Oldham the Lowest Council Tax rise in Greater Manchester
Oldham the Lowest Council Tax rise in Greater Manchester
Oldham Council is to have one of the lowest Council Tax rises in Greater Manchester, despite being left £20 million gap in the Council's finances. "We had to make some really difficult decisions, including some job cuts, "says Alexandra Councillor Martin Dinoff. "Oldham Council simply had far too many senior managers and administrative staff. For example, by cutting the number of 'second tier' senior management posts from 28 to 17, we can save the people of Oldham £650,000". "There were some hard choices , but the Liberal Democrats grasped the nettle and the result will be a Council Tax rise of 2.5%" adds Parliamentary Spokesperson Elwyn Watkins. "At a time when many people are having to watch the pennies, I'm really proud that the Liberal Democrats have been fighting to do the same on Oldham Council."
Axe The Unfair Council Tax
Liberal Democrats have repeated their calls for the Council Tax to be scrapped. The Council Tax is very unfair tax which has hit pensioners particularly hard in recent years. It is based on the value of property in 1991 so the amount people are charged bears little relation to the ability to pay. The poorest pensioners pay SIX times more of their income in council tax than the richest non pensioners. Liberal Democrats are campaigning in favour of replacing it with a Local Income Tax. A local income tax would be fairer - as with national income tax, people will pay according to how much they earn.
New Library and Learning Centre set to be the envy of the
North
Oldham is set to be the envy of the North after the Liberal Democrat run council gave the go-ahead to plans for a £35 million Lifelong Learning Centre and new Central Library. This will be a state-of-the-art scheme providing better internet access and improved reference and homework facilities, as well as such features as a créche, classrooms and a performance space. Liberal Democrat Campaigner Jawaid Iqbal comments: "Work will soon be starting on this scheme so that Oldhamers can have a prestige development in our town centre." When complete,this complex will complement Gallery Oldham and brin closer the overall completion of Oldham's Cultural Quarter, with a new Local History Museum occupying the present Central Library building." In the Gallery's first year 56'000 people visited with full development still not complete.
Survey Says Scrap Tuition Fees
Free Services for Carers
Oldham LibDem Council has scrapped respite care charges for carers assessed as needing certain services in their own right, including the "sitting" service, which gives carers a break for the first 28 days of residential respite care. Jawaid Iqbal comments: "Oldham's many carers made it clear to us that respite care, whether provided to them in their homes or via residential units, is of greatest help to them. However, many carers complained that charges prohibited them from making use of these services. "The Council has listened carefully to Oldham's carers and I am delighted that we can now provide these services free of charge. Our carers save the state a vast amount of money and it is most gratifying too that the Council can express the gratitude of Oldham by giving this commitment to the support and care of carers who sacrifice so much to help others."
Oldham
Post Offices Facing Closure
Up to 23 post offices across Oldham Borough could be facing closure if Post Office plans to shut 3,000 branches across the UK get the go-ahead, according to shock figures revealed by Lib Dem campaigners. Lib Dem MP Vince Cable, who has been leading the fight to protect our post offices in Parliament, exposed the figures after Consignia/RoyalMail said that 3,000 urban post offices would face closure. "This shows the shocking impact this closure programme will have on the Post Office network," said local Lib Dem campaigner Jawaid Iqbal. "If this closure programme goes ahead, nearly 1/3rd of the network of urban post offices will close." "This will have a devastating impact on our local community. The Chronicle put "But how close is too close when you are an old age pensioner with serious mobility problems and for whom the trip to the local post offices a rare opportunity to socialise and meet up with friends. The Other question of course is that if over-the -counter benefit payments are to go how will those without a bank account receive their benefits and how will they covert them to money. The vast majority of people do have bank accounts these days of course but those who don't are most likely to include the very people who rely most heavily on benefits and pensions of one kind and another.
Noisy Neighbours??
The Liberal Democrat Council's zero tolerance approach to serious noise nuisance recently resulted in sterio equipment being seized from a Chadderton house after the owner had failed to respond to warnings. Jawaid Iqbal says "noise nuisance is something which the Council want's to stop. Anyone who thinks that they can continue to play excessively loud music must think again. If their music is ruining another person's life, this is unacceptable. It is better to turn the volunm down than risk having your stereo removed".
Free
bulky waste collection & recycling
Oldham's Lib Dem Council has backed its commitment to give recycling top priority with £450,000 to fund various initiatives, particularly kerbside collections from homes. Liberal Democrat Campaigner Jawaid Iqbal says: "People are now starting to accept that recycling is an important priority, since we cannot carry on dumping waste in landfill sites." A kerbside collection trial in East Oldham is proving highly successful and the Council plans to expand this facility right across the Borough, in an effort to meet the national target 10% waste recycling next year.
