Agenda item

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Ahmad, Zakir

CEO, Yuvanis Foundation

Ashraf, Kashif

Oldham President, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce

Chapman, Suzy

Employer Relationship and Business Development Manager, Oldham College

Drake, Rebecca

Director, Full Circle NW

Lockwood, Stuart

Chief Executive, Oldham Community Leisure

Mahmood, Aisha

Director, Clear Watch Security

McLaren, Colin (Vice-Chair)

Chair, Chadderton Together

Shuttleworth, Councilor Graham

West District Community Lead and Councillor for Chadderton South, Oldham Council

Taylor, Councilor Elaine

Deputy Leader, Oldham Council

Windsor-Welsh, Laura (Chair)

Oldham Director, Action Together

OTHERS PRESENT

Charlesworth, Cara

Superintendent Operations Oldham, Great Manchester Police

Duncan, Archie

From the office of Jim McMahon, Member of Parliament for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton

Edwards, E (Minutes)

Pride in Place Manager, Oldham Council

Longsden, Angela

District Co-ordinator for Oldham West (Werneth and Chadderton), Oldham Council

Gemma Dolby

Head of Tenancy and Neighbourhoods

,First Choice Homes (Deputising for Christina Todd)

APOLOGIES RECEIVED

Chamberlain, Chris

Chief Executive, Oldham RLFC Foundation

Consterdine, Neil

Director of Communities, Oldham Council

Freaney, Nicky

NW Group Employer and Partnership Manager, Department for Work and Pensions

McMahon OBE, Jim

Member of Parliament for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton

Nugent, Martin

Senior Policy and Partnership Officer, Safer and Stronger Communities, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Shah, Councillor Arooj

Leader, Oldham Council

Taylor, Catherine

Oldham Partnership Manager,

Department for Work and Pensions

Todd, Christina

Director of Communities, First Choice Homes Oldham

1. Welcome and housekeeping (Chair)

Housekeeping matters were covered, and new and returning members were welcomed.

2. Introductions and apologies for absence (Chair)

Introductions were made and apologies noted.

3. Notice of any urgent business to be accepted onto the agenda and reasons for that urgency (Chair)

None.

4. Procedural business and any items accepted as urgent business (Chair)

i) Declarations of interest

Existing declarations were noted, and no new declarations were received. 

ii) Review of minutes and action updates from last meeting

The minutes dated 23^rd February 2026 we approved as a true record (proposed by Kashif Ashraf and seconded by Elaine Taylor) and approved for publication online at oldham.gov.uk

Completed actions were discussed and the following actions were carried forward:

ACTION: Businesses on the Board to work up a detailed proposal for the consideration of the owner of Chadderton precinct. 

ACTION: Board to create a sub-groups to appraise projects, including optional business cases. 

ACTION: Oldham Council to assess the demand for the pool of surveyors and technicians being put together by Government. 

ACTION Assessment of what financial commitments have been earmarked for the capacity building budget, and plan what commitments are required

5. AGM Procedural Business (Chair/Angela Longsden)

Chairperson’s update

LWW highlighted three key areas of achievement:

• Building on year one engagement, we have had a lot of successful community engagement, going back to residents and reviewing priorities.  The whole process and the engagement work is something to be proud of, along with meeting and adapting to government changes to the programme.

• Board membership has grown over the last year with increased community representation.

• The ten-year vision and four-year investment plans were submitted ahead of time, which was a big ask. LWW thanked everyone for their help with this and highlighted that MHCLG feedback has been positive about the plans.

Financial report

No capital funding has been received, the spend presented to the board relates to the capacity building budget.  £65k has been spent in 25/26, the majority being on staffing to support to the programme and professional fees. The board has shown a clear principle of not rushing into spending capacity funds and is instead looking to invest wisely.

Chair and Vice-Chair re-appointment

AL spoke to this item, thanking Chair LWW and Vice Chair CMcL for their work over the past 12 months. AL proposed that LWW and CMcL continue in their positions for the 2026/27 year. KA agreed and Cllr ET seconded. The board concurred.

Review of terms of reference

LWW confirmed there are no changes since the update approximately halfway through the 2025/26.

Cllr ET started a discussion regarding the make-up of board members, questioning the process for new board members joining the board.  LWW asked for the board’s views with the following noted: 

-       The board concurred the size of the current board is ‘good’

-       Board questioned how they involve more people; highlighting that some of this -will come from the engagement, with opportunities in co-designing projects and supporting delivery.

-       There is the potential of sub/steering/working groups drawing expertise from the community which would feed into the board decision making process.

-       Board members will be required to be part of the groups and be responsible for driving the projects.

-       There was an acknowledgement of need to engage and utilise the skills of people in our community.

-       It was queried how long a board member are expected to serve. It was Acknowledged ten years is a long time to be on a board. Succession planning for board members is required.

-       Board members need to consider which projects they would like to lead and be part of.

Bringing discussions to a close LWW confirmed further discussions are required and noted that talking points will be added as an agenda item at future meetings.

