I live in Coppice with my family and have lived in Oldham since my childhood so it was a great honour when I became the Mayor of Oldham in 2008/09.
I was elected onto Oldham Council in 2000 and I’ve served on various committees and held different cabinet portfolio’s.
I was the Deputy Leader of the council from 2011 – 2014 with the responsibility for Oldham town centre. I was previously the Cabinet Member for Employment and Skills.
I am also a governor at Oldham Sixth form College and Werneth Primary school and I chair the Enterprise Trust.
I currently work for Onward Homes.
Over the 19 years that I’ve represented Werneth, some neighbourhoods have changed significantly in particularly in housing terms. Some of the major projects that I have been involved with include;
· New homes developed across the ward in Freehold, Coppice and Primrose Bank;
· A new community centre in Primrose Bank;
· Alleygating across the ward;
· A new integrated health centre – Werneth Medical centre;
· Floodlit multigames areas in Coppice (Tudor St( and Freehold (Milne St);
· Improvements to Werneth Park play area.
I am passionate about community development work and always striving to improve my town and ward - trying new ways of working in cooperation with residents. I’m also the vice chair of Tudor Community Sports group and am currently developing a new local scheme called ‘Love Your Street’ as part of the borough wide ‘Love where you live’ initiative.
Councillor Shoab Akhtar Annual Report
If you have any queries or problems that need to be discussed with your Labour Councillor please contact Councillor Shoab Akhtar on telephone number 07973 101 633 or via email at Shoab.akhtar@oldham.gov.uk
Home address:
94 Wellington Road
Oldham
OL8 1RR
Email: shoab.akhtar@oldham.gov.uk
Bus. mobile: 07973 101 633
Download Shoab Akhtar contact details as VCard
Cllr Shoab Akhtar – Werneth Ward
MY WARD PRIORITIES
Work in thecommunity
· Hartford Mill demolition is almost complete.
· Various roads across the ward have been resurfaced
· Working with ASRA to address issues around phase 1 & 2 of Suthers development.
· Working with residents to address parking issues on Primrose Bank.
· Keepmoat second phase in Primrose Bank and Suthers St is completed just environmental work needs to be completed.
· Don’t Trash Oldham campaign to be carried out in Werneth in March .
· Covid door knocking.
· Tudor St pitch surface replacement funding bid has been submitted, however Council contribution is confirmed
Funded the following projects through the Councillor’s budget.
· Children's Celebration Appeal
· Coppice United
· Grit Bins - Newport St, St Thomas Circle
· Glodwick Dynamos FC
· Healthy Ageing, Indian Association
· WFCDP - Electricity charges for pitch lights
Participation on outside bodies and partnerships
Details of participation in groups and bodies attended as a representative of the Council;
• Board member of Sixth Form College
• Director of Oldham Enterprise Trust
• Planning Committee
• West District Partnership
• Primrose Community Centre
Achievements as Cabinet Member for Employment and Enterprise
• The Council secured £210,418 for 2021/22 from the Government’s Welcome Back Fund to support the safe and successful re-opening of high streets from Covid restrictions
• Free parking from 3pm at the Market Car Park is being introduced to boost footfall later on in the day from the 1st April 2022
• To date a total of £8,293,000 of Additional Restrictions Grant Funding has been spent and approx.. 600 businesses have been supported
• Oldham In Place Partnership (OIPP) secured a share of £8.225m (circa £2m for Oldham) as part of a GM Local Access Partnership bid to Access and Big Society Capital that supports the development of social and co-operative enterprises.
• Get Oldham Working (GOW) secured £3.5m Restart Contract to support citizens back into work currently at 104% of target for entry into employment.
• GOW secured National Careers Service extension offering free information, advice, and guidance.
• JE:TS (Job Entry: Targeted Support) programme continued into 2022 with 246 job starts (110% of target).
• Working Wardrobe project secured through partnership working with Registered Providers of Social Housing – Launch date late March 2022.
• Youth Hub launched October 2022 - targeting support for 19–24-year-old in partnership with Job Centre Plus. Agreement to expand provision with JCP as part of our new Youth Employment programme.
• New Children Looked After engagement programme launched in January 2022 - currently engaged with 52 care leavers, 5 have progressed into employment, apprenticeship, or training.
CONTACT ME
E:shoab.akhtar@oldham.gov.uk
T: 0161 287
2005
M: 07973 101633
Twitter; @shoaboldham
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shoabakhtar
SURGERIES
Face to face Ward Surgeries are cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please contact me by phone or email for any issues or problems.