Agenda item

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1: Get Britain Working
To be moved by Councillor Shah
Seconded by Councillor Mohon Ali

This Council notes the publication of the Get Britain Working White Paper which signals a cross-Government approach to building an economy where everyone can have the opportunity of secure, rewarding and fulfilling work

This Council further notes that Get Oldham Working has been providing support for employees, employers and those seeking employment since 2013 and has created almost 20,000 opportunities including filling 12,000 jobs, nearly 2,000 apprenticeships and 400 traineeships plus helping just under 1,800 residents into work experience placements.

This Council supports the approach laid out in the White Paper which will provide:

·         support for people to get back into work if they are outside the workforce (and help to stay in employment if they have a health condition)

·         access to training, an apprenticeship, or help to find work for young people (including help to avoid losing touch with the workforce at a young age)

·         help for people to get a job, upskill, and get on in their career, whether they are unemployed or in employment, alongside clear obligations on people to take up support and do in return everything they can to work

·         support for employers to recruit, retain and develop staff

This Council welcomes the joined-up proposals including investing in the NHS to get people treated more quickly, expansion of mental health support and setting up a Jobs and Careers Service (replacing JobCentre +) with the focus on supporting people back into work by providing a personalised service. Every 18-to-21-year old in England will have access to an apprenticeship, quality training and education opportunities or help to find a job under a new ‘Youth Guarantee’. The Connect to Work scheme will provide voluntary employment offers to people with disabilities, health conditions or complex barriers to work.

This Council looks forward to the outcome of the Independent Review to better support employers to take on, and keep in work, people with disabilities.

This Council believes that the experience of Get Oldham Working and the Greater Manchester Live Well programme means Oldham is well placed to make the most of these opportunities, in particular the investment from the Greater Manchester trailblazer to mobilise local work, health and skills support.

This Council resolves to:

1.    Organise a Get Britain Working summit as soon as practicable to brief partners on the White Paper and to work through the opportunities from the Labour Government’s investment, including the trailblazer, to design a Get Britian Working Plan for Oldham.

2.    Review the impact of Get Oldham Working and consider how Get Britain Working can enhance our local offer building on the good links with 800 local employers, integrated and personalised advice, guidance and skills support and mental health therapy already available.

3.    Do everything possible to ensure Oldham residents benefit from the opportunities offered by Get Britain Working, including ensuring that our young people make the most of the ‘Youth Guarantee’.

Motion 2: Bee Network
To be moved by Councillor Charters
Seconded by Councillor Rustidge

In August 2022, Greater Manchester became the first major city outside of London to introduce a cap on bus fares, prices for adults were capped at £2 a journey or £5 a day, and £1 for journey or £2.50 a day for children under 16.

Oldham was chosen to host the launch of the Tranche 2 bus franchising area in March 2024 and four months later we hosted a visit from the new Secretary of State for Transport. On both occasions we were able to showcase our new space in the Spindles, the relocated, integrated TfGM Travelshop and the fully electrified bus depot at Mumps.

The upcoming network review in Oldham is a real opportunity to affect change on future bus services in Oldham. As an example, Bolton and Wigan have seen services reintroduced and new all-night services introduced to serve the night-time economy and large employment sites such as Bolton Hospital being served through the night.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester announced that due to the Bee Network model, which relies on low fare, high patronage system like in London, that Greater Manchester will continue with the £2 bus fare until the end of 2025, subject to a mid-year review to ensure that it is still financially viable.

This Council notes:

·         The per-kilometre cost of Bee Network contracts are on average one third cheaper than previous tenders under the deregulated system

·         Control of Greater Manchester’s buses means that profits from rising patronage of buses will be re-invested into the service and for the benefit of residents rather than going into the pockets of shareholders

·         Control of the system means that we can help residents in other ways, such as offering an annual Bee Network bus pass through Oldham Credit Union, cutting the cost of bus travel by around £5 a week.

·         That the Bee Network has been a success for Oldham’s commuters, ensuring that they are able to get to work or school on time for less money than under the deregulated system.

This Council resolves to:

·         Continue to work alongside our Greater Manchester partners, including the GMCA, Transport for Greater Manchester and the other 9 GM authorities to ensure that decisions made around public transport are focused on improving the resident experience.

·         Engage pro-actively with the Network Review in early 2025, ensuring that all residents voices are heard in the process.