Howard Sykes MBE

To find out more about my work in and around Shaw and on the Council, please see: http://howardsykes.mycouncillor.org.uk  or follow me on Twitter: @Howard_Sykes or Facebook: /Councillor Howard Sykes

 

 

Councillor Howard Sykes Annual Report

 

Cllr Howard Sykes – Shaw   Ward

MY WARD PRIORITIES

 

·         Listening to residents

·         Supporting residents and business through Covid-19

·         New Health Centre for Shaw

·         Protecting Green Belt/spaces

·         Litter, fly-tipping and dog fouling

·         Environmental improvements

·         Local policing ASB/crime

·         Bus and tram services

·         Highways, footways and speeding traffic

 

 

Work in the community

 

This 2021/22 Annual Report gives a clear account of my typical activities on behalf of my constituents throughout what I believe has been the most testing period of my time in office. I am proud to say throughout this crisis both myself and my Shaw and Crompton Liberal Democrat colleagues have remained dedicated to representing Shaw and Crompton Ward residents and we have continued to champion all issues for them.

 

On behalf of myself and my colleagues I would like to say a massive thank you to our NHS, Key Workers, and the whole Community for stepping up in our hour of need. We are far from out of the woods yet and it is still not business as usual, but we have been inspired and humbled by the resilience of our community.

 

Listening to residents:

·         I keep up to date with residents’ concerns by offering regular face to face Ward Surgeries and door knocking.

·         I keep communication open with residents I am contactable by email and telephone.

·         I reach out to the community and share important information on Twitter, Facebook, and my web site.

 

Some examples of my work:

·         The above ways of communicating have allowed me to continue to manage a range of issues on behalf of residents such as, road repairs, housing repairs, rehousing requests, public rights of way, school applications, healthcare complaints, council bins and rubbish removal, dog waste and street litter, rubbish bins and grit bins to name just a few.

 

·         I also liaise with Council departments on resident’s behalf with regards to applications for Covid related benefits and on several business-support grants and schemes.

 

·         I work closely with our local Police, the District Partnership, Parish Council, residents, and businesses of Shaw to resolve the problem of anti-social behaviour. This work remains an ongoing battle to ensure that residents have a safe place to live.

 

·         I continue to challenge the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and its successor Places for All, and work to achieve the best outcome possible for residents’ homes, jobs, and the environment by opposing the appalling loss of our green spaces. For further information about the work, I do for this please refer to my website.

 

·         I am a member of Greater Manchester Transport Committee where we are working to achieve a fully integrated, high-capacity transport system. A lack of investment and a de-regulated bus market means it is a constant battle to maintain key services for residents.

 

·         Major changes are coming to bus services in Shaw and Crompton in April 2022. I have worked with TfGM officers to try and ensure these changes do not make the situation worse for users and hopefully improve it for many of them. However, with all changes there will be winners and losers.

 

·         I formally object to planning applications if I believe they are inappropriate or not a benefit to residents. Shaw Asda’s recent request for 24-hour deliveries and the conversion of the Weaver’s Answer PH into an HMO are just two examples.

 

·         I work constructively with developers who wish to build new homes on the Very/Yodel site and other areas of Shaw. However, such building projects require infrastructure improvements for them to work for example, new schools, better highways, and more health provision. Achieving these provisions is an ongoing battle for myself and my colleagues.

 

·         My colleagues and I continue to drive the campaign forward for a new Health Centre for Shaw and Crompton. We now have a promise from the NHS to start the work.

 

·         I continue to request regular vehicle speed monitoring on roads such as Buckstones Road, Crompton Way, and Hillside Avenue for example – with a view to the instalment of speed enforcement measures that can address and resolve these issues. Speeding traffic and poor-quality driving have clearly increased in the last 12 months or so.

 

·         I work with the Highways Department to have the potholes, blocked grids and poor footpaths resurfaced or repaired. Most recently, following a great deal of negotiation, roads such as Mark Lane, Higher Park, Penmore Close and others have been resurfaced. Many more need repairs and resurfacing and I will continue to push for them.

 

·         I regularly pursue complaints of fly tipping around Shaw, and I work very closely with the Environmental Health Department on this matter. Recently I organised the clearing of rubbish at Crompton Moor, Grains Road, Shaw Town Centre, Grain Bar, Jubilee and George’s Playing Fields.

 

·         I continue to work with residents and a variety of agencies for a resolution to on-going flooding problems, primarily in the areas of Dunwood Park, Woodend, Smallbrook Road, Grains Road, Grains Bar and Jubilee. Much needed improvements recently completed by the Environment Agency to Pencil Brook at Duchess Street and near the Park should help.

 

·         As Chair of the Crompton Moor Users Group and in my role as Ward Councillor, I meet regularly with the group, working closely for this area of countryside that within our community remains very important. I continue to ensure that this area is maintained and safe to use by all. The recently updated Public Space Protection Order needs to be enforced more so a few mindless people are not permitted to spoil this beautiful area for the vast majority.

 

·         I am a governor at St Joseph’s school and as a parent myself I strive for our children’s right to receive an education appropriate to their needs.

 

·         I am Chair of the A V Davies Charity which works to help those in need and financial difficulty in specifically in Shaw and Crompton.

 

·         I am a member of the LGA Councillors Forum, the LGA Audit Committee, LGA General Assembly and a Board member of Local Partnerships.

 

·         I am a member of Groundwork GM and Vice Chair of its Audit Committee.

 

·         On Oldham Council I serve on the Health & Wellbeing Board, Selection Committee, Appointments Committee, Clayton Playing Fields, and Full Council. I also serve on Corporate Safeguarding, Group Leaders, Mayor’s briefings, Community Safety and Cohesion Board, Oldham Distress Fund, Oldham Leadership Board and Oldham Property Partnership.

 

Training

·         ALDC/LGA Councillor weekend

·         LGA training and briefings

·         LGA Conference

·         Barnardo's Training - Module 6

·         Safeguarding (FULL)

·         Safeguarding

·         Barnardo's Training - Module 5 • Barnardo's Training - Module 4 • Barnardo's Training - Module 3 • Barnardo's Training - Module 2

·         Barnardo's Training - Module 1

 

CONTACT ME

E:howard.sykes@oldham.gov.uk
T: 0161 7704016

Emergency: 0161 770 7007

Twitter@ Howard_Sykes

Facebook www.facebook.com/Councillor Howard Sykes

Web:http://howardsykes.mycouncillor.org.uk 

SURGERIES

Shaw and Crompton Advice Surgeries (no appointment necessary) held on Thursdays – 7:30pm to 8:30pm.

Lifelong Learning Centre, High Street, Shaw,

Oldham OL2 8TB

January: 13, 20 and 27 February: 3, 10, 17 and 24 March: 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 May: 12, 19, 26 June: 9, 16, 23 and 30

Usually every Thursday – dates beyond the above have yet to be agreed by the council