(time limit 30 minutes)
Minutes:
Councillor Sykes, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group
Question 1: Housing Targets
The government’s recent ‘U-turn’ on housing targets is to be welcomed will the Labour administration use this opportunity to stop, pause and consider its housing options in the Borough and to protect green spaces and green belt land in the borough of Oldham.
The Leader of the Council also welcomed the government’s change of policy adding that the Council’s position was not to build on green space, or green belt, land and to always look to promote the development of brownfield land first.
Question 2: Northern Care Alliance
Councillor Sykes referred to the current provision of NHS services in the Borough and the great pressures that they were facing currently and during the coming winter months, with the Royal College of Nursing staff due to take industrial action on 15th December 2022, for the first time. Northern Care Alliance are struggling to cope with the current situation. Councillor Sykes called on the Council to consider establishing a Joint Scrutiny Committee that would not just challenge current service provision but seek to work with Northern Care Alliance to lobby government for additional resources and for the provision of better treatment and facilities for the borough’s residents.
The Leader of the Council shared Councillor Sykes’ concerns regarding the present situation faced by the Northern Care Alliance and undertook to consider further his request for the establishment of a Joint Scrutiny Committee to oversee the operations of Northern Care Alliance.
Councillor Sheldon, Leader of the Conservative group
Question 1: Places for Everyone and Section 106 Agreements
Councillor Sheldon asked the Leader of the Council, if in the light of recent guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, would withdraw Oldham Council’s involvement in the (Greater Manchester wide) Places for Everyone initiative. In addition Councillor Sheldon asked if processes could be established that would reduce the delays that often occurred, in the payment of Section 106 Agreement monies for common good, caused often as a result of detailed and lengthy discussions involving the Council’s Planning Department.
The Leader of the Council replied that the Council had received the guidance from the Secretary of State but that the guidance was just that and was not yet enshrined in law and that as the Council’s policy in this regard, was, as she had outlined earlier in her reply to Councillor Sykes, one of developing brownfield sites across the Borough first. In terms of Councillor Sheldon’s remarks regarding Section 106 Agreement monies she felt that this wasn’t a borough-wide problem, as she had not personally experienced any such delays in respect of the Ward that she represented, South Royton, for example. However, the Leader of the Council did commit to looking into any specific instances of delays of payment for Section 106 Agreement monies if Councillor Sheldon could forward to her details thereon.
Question 2: Salmon Fields Centre, Royton
Councillor Sheldon referred to a headline on the ‘I Love Oldham’ website on 29th November 2022, which announced the opening of new NHS community diagnostic centre at Salmon Fields, Royton. In welcoming this development, Councillor Sheldon noted that the new facility wouldn’t have opened without extensive investment from the current Conservative government.
The Leader of the Council replied that she had nothing further to add to comments she had earlier made in relation to this matter.
Councillor Hobin, Leader of the Failsworth Independent Party
Councillor Hobin referred to Oldham’s large waiting list for housing, believed to be more than 7,000 people, asking if any of the borough’s housing stock was being allocated to people from outside of the borough who had little, or no, connection to the borough and was any provision being made for ex-service personnel?
The Leader of the Council replied by committing to circulate to Members of the Council a briefing paper which outlined how homes were allocated in the Borough of Oldham.
Question from Councillor Ibrahim:
I would like to address the poor housing conditions that many residents are living in across the borough. These are houses owned by both private landlords and housing associations. I speak not only for myself but for other members in this chamber who receive case work on this matter daily.
We have recently seen the outcome of the coroner’s report into the death of the young child Awaab Ishaak in Rochdale. The poor conditions and the refusal of the housing association to address issues has shocked the country, and I’m sure every person in this chamber’s hearts go out to Awaab’s parents as they continue to grieve for their son.
Could the relevant Cabinet member advise what actions are being taken against landlords where poor housing conditions such as mould and damp, are dangerous to the health of residents; and how quickly action will be taken to ensure that no more preventable deaths like Awaab Ishaak’s will happen in the borough.
