Jean Stretton

Jean was raised locally on Alt Estate and educated at Alt Primary and Hathershaw Comprehensive schools.  

After studying an MBA at Bolton Institute she returned to live in Hollinwood in 1989.

Jean has lived in Hollinwood since 1989 and was first elected as a ward councillor for the area in 2003.

She has held several Cabinet Member posts covering a wide range of areas that include housing, health and wellbeing, town centres, culture and tourism.

In 2013, Cllr Stretton was named ‘Community Champion of the Year’ at the C’llr Achievement Awards organised by the LGiU for what judges called her “inspiring work to help her community in Oldham recover following a gas explosion” in Shaw.

Married to John, she has two step-children, five grandchildren and a great granddaughter but describes herself as “a very, very young great granny”.

Amongst her other duties, Jean is chair of Oldham Credit Union, a governor at Oasis Academy, Limehurst primary and has served on the Contour Estate Board since 2003. She is also a keen supporter of Oldham Foodbank. 

Councillor Jean Stretton Annual Report

Cllr Jean Stretton – Hollinwood Ward

Married with two grown up step-children,

five grandchildren and two great

grandchildren.

Brought up on Alt Estate, educated at
Alt Infant and Primary, then Hathershaw
Comprehensive.  MBA from Bolton
Institute (before it became Bolton
University.)

I have lived in Hollinwood since 1989
and was first elected as a Labour
Councillor for the Hollinwood Ward in
2003.

Work in the community

Over the last twelve months the Council has been at the frontline in responding to the Covid19 pandemic; including distributing emergency food and medicine, providing vital social care, running testing centres and now supporting the roll-out of vaccines.

Throughout 2020 the pandemic has also had a huge impact on the way that the Council and Councillors worked. 

Instead of attending meetings on your behalf at Oldham Civic Centre, all meetings have been held virtually, accessed via phone or laptop.  I have undertaken training on using this technology so that I could continue to represent you throughout this difficult time.  In the 2020/21 council year I have a 100% attendance rate at the full council meetings and at all of the council committees that I have been appointed to.

As well as learning about the new technology for virtual meetings I have also undertaken training on Safeguarding Children and Adults.

I have not been able to hold advice surgeries or meet people face to face but I have still been available by e-mail or telephone for people to contact me if they have problems that they would like my assistance with.

In previous years I have used some  of my ward councillor budget to support community groups and to fund activities for young people during school holidays.  Community groups have not been meeting and the restrictions prevented school holiday activities.  Hopefully, sometime in the coming year, community groups will be able to meet again and activities for young people can go ahead.  I would welcome requests for funding as and when that happens.

For the last twelve months I have been Chair of Oldham’s Health and Wellbeing Board.  I also have continued as Chair of Oldham Credit Union.  I am a governor at Limehurst Primary school and a member of the Oasis Hub, which supports Oasis Academy Oldham and Oasis Limeside primary school.

CONTACT ME

E:jean.stretton@oldham.gov.ukM: 07875676710

SURGERIES

Face to face Ward Surgeries are cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.  Please contact me by phone or email.