Priorities for 2026/27

LWW took the group through the priority plan, highlighting that the Capital Grants Programme (a project which is underway) provides the opportunity to progress activity and have impact. LWW continued with an overview, noting the following:

• The Logic and Evaluation Model is scheduled to be signed off today.
• An engagement strategy workshop will take place during this meeting, with a view to sign-off the strategy at the June meeting.
• There will be a workshop in June focussing on the decision-making framework, developing understanding of roles and responsibilities as a board, and the relationship with Oldham Council, with a view to sign off the framework in September.
• Setting the direction of the programme operating model, including how projects will be tracked and risks will be managed.  This is to be in place by November.
• Gateway reviews will follow, ensuring all due diligence has been completed.

LWW gave the board an overview of both Capital Grants Programme and Pride in Place funding and how it has been aligned to get maximum value.

It was noted that clarity in communication is required – so it is clear which capital projects are part of Pride in Place and what sits within the wider Capital Grants Programme.  Communications have not always been clear, and it was agreed that going forward communications will be more transparent, clearly identifying projects and giving board members confidence to answer questions and demonstrate impact of Pride in Place.

Discussions continued regarding communications and branding of Pride in Place Chadderton investments, logos and the potential for college students to get involved, Use of social media and online presence; with questions raised of how and who would be responsible for managing/running social media pages. The board concurred further discussion and clarity is required.

Open floor

• MP J McMahon’s office requested flexibility with meeting dates as he would like to attend more meetings.
• Discussions took place regarding youth provision investment and the requirement for capital funding.
• LWW gave an overview of the capital cash flow for the next financial year, highlighting that capital funding in 26/27 is £360K.  Requests have been made to MCHLG as to whether further capital funding can be brought forward. The initial request was declined, and a further request with a revised proposal has been submitted. A response has not yet been received.  The board requested that MP J McMahon write to MCHLG to support this request. If the request is accepted, the board will be able to review how projects are prioritised.
• It was flagged youth provisions investment will be unable to progress with expediency without this allocation being released.
• Discussion took place regarding the viability of the precinct project as the precinct is not owned by the council. The board agreed it should remain on the tracker, with acknowledge that it may not be realistic through Pride in Place however there is potential for other funding streams to support this.

Action TN: Item for the next agenda TOR: discussion and agreement on the process for board membership e.g. how/can new members join the board.

Action TN: Item for the next agenda Engagement Strategy to sign off

Action TN: Item for the next agenda Comms Strategy for discussion

Action MP J McM: write to MCHLG to support request of releasing funding

Action TN/board: Review precinct project looking at the dependencies, risks and issues

6. Finance

i)             Capacity budget 26/27 (Chair)

ii)            Upcoming commitments (chair)

Capacity budget 26/27

The board reviewed the capacity building budget for 2026/27. LWW advised there maybe opportunity to align funding. Board agreed the 2026/27 budget in principle.

Upcoming commitments

LWW explained upcoming marketing spend of circa £4K to raise awareness and support engagement.

7. Engagement and communications – (Chair)

Communications plan review and sign-off

LWW advised this is not for sign off today with the following comments noted

• Consideration required to ‘in kind’ support for the projects/programme such as college students who will also bring added value and expertise
• OMBC Comms team; board concurred the need to be clearer particularly regarding aligning of comms clearly to Pride in Place projects 
• Use of social media and online presence; with questions raised of how and who would be responsible for managing/running social media pages.  

Action TN/SC; Identify opportunities where college students could support projects

Action ET; Discuss approach to investment comms; view of it being clear which funding is supporting which projects Pride in Place comms with OMBC comms team

Action LWW/TN; Discuss who will be managing social media / poster etc

8. Evaluation

i)             Logic model and evaluation framework review and sign-off

ii)            Monitoring requirements MHCLG update

Logic model and evaluation framework review and sign-off

Board signed off the model and framework with requests of more details of how this will be delivered and by who.

Monitoring requirements MHCLG update

A report for progress to date has been submitted. The process was straight forward as delivery has not started.  There will be an October 2026 mid-year submission, to check how plans are evolving and being delivered.  Submission will be brought to board as an agenda item to ensure the board are sited prior to submission going forward.

9. New Chadderton Partnership

Deferred until after the elections.

ACTION: TN to add New Chadderton Partnership conversation to next meeting agenda.

10. Projects

i)             CCTV update

ii)            Chadderton Business Network feedback

iii)           Formation of subgroups

CCTV update

There is more quotation work required to include provision at Coalshaw Green Park.   Board discussed work which has taken place with John Garforth to explore cameras being on the café in the park.

Chadderton Business Network feedback

KA highlighted the Chadderton Business Network going well with networking being a valuable key outcome.  KA noted an increase in businesses linking in Chadderton with a strong identify developing.  The use of social media is helping.  He identified that he would like more young people to be involved. 

Formation of subgroups

LWW requested board members to consider which projects they would like to be part of and take leading roles on; acknowledging the further time commitments, and consideration with the conflicts of interest policy. 

It was highlighted the subgroups projects would always feed into the board for recommendations and key decisions. Engagement framework will be set out looking at how we access and understand resident insight to improve decision making. 

Action Board; TN to contact board members to arrange project subgroups.

11. Engagement workshop led by Angela Longsden and Laura Winsor Welch

The workshop covered the Oldham Partnership engagement framework and facilitated conversation on how this could steer the engagement for Chadderton Pride in Place.

12. Action review / next steps

Please see actions within minutes

13. Any other business

NA

14. Time and date of next meeting (Chair)

Thursday 25^th June 2026, 10.00-12.30

Venue TBC

The meeting closed at 12:00