(time limit 30 minutes)
Minutes:
Councillor C. Gloster, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group:
Question 1: Greater Manchester Police
The current staffing structure of Greater Manchester Police is having a detrimental impact on the provision of community policing in the Borough of Oldham. Traditionally each of Oldham’s 20 Wards have had a dedicated community police officer but this is no longer the case despite assurances to the contrary provided by both Greater Manchester Police’s Chief Constable and by the Mayor of Greater Manchester. Will the Leader therefore raise the issue of the police’s staffing resources with Greater Manchester Police?
Councillor Chadderton undertook to raise these staffing issues, reported by Councillor C. Gloster, during her regular meetings with Chief Superintendent Bowen.
Question 2: Anti-Social Behaviour on the Metrolink Network
Safety on trams is becoming an increasing concern for commuters across Greater Manchester but especially so for those passengers that used Metrolink services on the section of track between Oldham and Rochdale, which continues to see frequent occurrences of anti-social behaviour – more so than any other part of the network. It was welcome that announcements were recently made regarding the installation of new security cameras but what most be most helpful would be to see conductors on the tram network providing a visual deterrent to would-be miscreants and reassurance to most of the paying public?
Councillor Chadderton replied that she shared the concerns expressed regarding violence and anti-social behaviour of the Metrolink network. This should be continually monitored but that if current initiatives failed to solve the problems, then the deployment of Conductors on the Network should be examined.
Councillor Sheldon, Leader of the Conservative Group:
Question1 – Manchester Airport
Passenger travelling to and from Manchester Airport have in recent weeks and months had to endure extremely lengthy delays to their journeys and disruption to their travel arrangements due to staffing shortages. Please could the Leader of the Council take up these issues with the Chief Executive of Manchester Airport Group and also raise the issue of the dividends from the Airport Shareholdings that are owed to the Council?
Councillor Chadderton replied that she shared Councillor Sheldon’s concerns regarding the recent scenes of delays and disruption witnessed at Manchester Airport. In this regard she undertook to write to the Chief Executive of Manchester Airport Group to request that the issues relating to the delays at the airport and the matters ascertaining to the dividends are addressed.
Question 2 – Extreme Weather Conditions
Councillor Sheldon referred to the weather forecast which was forecasting temperatures to be more than 35 degrees centigrade in the Borough in the days ahead. In this regard Councillor Sheldon expressed his concerns for public safety and for the safety of wildlife arising from outdoor activities such as swimming in open water and having barbeques on moorlands for instance?
Councillor Chadderton replied expressing her concern at these activities and the attendant possibility of death and serious injury that are associated with them. In this regard she would instruct the Council’s Communications Team to issue press and news releases highlighting the dangers that can arise as a result of undertaking certain outdoor activities in very hot weather.
Councillor Hobin, Leader of the Failsworth Independent Party:
“Recently there had been reports that seven underperforming schools had been identified as needing intervention in Oldham. I’d like to know why the situation has reached this stage and what actions the council hasn’t been undertaking, as this, to me, looks like the council is failing the children of this borough yet again. The government say that they are investing in this area, I’d like to know what the council is doing to ensure other schools aren't going to fall into special measures? In the same week that that report came out, a head teacher was complaining that for almost a decade he had been asking the council to attend to leaking buildings and flooding issues. Children shouldn't have to work in that kind of environment. The head teacher said that the council had been dodging the matter and dodging accountability so when will somebody from this administration take responsibility and help this headmaster to provide good school for these children or I’m going to have to have a word with the headmaster and that in the school holidays perhaps say that the classrooms are empty retail spaces and put a sign outside saying it’s ’Spindles two’ and only then will the council spend some money?”
Councillor Chadderton replied that in terms of the seven underperforming schools, she didn’t know which schools they were. The Leader had read that same report and had asked for the council’s education service to prepare her a report thereon. Presently it was unclear as to whether they were local authority schools or academy schools?
Question received from Councillor McLaren
Councillors throughout the borough are receiving complaints about residential properties that have been left empty for extended periods. These properties are privately owned, they become a blight on the neighbourhood and they can take up a large amount of Elected Member and Officer time which could be put to better use. Could the relevant Cabinet Member, please tell us what powers the Council have to bring such properties back into use?