Councillor Chadderton, Leader of the Council, replied Thank you for your question - I’m deeply saddened by the tragic death of Awaab Ishak in Rochdale. On hearing the news at the beginning of this month I asked Harry Catherall, Chief Executive of the Council to launch a review of how we approach our housing stock to ensure we do not see a repeat of this sad event in Oldham.
Council-owned homes in Oldham are managed through our partners via a contractual arrangement which includes property repair and maintenance. Regular inspections are undertaken by the providers and there is also a lifecycle replacement programme for all of our properties.
Council officers have discussed the Rochdale case with these housing partners at the monitoring meetings and full reassurance has been provided.
More widely, all housing organisations have been asked to outline what existing measures are in place with regards to the current quality of homes, and to include details of mould, damp or water ingress. They’ve also been asked to report on what further measures, if any, need to be taken.
The council will hold the next meeting of the Strategic Housing Partnership in January where this issue will be a specific agenda item. All the registered social housing providers have been asked to bring with them an update from their organisation’s perspective to offer reassurance for the council and our residents.
Our officers are undertaking daily inspections of temporary accommodation as part of welfare visits for the residents, and they are actively looking for signs of disrepair including mould and damp. Temporary accommodation providers are also being written to and asked to provide the same level of assurance as our other social housing partners.
Our social care teams are raising this issue and discussing it at their Safeguarding Boards and Partnership meetings to check on our supported accommodation.
Oldham Council also plans to refresh the Private Sector Stock Condition survey to ensure landlords of private accommodation improve and bring their homes up to a safe standard.
As a council we are doing everything we can to make sure no Oldham residents have to endure what Awaab and his family have.
Question from Councillor Nasheen
Residents have raised concerns about parking outside the First Choices Homes Depot on Primrose Bank for several years since it opened.
Ward Councillors have asked the council to install double yellow lines but for some reason no progress is being made.
Could the cabinet member please give us an update on the progress as we have had several near misses involving pedestrian and vehicles?
Councillor Roberts, Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods replied, thank you for your question. The request for possible parking restrictions outside the First Choice Homes Depot on Primrose Bank is currently being considered by the Council’s Traffic and Parking Teams. Ward Members are being consulted on the initial proposals for the scheme ahead of public consultation.
These proposals are being considered across a slightly wider area, including Magnolia Gardens, to ensure the overall result is effective and does not simply displace the issues to another community. This needs careful consideration with the existing parking restrictions in the area balanced with the needs of local residents’.
If supported by the local community, the proposed works could be delivered within the next 6 to 9 months, but this totally depends on the feedback from the local community.
Question from Councillor Cosgrove
Can the relevant cabinet member give an update on the work the council is doing to address antisocial behaviour and the use of off-road bikes in St James ward and the rest of the Borough?
Councillor Roberts, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods replied, that the use of off-road bikes and vehicle crime is a concern for us all, both in the St. James Ward and across the borough.
Unfortunately, GMP have a very small and specialist off-road bike team which is in significant demand. This is a very dangerous activity and many riders do not wear headgear – this restricts the opportunities for pursuit and enforcement at the time, even by the specialist team.
Resolution of this issue requires a much wider long-term problem-solving approach and Council colleagues from across a variety of services are working with GMP’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams and the new Neighbourhood Prevention Hub to address this as a key priority.
It remains important that reports are made to GMP, with as much detail being provided as possible, such as vehicle details and registration numbers. There are a number of legal powers which can be used, not just against those riding the bikes, but against those involved in the storage and transportation of them, due to the associated nuisance they cause and services will be working together to explore all options and opportunities. Intelligence regarding where vehicles are being stored and the vehicles which bring off-road bikes to a site is key to identifying the individuals involved and the potential seizure of the bikes, using the available legislation.
Community Safety Services is working with other partners in the District and will use all the powers available to tackle these types of behaviours. For example they will share information and evidence with housing providers to enable tenancy enforcement action to be taken too, where it is appropriate to do so.
Question from Councillor Lancaster
Knowing how important the issue is to my ward Constituents, I have raised road safety in this chamber several times already and have been proud to support effective Motions proposed by my Conservative colleagues, Councillors Arnott and Byrne, in this policy area.
I would like to ask a Question about the difficulties in securing road safety interventions from the Council’s Highways Department, primarily because of overly stringent adherence to narrow criteria.
