Agenda item

(time limit 30 Minutes)

1.    Question submitted by Megan Birchall

I saw the video of the old T.J. Hughes building being demolished I can also see a visible difference already in the town centre. There’s still lots of work going on and lots to do I was wondering what the timescale is for the various projects?

 

Councillor Shah, Leader of the Council replied, thank you for your question. 

The new workspace in Spindles will be completed first with council staff moving into the space over the winter months ahead of the new year, this will immediately increase footfall in the spindles and spending in our town centre businesses, it will then also free up the site where the civic centre is for some much-needed housing land.

This includes moving Access Oldham and the TfGM Travel Shop into the unit that used to house H&M opposite Rhode Island Coffee, to provide a new single front door to access help and support in the Town Centre.

The HIVE social enterprise hub will also be completed later this year to support local residents with business start-up support, and to provide enhanced opportunities for local businesses to network and grow.

In 2025, the new market hall, archives & heritage centre, and the new event space are due for completion – and following the demolition of TJ Hughes the steel works for the new structure will start to go in place before Christmas this year. 

 

2.    Question submitted by Shadab Qumer,

I saw the press release about the new partner for the Town Centre regeneration and development of the area including housing. I want to know what type of housing will be built and will there be affordable housing for those that are finding it hard to afford good housing?

 

Councillor Taylor, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Housing and Licensing replied, thank you Mr Mayor and thanks to Shadab for his question.

All of us in Oldham Council are really excited about the next stage in our town centre regeneration and the appointment of Muse as our private sector development partner.

The exact type of housing that will make up the 2,000 town centres homes hasn’t yet been decided and will be subject to formal planning applications – including consultation with residents – in due course.

There will however be a range of housing to be provided, both in terms of type – i.e. the number bedrooms - and tenure and the Council will seek to ensure that a minimum of 25% of the new homes are affordable homes, as per our stated targets.

We will also look to make sure that all homes are built to zero or low carbon standards to help Oldham meet its ambitious climate emergency targets.

 

3.    Question submitted by Adam Pape Jones

What does appointing a private sector development partner mean?

 

Councillor Shah, Leader of the Council replied, Thanks, Adam for your question. Appointing a private sector partner allows the Council to harness Muse’s considerable experience, resource capacity, technical expertise, financial resources, and strong relationships with key stakeholders including Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Homes England and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (amongst others) to accelerate progress and delivery of the much-needed new homes in the town centre.

The Council are delighted to have selected Muse Places (who are a multi-award-winning master-developer of national acclaim) as its partner, especially given the personal commitment from their Managing Director who is himself an Oldhamer, who understands the importance of our heritage, the pride in our communities and shares our passion to have quality, affordable, efficient and sustainable homes. 

 

4.    Question submitted by Shona Farnworth

In Oldham there are many unpaid carers to friends and families, such as providing personal care, arranging medical and social support, and attending appointments and with the carer’s leave bill being passed recently in parliament does the council believe that more action is needed, both nationally and locally, to support people in work with caring responsibilities and the boroughs unpaid carers.

Will the council support this effort by launching an unpaid carers survey in Oldham so that carers can have their say on the support and services they need, and will the council offer efficient, effective support and guidance that is always available for carers, throughout the borough?

 

Councillor Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, replied thank you Mr Mayor and thanks to Shona for asking a really important question. Here in Oldham 9.8% of our population are unpaid carers and they do an amazing job.

We do believe we – as an organisation – can do more to support unpaid carers and later this year the Council will launch a new Carers Strategy.

A recent survey has helped inform the strategy and the priorities for the next few years.  The Carers strategy will focus on early intervention and prevention for unpaid carers and ensuring there is sufficient information, advice and support to unpaid carers.  

Ongoing annual surveys will take place with carers, but the carers service is happy to hear your thoughts and feedback at any time.  We are re-establishing the carers partnership board and are always looking for board members to represent the views of unpaid carers, so if you’d like to participate drop me an email and I’ll pick this up with officers.

 

5.    Question from Connor Green

What conversations has the council had with TfGM and Transpennine Express about the potential closure of the ticketing office at Greenfield train station?

 

Councillor Shah, Leader of the Council replied, thank you for your question.  The Council have been working with TfGM in relation to the proposals to close the rail ticket office at Greenfield, following announcements from Transpennine Express. 

Both the Council and TfGM have significant concerns about this proposal and have expressed strong objections back to Transpennine through consultation responses, I’ve written a joint response with the Oldham’s MPs Jim McMahon and Debbie Abrahams.  We are currently waiting for feedback on this matter.