Councillor Chadderton replied that the Council had limited powers with regards to tackling privately owned long-term empty properties within borough. For the Council’s enforcement teams to take action properties have to be causing a direct nuisance to prescribed members of the public. The most common type of enforcement is serving a statutory notice for action regarding open access, defective guttering/damp to neighbouring properties and pest waste issues. In most cases this results in the owner taking steps to make the property safe, but it rarely resolves the long-term vacant issue and put an end to reoccurring complaints.
Other Powers available to Local Authorities, each with its own barriers and challenges and used as last resort included:
• Enforces Sale Procedure – the Council is in the final stages of successfully completing its first ESP with a view to doing more in the coming months.
• Compulsory Purchase Order – Was the main tool used in Housing Market Renewal over a decade ago, mostly used to regenerate streets and rows of housing
• Empty Dwelling Management Orders – not currently used in Oldham but Officers are reviewing the process to determine how it can be effectively used in Oldham
The Council is also working with Homes England within scope of its Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026 to launch a refreshed empty homes scheme using the learning from the Empty Homes Pilot that took place in 2019-21. We will be looking to launch the new Empty Homes Scheme late autumn.
Question received from Councillor Birch:
Children and young people are the future of our borough, but over many years we have seen youth services cut and facilities close. Young people are also having to face increased challenge and pressure that are brought about by a variety of issues including the pandemic, exams, the cost of living and peer pressure. Could the Cabinet member for Children and Young People, please tell us what the Youth Service are doing to support our young people?
Councillor Moores, Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services replied outlining a range of positive initiatives that the Council’s Children’s Services was undertaking to support the Borough’s young people in such challenging circumstances.
Question received from Councillor Al-Hamdani
Greater Manchester has been in special measures since December 2020. Since the creation of the Greater Manchester Mayoralty, the political responsibility for the region’s policing has rested with Mayor Andy Burnham.
An average of 220 crimes per day went unrecorded during 2019 and 2020. Earlier this year iOPS was scrapped but no one has taken responsibility for its failed implementation.
In March 2021 it emerged that Greater Manchester Police had only managed to act on 8.5% of reported crime. That is the second worse figure across England and Wales and it’s far lower than the 14.4% average.
More needs to be done to increase GMP’s capacity to act on crime, and it is particularly concerning that HMIC still has significant concerns over how Greater Manchester Police identify and support victims of serious crime
Political accountability has been lacking throughout the period of GMP being in special measures. Will the Leader of the Council write to Mayor Burnham asking him to come to Oldham to field questions from councillors – as he has done elsewhere in Greater Manchester – on the ongoing situation affecting Greater Manchester Police?
Councillor Chadderton replied: that she would be happy to invite Mayor Andy Burnham to attend Oldham and to field questions from councillors about the performance of Greater Manchester Police, as has happened in other authorities across Greater Manchester. However, she added that she hoped that there would be more councillors present, at such a meeting than on a previous occasion when the Mayor Andy Burnham spoke on this matter to Oldham Councillors, in late November 2021. On that occasion only a handful of Oldham Councillors were in attendance, with most of the audience being made up of Councillors from outside of Oldham.
Question received from Councillor Alyas:
What are the plans for the outdoor market once the indoor market is relocated into the Spindles?
Councillor Chadderton replied that the Council is passionate about ensuring that the Tommyfield market and the indoor and outdoor traders have a thriving future. There were a number of options being explored for the outdoor market traders to use building on the feedback from the trader engagement sessions. The Council continues to welcome all traders to engage with the Market management team to ensure all views and ideas are captured, ahead of the options being finalised and discussed with traders, shoppers and visitors to inform the final decisions.
Question received from Councillor S. Bashforth:
Further to the publishing of the independent assurance review into historic child sexual exploitation in Oldham, and the subsequent Adjournment debate in Parliament, where Racheal Maclean, the Conservative Government's Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department thanked local MPs Jim McMahon and Debbie Abrahams - in the Minister's words - "for setting out their strong commitment to securing justice for those victims, which is what we all want to see?”
The Minister further said, " In that, he will have the full support of Conservative Members and the full force of the Home Office—the Home Secretary, and every single Home Office Minister ''.
