Howard Sykes MBE

Cllr Howard Sykes – ShawWard                                     

My Ward priorities

• Delivering a new Health Centre for
  Shaw and Crompton
• Listening to residents
• Protecting Green Belt/spaces
• Public rights of Way
• Litter, fly-tipping, and dog fouling
• Environmental improvements
• Local policing ASB/crime
• Bus and tram services
• Highways, footways, and speeding traffic

Training completed

• Safeguarding Refresher
• ALDC/LGA Councillor weekend
• LGA training and briefings
• LGA Conference
• Diversity Workshop
• Supporting Residents with Cost of Living
• Community Engagement

Work in thecommunity

This Annual Report gives an account of some of my activities. I am proud to say along with my Shaw and Crompton Liberal Democrat colleagues I have remained fiercely dedicated to representing Shaw and Crompton Ward residents and we have continued to champion them and their issues.

Listening to residents:

• I keep up to date with residents’ concerns by offering regular face to face Ward Surgeries, door knocking, walkabouts and community meetings.
• I keep communication open with residents I am contactable.
• I reach out to the community and share important information on Twitter, Facebook, and my Web Site.

Some examples of my work:

• I 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, and grit bins.
• I work closely with our local Police, the District Partnership, Parish Council, voluntary sector, faith groups, residents, and businesses of Shaw to resolve the problem of anti-social behaviour.
• I continue to challenge the Places for All framework that is going to force building on Green Belt and our green spaces. We do need new homes but not at any price and not in the numbers suggested which will result in the appalling loss of our green spaces.
• I am a member of Greater Manchester Transport Committee. It is a constant battle to maintain key bus services for residents and to make to make our trams safer by the introduction of conductors.
• I formally object to planning applications if I believe they are inappropriate or not a benefit to residents.
• I work constructively with developers who wish to build new homes in 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 were instrumental in achieving a new Health Centre for Shaw and Crompton. Construction starts in 2023.
• I continue to request regular vehicle speed monitoring on roads such as Buckstones Road, Crompton Way, Hillside Avenue and elsewhere.
• I work with the Highways Department and regularly request to have the potholes, blocked grids and poor footpaths resurfaced or repaired. Many of our roads urgently 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.
• 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 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.
• 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.

Contact me:-

E: howard.sykes@oldham.gov.uk

T:   0161 7704016

Team Oldham Helpline: 0161 770 7007

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

Twitter: @Howard_Sykes

Facebook: @Councillor.Howard.Sykes