I think it’s a disgrace that last week the rail operators themselves admitted that they knew that this would make it harder for older and disabled residents to travel by train and yet they’ve put these proposals forward anyway with apparently no shame. Railways are a vital connection for many of our residents – especially in Saddleworth – and preventing vulnerable residents from being able to access the city-region and beyond is unforgivable.

As I said, we’ve objected to this as a Council and we hope that the plans do not go ahead.

 

6.    Question from Latif Choudhury

How will the Council and TfGM measure success when it comes to the school streets schemes across Oldham?

 

Councillor Goodwin, Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods replied, thank you for your question and I'd like to say I'm really positive about the school streets scheme. This will improve the safety of our children and their parents or guardians and will also reduce the number of pollutants in the air around our schools - the air that our children breath.

The council measures the success of school street schemes via the school’s travel plan and a hands-up surveys conducted twice a school year. This shows changes over time and before/after results for the school streets schemes, based on how children travel to the school – ideally moving from car trips to active travel choices, which includes walking, cycling, scootering.

From the outset, all schools are made aware of the Mode-shift Stars accreditation scheme and that every scheme needs to achieve a minimum of “bronze” award. However, in Oldham, schools aim for “silver” accreditation, which means the children at the school are achieving at least a 10% shift from cars to active travel choices, like walking, cycling, or scooting.

The council also does multiple informal consultations with parents and residents to understand their experiences before/after a school street trial, to measure the success. This includes views on driver behaviours, safety, congestion and impact on the local community.

 

7.    Question received from Stephanie Shuttleworth

I know Broadway is managed by National Highways but is there anything the Council can do to work with National Highways and Costco to try and mitigate against the queues of traffic caused by people wanting to fuel up at Costco?

 

Councillor Goodwin, Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods, replied, thank you for your question. The Council is aware of these concerns and is working with National Highways on this matter. National Highways are looking at ways in which they can increase the number of traffic lanes along Broadway, especially on the approach to the motorway junction, to increase capacity and reducing congestion.

The approach to the Costco/Long Lane junction is also included in the investigation. The council has been informed that proposals are being developed and new road layout designs are being finalised with the intention of consultation early next year. Depending on feedback from local communities and understanding any complexities for the construction programme, this could be underway next year.

The Council has been liaising with National Highways regarding this problem and together we have also been working with Costco on their internal operations for accessing and egressing the car park. I will take this opportunity to assure residents that despite statements by individuals on social media, there has not been any planning application from Costco to provide an alternative exit since the erection of the petrol station. Transport for Greater Manchester (Urban Traffic Control team) have also been involved with regards to reviewing the signal timings, where appropriate, to ease congestion in the meantime.

 

8.    Question submitted by Anita Lowe

On 14^th July 2023 the Manchester Evening News and in a report in the Oldham Times produced results of the 12 worst rated GP Surgery’s according to a patient survey in Greater Manchester. Out of those 12 listed, five were rated poor in Oldham.

They are listed as follows

1) Werneth Medical Centre

4) Oldham Medical Service

6) Royton Medical Centre

8) Medlock Vale Centre

8) Kapur medical Werneth

I would like to question cabinet member for Health and Social Care Councillor Barbara Brownridge or her deputy Councillor Marie Bashforth? Since this was published what contact have you made - if any - with these practices in Oldham to support and offer guidance in bringing patient satisfaction up to an acceptable standard?

 

Councillor Brownridge, Cabinet member for Health and Social Care replied, that this survey was just one way to understand GP performance, but all practices have been contacted by Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board – which I’m a member of - and asked to submit plans to address the concerns. All the practices were obviously disappointed with the results of the survey and accepted that further action is required to address issues.

All 5 practices highlighted in the Oldham Times piece are among 26 Oldham practices that have submitted an expression of interest for Modern General Practice Access funding because they recognise residents’ frustrations.

Clearly there is work to be about access to appointments and understanding how the GP system works and I just want to reassure residents and councillors that access to GP appointments is an issue that’s constantly raised with the new integrated care system – both locally and at a Greater Manchester level – as it’s one of the number one complaint that residents have when we’re out on the doorsteps.

 

9.    Question submitted by Imran Choudhary

Councillor Abdul Jabbar, Nazrul Islam and Mohon Ali both continue to openly fraternise with the former Chairman of Oldham Central Mosque. This man is a convicted sex offender. How can Oldham Council promote a Victim and Survivors Charter for victims of CSE whilst its councillors take part in this behaviour? Does the Council feel it is appropriate for any of its councillors to attend community events and sit alongside convicted sex offender(s)?

