members asked the following questions: -

a.    Question from Councillor Murphy

In 2014, then Conservative Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles banned the use of camera cars for the enforcement of traffic laws including for cracking down on inappropriate, on-street parking.  This issue clearly need to be part of our transport strategy. Now I know I won’t be alone in this Chamber when I say that inconsiderate and dangerous parking is a real bugbear of mine. 

With more cars on the road than ever, this sort of behaviour is all the more dangerous.  We all know areas where inconsiderate parking causes safety issues.  Those with prams forced into the road or elderly or disabled residents unable to get about safely.  It’s a problem we hear about time and time again.

And we know the issues with enforcement too, Madam Mayor.  The parking team has a limited number of resources and when an Enforcement Officer approach a vehicle, drivers often drive off which makes enforcement difficult and cost prohibitive. So, this is why Eric Pickles got it wrong in 2014 and we need to re-empower councils on parking offences. 

Now the vast majority of drivers are considerate.  They follow the rules and pay attention to the road markings.  They have nothing to worry about. But residents in the problematic hotspot areas, where anti-social parking exists are sick and tired of seeing the same problem time and time again and want action. And the Council’s message to the thoughtless minority who continue to park on roads with parking restrictions in an anti-social manner for example when dropping off and collecting children should be clear.

Councillor Roberts, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, replied that she would agree that inconsiderate parking is a bugbear of most of us in this chamber and is of course concerning as poor parking can be very dangerous to our residents.

The parking team does indeed have a limited resource and I would agree that the Enforcement Officers cannot be everywhere all at once. We know that there are particular hotspots where we might need to look at changing the Traffic Regulation Orders to allow us to allow us to enforce poor parking in the traditional way, however as Cllr Murphy points out, that would not stop some people just driving off as soon as they see the Enforcement Officer in the location. The use of “camera cars” could be a more beneficial way of being able to enforce these kinds of contraventions if legislation is granted.

I would also make members of the chamber aware that we have two camera cars in Oldham that are allowed to be used in some circumstances, such as such as school crossings and bus stops where traffic regulation orders are in place. Oldham Council has also just applied for powers to enforce moving traffic, but this will be limited to infringement of one-way streets, box junctions and banned turns. We are also looking at the potential to ban cars from entering a “school street” during school drop off and pick up times to ensure that we can do our best to protect our children at the start and end of the school day. If adopted, this could be enforced using the camera car or a fixed camera. We’ve completed the application to Department of Transport and we hope to have the powers granted to us by the summer.

b.    Question from Councillor C. Gloster

In recent years, the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) has historically been in deficit, however it is now clear after the budget process has taken place, with significantly more funding than was initially anticipated that there will be a predicted cumulative surplus outturn of £0.442m in 2022/23. The position is now forecast to improve slightly with an in year 2022/23 surplus of £3.287m producing a £0.514m favourable outturn. This in turn produces a 2023/24 in-year surplus of £1.924m leading to an overall surplus balance of £2.438m at the year-end being carried forward. In 2024/25 a forecast in year surplus of £0.263m increases the cumulative balance carried forward to £2.701m. Anticipated increases in High Needs funding have been offset by the provision of a Service Improvement Development Fund to support a range of initiatives.

Oldham Schools like many other organisations across the borough, have seen a substantial increase in costs across all budget areas, especially energy and proposed pay rises for our teaching staff, therefore is it reasonable to see a retained surplus in the dedicated schools grant when this surplus could go directly to the place it is needed most, our schools, at a time when it is needed most, immediately.

Councillor Jabbar, Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon, replied that the DSG was essentially funded in four blocks, of which, by far the most significant were the Schools Block and the High Needs Block. Councillor Jabbar outlined the funding formula and indicated that he was wiling to meet with any member to discuss this in more detail.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 14^th November 2022, 12^th December 2022 and 23^rd January 2023 be noted.

2.    That urgent decisions made by Cabinet Members and Officers of the Council be noted.

3.    That the questions and responses thereon be noted.