There have long been resident calls for speed cameras to be introduced to cover the crossroads in Denshaw village centre, which I would of course support. Despite the most recent survey recording speeds well in excess of twice the 30mph limit, these calls have been quashed by OMBC, who Continually cite Department for Transport and Transport for Greater Manchester guidelines. Other local authorities, however, have managed to act of their own accord. A ward Constituent has highlighted to me the example of Leicestershire County Council, who have used the discretionary powers available to them through the Road Traffic Act 1991 to introduce seven average speed camera trials, and I would be happy to provide more detail of this example in writing following this Meeting.
At another location in my ward, The Sound/Rose Hill junction in Delph, visibility of oncoming traffic is poor, and motorists and pedestrians alike could be assisted by the erection of a street mirror. However, again, my requests have been refused on the basis that an insufficient majority of the six-point criteria specified by the Greater Manchester authorities cannot be met.
My Question is this – can this Administration please have a serious rethink about road safety, adopt a proactive, common-sense approach for the betterment of the whole Borough, and in the spirit of Cllr. Byrne’s Motion from the September Meeting, be brave enough to use its powers independently?
Councillor Roberts, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, replied, thank you for your question. In response to the complaints about vehicle speeds in Denshaw, automatic traffic counts were commissioned which provided evidence about the actual speeds of vehicles in the area, and this showed that speeds were not excessive. However, new surveys have been commissioned for early 2023 given recent concerns escalating once again.
However, as part of the response to these concerns, the Council has replaced the 30mph speed limit terminal signs with new highly visible signs and have also erected “Speed Toolkit” signs to ensure drivers are reminded of the speed limit.
I am advised that the old and faulty 30mph Vehicle Actuated Sign is due for replacement as part of a boroughwide replacement programme.
All safety cameras within Greater Manchester are deployed by Greater Manchester Police in partnership with the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs, and all costs associated with the effective running and enforcement of the cameras are shared and kept to the minimum.
Any decision to locate a fixed speed safety camera is based on the number of speed related collisions that have occurred within the immediate area. This criterion is set by the Department for Transport.
With regards to the request for a speed camera on the A672 Ripponden Road – the collision data shows that there have not been any serious speed related collisions recorded within the 30-mph speed limit through Denshaw, therefore it does not meet criteria.
Finally, with regards to installing mirrors on the highway to improve road safety, these are currently in a trial period to assess the impact of their introduction and reduction in road traffic collisions. Once the monitoring period has ended, a decision will be taken on whether mirrors provide the desired effect and should therefore be used at other sites across the borough.
Question from Councillor Al-Hamdani
Oldham has very ambitious plans with regards to the achievements of a net zero target by 2030, Councillor Jabbar referred earlier to the ‘Green New Deal’ delivery plan, for which, I believe, the pre-procurement phase finished in October. However, what are we doing now is the question? Given that we are in a climate crisis, action needs to be taken now. Could the Cabinet Member responsible tell me what progress has already been made on those net zero targets? What actual reduction in carbon emissions has been achieved? What council buildings have already been refitted to be energy efficient? and what net zero programmes so far have already been completed?
Councillor Jabbar, Cabinet member for Finance and Low Carbon, replied thank you Madam Mayor, thank you Councillor Al-Hamdani for your question and thank you for your continued interest in this issue. Councillor Jabbar undertook to give Councillor Al-Hamdani a full written answer on the specific issues that he raised but in terms of what Oldham is doing, there are targets to reduce carbon emissions by 2030 for the Borough. At this moment in time, the Council is developing a solar farm at Wrigley Head which hopefully will be installed mid-summer 2023. The Council is looking at developing a district heating system using the flooded water in disused Coal Mines. The Council has recently obtained £2.3 million from Greater Manchester Combined Authority to put in measures to reduce carbon emission and for energy saving measures at the Spindles shopping centre, part of which is being converted to working offices. The Council is also working with Northern Roots to put forward some initiatives, including the installation of Solar Farms to achieve carbon reduction by producing power locally from renewable sources. Oldham Council is doing what it can and is one of the leading Authorities in the Greater Manchester region in this regard.