Shoab Akhtar

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

Cllr Shoab Akhtar – Werneth Ward

MY WARD PRIORITIES

• Environment
• Highways
• Education
• Health and Well-being
• Hartford Mill Site
• Music room in Werneth Park

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.