 

Councillor Jabbar, Cabinet member for Finance and Corporate Services replied, that a key part of the role of a local councillor is to attend local events and to engage local communities.

We end up sitting next to and meeting with loads of people. We have no way of knowing what someone does in their private life and equally we don’t DBS check everyone before attending events.

Sexual abuse, exploitation and violence in any form is abhorrent. We stand firmly with survivors and victims of CSE. We support the Police and criminal justice system in wanting to ensure anyone found guilty of these offences is brought to justice.

 

10.Question submitted by Kyle Phythian

How can regular Oldhamers help those who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and sky-rocketing demand at community hubs like Oldham Foodbank?

 

Councillor Shah, Leader of the Council, replied that Oldhamers who wish to help their fellow residents can volunteer their time to help others in need.  There are several opportunities available, residents wanting to get involved can find more info on either the Council’s website or on Action Together’s website.

Can I just take this opportunity to thank Action Together for everything they do for the people of Oldham by the way, Laura and her team are really good assets for the Borough, and I can say this as the GM Lead for Communities – our voluntary and community sector is miles ahead of others in GM and we should cherish it.

Back to the question at hand, over 90% of the food distributed by foodbanks is donated by the public – the foodbank relies on the goodwill and support of the people of Oldham helping their fellow Oldhamers. If you want to help there is the page on the foodbank’s website all about donating food, money or time to them. I know there’s plenty of Councillors in the Chamber tonight – including our Deputy Mayor Cllr Moores - who have given up their time to deliver food-parcels on behalf of the foodbank. 

I also want to give a shout out to the Saddleworth Labour Party’s second annual Tea for Trussell event held in July this year where they raised £450 and hundreds of items of food donated by the community.

 

11.Question submitted by Sharon Jones

Was the Council aware that Chief Superintendent Chris Bowen had fled the town? Can the Council reassure the public that we are safe and that nothing untoward has taken place with the sudden departure of Oldham's most senior police officer?

 

Councillor Goodwin, Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods replied, thank you for your question. I'm grateful for the opportunity to clear this up and to prevent the spread of further conspiracy theories. Obviously, personnel decisions taken by Greater Manchester Police are up to them but I can say that Greater Manchester Police frequently reviews the portfolios for which its senior employees are responsible for; moving senior officers into different roles to provide specialist skills where they are needed and to maintain professional development.

Chief Superintendent Goodman-Bowen had been in post as District Commander for Oldham for nearly two years and, rather than fled Oldham, has now been reassigned by Greater Manchester Police in a role appropriate for his skills and experience.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Phil Hutchinson, who has been the Operations Superintendent for the Oldham district since early 2022, is currently providing leadership to the district pending their routine scheduled promotion process and I'd like to reassure the public that nothing untoward has taken place and police operations are continuing as normal.

 

12.Question submitted by Sheila Brophy

Knife crime destroys lives and blights communities. Will the relevant Cabinet member of Oldham Council therefore please detail what the Council is currently doing to raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime and do they agree that anyone found to be guilty of wielding a machete should be nowhere near a councillor or the council chamber?

 

Councillor Goodwin, Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods replied that Oldham Council recognises the significant impact and harm that knife and weapon crime has on Communities and has implemented a number of measures to attempt to reduce such types of behaviour, using research from the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit, adapting recognised good practise from other areas, and listening to residents to establish why they feel the need to carry a knife or weapon.

The responses have included inputs in schools using presentations and the commissioning of a play regarding knife crime. And we’ve commissioned targeted works with individuals at risk of engaging in knife crime and focusing on messaging on how we keep residents safe, so they do not feel the need to carry a knife or weapon.

We are also working closely with Greater Manchester Police to identify individuals involved in knife crime, supporting their criminal prosecutions, where appropriate, through Civil remedies such as Criminal Behaviour Orders.

We’ve also funded knife arches in the past at the request of GMP, which were deployed in hotspot locations.

And in reference to the Council Chamber, I can confirm that we have robust security and screening operations in place to ensure that no member of the public is able to access the chamber with a knife or a weapon to protect both elected members and the general public during public meetings. Members across the chamber will be grateful for your concerns for our safety.

 

Several questions submitted by members of the public remained unanswered at the end of the allotted 30 minute period for this item. The Deputy Mayor advised that the unanswered questions would be published, with appropriate answers, on the Council’s website in due course.