(10 minutes)
Leader to address Council
Minutes:
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Arooj Shah, delivered her Annual Statement.
The Leader reminded the Council of her priorities, as set out in May 2023, when she first assumed office and highlighted work that had been done and which was still being done to improve Oldham, to retain a resident focused approach and to provide high quality services for local people.
As Leader of Oldham Council, it is both a privilege and a profound responsibility to serve this remarkable borough – the place I grew up and the place I am proud to call my home. Oldham is a place of resilience, ambition, and heart — shaped by its proud history and driven by the energy and creativity of its people.
It’s?a real privilege to stand here today, in this incredible new home for democracy; the JR Clynes Building, for our first Council meeting in these surroundings. This building?isn’t?just a new workplace;?it’s?a symbol of the regeneration and renewal happening right across our borough. It?represents?a new chapter for Oldham, one rooted in pride, ambition, and progress.?
This Annual Statement marks a moment to reset our ambitions and recommit to building a better Oldham — one that is fairer, greener, and more inclusive for everyone who calls it home.
Our work is guided by three core values: Pride, Progress, and Partnership.
Pride in our borough and its people; Progress that is bold, sustainable, and rooted in opportunity; and Partnership — because we know that real change only happens when we work together, across communities, sectors, and boundaries.
With these values at our heart, we move forward with purpose and determination. Oldham’s best days are ahead, and together, we will make them happen.
This year, Oldham Council was named ‘Most Improved Council’ at the prestigious LGC Awards — a recognition that speaks volumes about the journey we’ve been on and the people and partnerships we have. It’s a moment of pride, but not one of complacency. This is not a celebration of perfection, but of progress. It reflects the hard work, honest self-assessment, and difficult decisions we’ve made together. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration — across political lines, with our partners, and most importantly, with our residents.
Behind this recognition lies a deeper transformation. Over the past year, we’ve seen a cultural shift within the Council, led by our new Chief Executive, focused on reshaping who we are, and how we work.
We are becoming more open and transparent, sharing our challenges as well as our successes.
We are more responsive to residents, listening actively and acting with urgency.
We are more focused on the everyday realities people face — from housing and health to jobs and community safety.
This last twelve months marks a turning point in our relationship with national government.
The Labour government’s clear commitment to reforming local government is a long-overdue recognition that councils like Oldham are not just service providers, but strategic partners in delivering national renewal locally in communities.
We now have a partner that recognises the role of local government, one that treats us as equals.
It’s a marked contrast to my previous experience in ten years of local government, we now have a direct line to decision-makers who understand our communities, our challenges, and our potential.
We’re consulted. We’re engaged. And we’re listened to.
But we must also be honest about the scale of the challenge, we cannot expect to reverse 14 years of underfunding of services overnight.
Local government faces a £6 billion national funding gap — a crisis that cannot be ignored. For high-need, low-revenue areas like Oldham, fair funding is not just a matter of equity; it’s a matter of survival. We need to continue to make the case for investment that reflects the realities we face and the ambitions we hold – and we will.
The Oldham Plan has now been adopted for a year, it is a blueprint for our borough’s future, developed hand-in-hand with our partners and residents. It sets out three bold missions. Our first mission to deliver Healthier, Happier Lives, this means tackling health inequalities and supporting wellbeing across every stage of life. Our second A Great Place to Live which means delivering safe, vibrant neighbourhoods with quality housing, schools, and public spaces. Our third mission A Green and Growing Borough this is to drive inclusive economic growth while leading the way on climate action.
In early November 2025 we hosted our second annual careers event, connecting young people with employers, training providers, and mentors. And we launched our employment and skills strategy at our Get Oldham Working roundtable – building on a motion brought to this very chamber.
Our students continue to achieve, with strong GCSE and A-Level results across the borough. Through major projects like SportsTown and Northern Roots, we’re connecting education, health, and sustainability, creating places where learning, wellbeing, and opportunity grow together.
We’re also backing this up with real investment in employment and enterprise, through Get Oldham Working, we’ve supported over 15,000 residents into work and we’ve launched The Hive in Spindles, a space for startups and social enterprises to grow, collaborate, and thrive.
Together, these efforts reflect a borough that is ambitious for its young people and determined to build a future where every child can thrive.
At the heart of public service is the everyday work that keeps our borough running — the services that residents rely on, and the spaces that shape our daily lives. In Oldham, we are committed to getting the basics right and raising the standard across the board.
Our waste and recycling services to serve almost 100,000 residential properties and up to 1,800 businesses. Each month, we collect around 3,000 tonnes of general waste and an average of 2,800 tonnes of recycling, a vital operation that keeps our streets clean and our environment protected.
?We’ve expanded our environmental enforcement teams, with more boots on the ground tackling fly-tipping and littering.
We’re also investing in the places that bring joy, connection, and wellbeing to our communities. We’ve delivered upgrades to parks and play areas; creating safe, vibrant spaces for families and young people.
Our commitment to the environment is growing — literally. This autumn and winter, we’re planting 650 new trees, and planting new woodland to create greener neighbourhoods. Through it all, we remain focused on the fundamentals, reliable bin collections, timely pothole repairs and clean streets and safe public spaces.
These are the services that shape everyday life — and we will continue to deliver them with pride, precision, and accountability. Oldham’s identity isn’t shaped by Council services and the infrastructure we create, but by its spirit, the culture we celebrate, the communities we nurture, and the pride we take in our sporting achievements.
We know that when Oldham pulls together, we are capable of extraordinary things. It is only by sticking together, as neighbours, as partners, as one borough, that we will realise Oldham’s full potential.
So let this be a call to action.
Champion Oldham in every forum — don’t talk down our Borough, speak up for us and our people.
Support our businesses and employers — they are the backbone of our local economy.
Collaborate, cooperate, and face challenges together — because unity is our greatest strength.
Together, we can build a borough that is fairer, greener, and more ambitious for everyone. Let’s move forward with confidence, compassion, and pride, and let’s do it together.
Oldham’s future is ours to shape and I believe it’s a future full of promise.
RESOLVED:
That the Leader of the Council’s Annual Statement be noted.