More waste looks set to be recycled in Oldham thanks to a new way of charging for waste disposal. At the moment councils, including Oldham, pay Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority for the disposal of household waste based on the Council Tax rate for band D properties. This means that no matter how much or how little waste a council generates they are all charged in the same way. On this system Oldham has been losing around £300,000 a year. The new way of charging which will come into effect in April, will now be calculated on 90 per cent of the Council Tax base rate and 10 per cent on the amount of waste collected by each council. It is the first step in an ongoing review into how the charges are made. The over all aim is to eventually have charges based purely on the amount of waste produced. Councillor Leader Richard Knowles said: "This change is long overdue. It will help reduce Council Tax for residents and, equally importantly, will give people much more incentive to recycle their waste. We have written to the Waste Disposal Authority giving it notice of the Council's intention to withdraw from waste disposal arrangements after 2006 unless the levy is based on tonnage of household waste arising."
Oldham currently produces around 111,390 tonnes of rubbish each year. We currently recycle 4,54 per cent of our rubbish. There are, however, lots of opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle across the Borough, and none of them will take up very much of your time. You just need to re-think your attitude to recycling.
Another "Blooming" success for Oldham
Beal Valley After a long fight, the Lib Dems have now concluded a deal with Casey's which will prevent toxic materials from being tipped in the valley.
Changes To Housing Benefit
Tenants in sheltered and supported accommodation should by now have received a letter from the council telling them of changes being made to housing benefit. At present tenants who are entitled to Housing Benefit, receive money within their benefit to pay for some or all of their support services such as a warden or a support worker. From April 2003 this will change as money for these services will be paid from the new Supporting People Fund directly by the Council to the support provider. The changes are being made because the Government has decided that housing benefit must only be used to pay for housing costs - bricks and mortar - not for support services. Support Services will continue as normal and people receiving housing benefit will still get help paying their rent if they are entitled to it. Tenants will notice a couple of changes. Those who receive housing benefit will notice it has gone down by a certain amount - the amount which has been used to pay for Support Services. Supporting People aims to make sure that the services being given are actually the type of support local people want and need, that they are given in areas where they are needed most and that they are of a high quality. For further information about the changes tenants should speak to their warden, support worker or housing officer.
Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO)
Housing in Oldham is set for a major boost with the launch of a new Arms Length Management Organisation(ALMO) set to take off on 1st April 2002. Six local boards and one main board consisting of a mix of tenants, councillors and independant members will manage the new organisation. Greater Investment in improving local housing was a key recommendation of the Ritchie report into last years riots in Oldham. Abid to government for £72 million of extra financial resources has also been submitted and the outcome will be known in May. Coucillor David Joynes who is a member of the ALMO Shadow board and is backing the bid says "it is vital that this bid succeeds if the homes of many of this borough's citizens are to be brought up to the standard which they deserve. The new arrangements will see a dramatic increase in tenant involvement in the management of their homes. This can only be a good thing."
Renewal
Million Pound Boost For The Town
Over £1 million has been secured by the Council to carry out further improvement works to Oldham Town Centre over the next three years. The £1.1 million boost is part of the Council Oldham Economic Development Zone Initiative and a programme of works is now being prepared for consultation. The money comes from an overall budget of £1.9 million from Europe, the North West Development Agency and the Council. Already £800,000 has been spent on improvement works around the town centre including the light clock, new paving and extra lighting. Planned areas for improvements include the refurbishment of street, improved lighting and the creation of a new public space around the old Town hall, environmental improvements to the Business Quarter around south Union Street, the pedestrianisation of Southgate Street and the refurbishment of roads and pavements and new street furniture in Yorkshire Street. Development will be designed to encourage people to use public transport or walk and cycle into the town centre. A series of consultation exercises with the public, developers and traders will take place to see how the cash should be spent. Executive Member for Regeneration and Communities Councillor Keith Pendlebury said: "This money will help with The Council's exciting plans for the town centre. By creating a safe, bright and pleasant environment many more shoppers and visitors will be attracted to Oldham."
Share of £475M pot
Local communities are now being geared up to take full advantage of Government promise of a share in a national budget of £475 million to regenerate and improve demand for homes in Oldham and neighboring Rochdale. The two boroughs' Local Strategic Partnerships - made up of two councils and other public, private and voluntary organisations - now have official word that this level of funding will be available to be shared out nationally over 2003 and the next three years. That means Oldham, along with Rochdale, isin line to get largescale funding to help it combat and prevent the decline in demand for homes over the next decade or so as part of amajor housing market renewal plan. In the coming months the two boroughs working in close cooperation and consultation with local communities and neighbourhoods, will work up their proposals jointly to present to Government in February next year for a share of the £475 million pot. To make sure they present the best possible case to the Government the two borough's submission is being managed by a special team headed by project Director Alastair Graham, former Director of Development and Finance of First Class Homes Oldham. Executive Member for Housing Councillor John Anchor said Oldham had to grasp this "once in alife time opportunity. The prize for us - being able to transform the marketability of something like 70,000 pre World1 homes in both borough areas - is far too great to pass up," he said. Keep an eye on the local Press and your Oldhamer in the coming weeks and months for the latest on this housing market renewal scheme, especially details about the consultation process and how you can be involved.