Rachel Maclean, the Conservative Government's Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, also stated "... I can say from my position as a home Office minister that to call into question the integrity of the law enforcement professionals who dedicate their lives and careers to investigating these incredibly disgusting and abhorrent crimes is outrageous. It is completely wrong, and anyone who thinks that there is any question about their professionalism needs to take a good, long, hard look at themselves".
My question is this: in the light of these strong and unequivocal messages of support from a senior Government Minister, spoken in Parliament, has this council had any other comments, positive or negative about the report from the Government? And in the light of continued calls for further reviews and or inquiries from some members of this council, will the Leader and Chief Executive formally write to the Government asking them if they feel this ought to be the case?
Councillor Chadderton replied that she welcomed the debate in parliament and the commitment of Oldham’s Members of Parliament to publicly address this issue and raise it for debate with ministers.
Rachael Maclean’s support for the work of the independent review team and other review teams was unequivocal and much welcome. It was clear that the government had absolute confidence in the purpose and objectives of their work, just as Oldham MBC does.
The Council is in active conversation with the Department for Education and the Home Office about the review findings and our response to it – both to see how they can help us drive improvements to services and how they can help us share learning from our review across the sector.
The work with DfE and Home Office is ongoing, and I know they are supportive of the work that the Council is doing and are seeking to help us.
Should anyone else wish to write to the Home Office, Department for Education or Ofsted about the review they would be welcome to do so.
Question received from Councillor Nasheen:
I have had some residents contact me asking when they will get their £150 energy rebate. Can the relevant cabinet member provide and update on how many people have received their rebate and when everyone else will?
Councillor Jabbar, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon replied that The Council has issued payments to 85,840 out of the 88,292 households eligible to receive the Council Tax Energy Rebate.
Of these 57,951 payments were made by Direct Debit with 27,889 made by the Post Office who are currently administering these payments.
Question received from Councillor Harrison:
Too many Oldham families are struggling with the rising cost of living. Energy, fuel and food have gone through the roof, and this is only going to get worse with rising levels of inflation and another fuel rise on the horizon. Can the relevant Cabinet Member tell us what the council are doing to help struggling families?
Councillor Jabbar, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon replied that, the Council has provided support to struggling households via the Energy Rebate and Household Support Funding.
So far on the Energy Rebate the Council has issued payments to 85,840 out of the 88,292 households eligible to receive this support.
Of these 57,951 payments were made by Direct Debit with 27,789 made by the Post Office who are currently administering these payments.
Via the Household Support Fund, a further £2.419m is to be provided which includes:
• Support to working age in receipt of council tax reduction of £25 to further support fuel costs
• Support to pensioners of £110 in receipt of council tax reduction to further support fuel costs.
• Vouchers for those in emergency need to replace boilers.
• Working together with Action Together to support the most vulnerable
• Food Support for eligible children for the Spring Bank and Summer Holidays
Question received from Councillor Shuttleworth:
It is pleasing to know that Oldham residents have been coming forward offering to host individuals and families fleeing the atrocities that are taking place in Ukraine. Sadly, many will have arrived in this country with few personal belongings and many of them will also have a limited knowledge of our culture and language.
Could the relevant Cabinet Member, advise as to how many refugees from the Ukraine have been provided with accommodation in our Borough? What systems the Council have in place to ensure a placement is safe and secure?
And what support hosts and guests receive to ensure that the placement is a successful one?
Councillor Stretton, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods replied that a total of 53 Ukrainian refugees have been provided with accommodation, in the Oldham Borough, through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
When the Council receives notification of a Visa application being approved by the Home Office, DBS checks are undertaken for all sponsors in a household aged 16 years and over. Checks are also made with Social Care and Greater Manchester Police.
In addition, inspections of all sponsor properties are undertaken by Environmental Health colleagues in advance of the Ukrainian refugee’s arrival. Once the refugees have arrived, Social Care colleagues undertake a welfare visit to the sponsor household to meet with the guest.
If the DBS or property inspection is failed, the Council will look to rematch any Ukrainian refugees to another household.
Regular dialogue takes place with sponsors/guests and the Council has a dedicated officer to support the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. Support is provided by a range of partners including Education, Get Oldham Working, Access Oldham, Housing, Libraries and other providers to support their integration.
At this point in the meeting, the Mayor advised that the time limit for this item had expired. The Council was advised that all unanswered questions would receive a written reply.
RESOLVED that the questions and responses provided be noted.