Minutes:
The Deputy Mayor referred to the recent death of former Councillor Alan Griffiths, who represented the Shaw Ward between 1986 and 2002 and who served as Mayor of the Borough in 1986/87. Accordingly, Councillors Sykes, Dean, Hince and Williamson addressed Council paying their individual condolences and tributes.
Council held a minute’s silence in memory of former Councillor Griffiths.
Council was advised that Councillor Graham Sheldon had left the Conservative Group and would henceforth sit as an Independent Member. Councillor Byrne was the interim Leader of the Conservative Group.
The Deputy Mayor permitted Councillor Woodvine to address the meeting, who offered a full apology for his behaviour and comments made at the meetings of the Council held on 18th December 2025 (prior to the adjournment).
The Deputy Mayor permitted Councillor Hince to address the meeting, who offered a full apology for his behaviour and comments made at the meetings of the Council held on 18th December 2025 (prior to the adjournment).
The Deputy Mayor advised the meeting that two groups of survivors and their advocates, had asked that two short statements be read out at this meeting. Accordingly, on behalf of the two groups of survivors the Deputy Mayor read out the two separate short statements.
Statement 1
The past few months have been very difficult time for us since the decision was made for Oldham to run their own independent inquiry. In addition to this, the past 2 weeks have been even more stressful, triggering and upsetting, having to watch the world’s media descend on our small town, over such an emotive and extremely personal issue.
Senior politicians have been making decisions on our lives and who they are aiming to try to find a solution to suitably address the suffering and exploitation, the victims and survivors have endured in Oldham for decades. We are aware we’ll never see a decision that everyone will agree on.
Whilst we hoped for and continue to fight for a national inquiry, we appreciate they have come up with a compromise. Whilst we’ll continue to fight for a victims led national enquiry, for now, we are satisfied that our voices are finally being heard, although we will continue the fight in a way that works for us, to lobby for changes we feel are necessary in shaping a suitable inquiry. Our biggest priority is to hope we can achieve that it be a statutory one.
Our whole ordeal has been traumatic enough, without the extra stress and agitation of having to watch media footage, containing claims of help and actions that didn’t happen and that we have not received. We’ve even been put in the position where certain media interviews are talking on matters that directly concern us without prior warning, consultation or agreed involvement. It’s caused a decline in our mental health and had a serious knock-on effect to our children and families. We don’t take kindly to this, having already feeling unheard for so many years. Those that have assisted us have stayed firmly out of the spotlight, remaining supportive and providing us with the help we need.
We hope as a town now that we can start on a new journey and let the ones doing the real work behind the scenes continue and try to bring some closure and answers for those desperately in need. We are hoping for and seeking a peaceful time whilst things unfold.
Statement 2
Early last week ourselves, Samantha and Jamie-Leigh attended a meeting with Kemi Badenoch, following that meeting we met with Jess Phillips. After much consideration we are still not happy with the overall decision but are happy to continue with a local Telford inquiry. Going forward we have multiple meetings with MP’s and officials. We are currently in talks with numerous survivors and are currently in the process of setting up a survivors committee where survivors and only survivors have a voice, we are also in the process of setting up a family support group, so families have equal support.
Moving forward we hope the Council remain transparent and politics are kept aside and the far-right stop using this for their own agenda. As we move forward us survivors and victims’ need to be kept updated throughout each stage of the process regardless of how little it may be.
Please can members of the public remain respectful as this is solely about survivors and victims. Survivors and victims are the start and heart of this inquiry. Thank you for your understanding.