Being Positive
The Independant Inquiry into the recent troubles in Oldham is to lead to a positive Action Plan within 4 months. We hope that one outcome will be more government money to tackle Oldham's long-term poverty whereever it occurs.
Thankyou You!
Lib Dems are top of the Oldham Poll
Liberal Democrats across Oldham are celebrating a massive victory in the local elections.
Seats On Oldham Council 'Lib Dem 30 Seats'
Liberal Democrats in Oldham Borough
Action & Plans
Liberal Democrat Achievements
Council Opens Up
Oldham Council is much more open under Lib Dems according to recent figures. They show that business in secret has fallen by a third since May.
Campaign to stop Police cuts 123 police jobs axed a further £14 million plus will be lopped off the budget. 83 fewer police officers in Greater Manchester than there were at the last General Election. The Chief Constable estimated a loss of 400 officers when he first heard the Government budget figures. Police need an extra £18 million to fund pension costs; an additional £16-£24 million to fund a new(nationally-imposed) radio system.; and, furthermore there will be a large sum to be spent on the policing and security of the Commonwealth Games. Contact Councillor Howard Sykes 29 Hannerton Road, Shaw, Oldham, OL2 8HT about petition. Home Office figures show that recorded crime has gone up fot the first time in six years, with Oldham having the worst figures for violent crime in thein the area outside Manchester itself. At the same time our Chief Constable has been told he will be given over one in three of the extra 1000 officers he needs, barley enough to replace those officers who leave the force or retire each year. " The massive response to our petition last year proved that local people want more police offices, not less. We urge everyone to sign our petition.
We welcome a Home Office grant, just announced, of 61,000 for an anti-burglary initiative in Hollins, Hollinwood and Coppice. Liberal democrats want more resources for policing, and more police on the beat. The home Office states in a written reply, that despite 5,000 extra police officers being recruited there will still be 1,200 fewer police than at the last general election.
53 Extra Police for Borough
Oldham is to get an extra 53 police officers to help in the fight against crime as part of a expansion of the Greater Manchester force. Council Leader Richard Knowles said : " I applaud this increase in police officers. The fight against crime and disorder is a top priority for Oldham" The Borough's Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent David Baines said he is delighted by the news which will mean a 12 per cent increase in officers responsible for policing the Oldham area. "The first of these new policemen and women will be on our streets by about June this year and I'm sure their impact on crime and disorder in the Borough will be immediate and obvious," said Mr Baines. He confirmed that 31 of the new officers would be uniformed constables to be shared amongst the six townships reflected by Oldham's Area Committee boundaries. " In addition a further 10 sergeants will be deployed throughout Oldham and the remaining new officers - 10 detectives - will support crime investigation in the Borough.I am grateful to those councils in Greater Manchester who supported Chief Constable Michael Todd in his efforts to get the extra officers," said Baines.
Oldham Police We're 300 Short
At a public Police meeting, Liberal Democrat councillors were told that Oldham Police are around 300 police constables short! Members of the public also warned that they are losing faith in the Police, particularly when they get a slow response or no response at all to calls. The problem is made worse as local police are often taken off the local beat to cover problems in Oldham town centre at weekends. Lib Dem Councillors have now got Oldham police boss, Chief Superintendent Baines, to give assurances that the Oldham force will be reorganised to ensure that local patrols will not suffer when the town centre needs extra police.
Our New Community Crime Fighters
New Police community support officers are nowpounding the beat in a bid to cut crime and the fear of crime and curb anti-sicial behaviour on our streets. Since January a total of 14 officers, funded by Greater Manchester Police, have undergone special training to support the effortsof regular policemen and women in combating crime in the Borough. The new officers are responsible for providing high-visibility uniformed patrolling throughout Oldham and for gathering intelligence. As well as supporting community Police beat officers they also have powers to deal with anti-social behaviour, litter louts, owners whose dog foul in public places and confiscate alcohol. They can also issue fixed penalties to people for things like, dropping litter and dog fouling.
Safer Subways Werneth campaigner Keith Pendlebury has welcomed the decision to build a footbridge to replace the subway linking Union Street with the Sixth Form College.
Clean Up Under
Way
Now the new broom of the Liberal Democrat administration is sweeping through the Town Hall and the effects are being seen on our streets. Squads of litterbusters are being employed to keep the streets clean, with street sweeping increased in key areas to make our town look cleaner. The authority is now shifting tonnes of rubish. Recently the Council has introduced a pilot scheme of "on the spot" fines of £25 to stop litter louts in the town centre. "We are determined to clean up Oldham" said Howard Sykes.
How Oldham Will Get Cleaner
Report a litter problem on the Litterbusters hotline 0161 911 4444 or email oper.cust.serv@oldham.gov.uk
Mean Machine Cleans up the streets With the majority of litter pickers in the inner areas of the Borough, this machine adds a new dimension to clearing outlying parts of Oldham. Worth £16,000 and on hire to the Council, it can cover four or five times the area a foot patrol can in the same time. Councillor McArdle said : "This allows us to use our dandymen more effectively targeting the areas where they are needed most, while the new sweeper can help keep on top of the larger areas."
Grit Bins Axed Councillor John Anchor says the removal of grit bins from traditional locations will reduce the ability of resisdents to deal with matters themselves as Oldham contains some of the most exposed roads in the country.
Ticket to Ride? Lib Dem controlled Shaw and Crompton Parish Council has recently launched an initiative to buy and furnish a "Youth Bus" as a mobile youth centre for the area, reports Clllr Ann Wingate. Cllr Stanton is pleased to report plans are well under way to establish a "teen village" in Stoneleigh Park providing sheltered meeting place for young people.
Traffic nightmare looms A 12 month long traffic nightmare faces residents, traders, and visitors to Uppermill when Wade lock is renovated next year. A single file bailey bridge and traffic lights will cause huge traffic jams along the High
Liberal Majority Policies
A New Deal For The New Century
Oldham Council Adopts A Lib Dem Idea
History was made at Oldham Council meeting on July 7th 2000, when for the first time members of the public were able personally to put questions to the council and receive a reply. This idea, suggested by the Liberal Democrats, for many years, has at last been acepted. Notice has to be given of questions, so answers can be prepared. Three minutes are allowed for the spoken reply, with a written copy provided. So take advantage of this new opportunity to raise important Oldham issues!
Campaign Targets Motorbike Louts
The Council has joined forces with Greater Manchester Police to stop illegal off road motorcycling in the Borough's Parks and open spaces. The Countryside Service and police officers have agreed to work in Partnership on Operation Ravi. This will allow members of the public who are troubled by off road motorbikes to contact police anonymously and free of charge through the Crimstoppers number on 0800 555 111. Riders who wish to take bikes off theroad legally can get more information from the governing body of the sport, the Autocycle Union, on 01788 566 4000
The Council still needs more people to join School Crossing Patrol. Men and women up to the age of 70 can become a school crossing patrol. After training, patrols are paid £5.21 an hour, full pay for up to to four weeks of the school holidays and half pay for the remaining weeks. The Council is also keen to recruit standby patrols to cover for sickness. Anyone interested in joining the Oldham Patrol can call Alan Johnson on 0161 911 4338.
Mum, Do You Like My Drawing
Thirteen of Oldhamer's youngest budding artists now have their drawings published - in the Council's Home Safety Unit Calendar. The calendar has been sent to schools. libraries and community centres, Royal Oldham Hospital and local health centres for display. Pictures were selected from 150 submitted.
Free Springtime Fun
Enjoy free fun activities with The Oldham Spring Thing at Gallery Oldham from Monday 21 April to Saturday 26 April. The family extravaganza features an array of attractions including live music, traditional fairground rides, story telling, face painting workshops, circus skills, magic and much more. Free buses are provided from the Kwik Save car parks in Glodwick Road, Glodwick and Hollins Road, Limeside. There are also pick-ups from New Barn Road, Fitton Hill, the Community Centre at Sholver Road, Sholver and Werneth at 10am, 10:30am and 11am. Free buses will return from Gallery Oldham at 15:30hrs, 16:00hrs and 16:30hrs.
Successful Unity Scheme's Second Year
2003 has seen the launch of a second session of the popular Unity in the Community sports programme . The successful scheme, promoted by the Council, Oldham Athletetic and the Police, brings together children from 40 Borough primary schools who take part in a 15 week programme of sport. All schools take part in football and can then choose to complete in either basketball or netball. All the children involved in the programme will also be actively encouraged to take part in one of the many other sporting opportunities offered by the Council such as Active Sport and junior club sessions, holiday courses and trials to complete in the Greater Manchester Youth Games. The Unity Sports programme runs until the end of May and is funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund until March 2004.
Congradulations
To Mr John Stanely on winning the Housing Department prize for best garden in Oldham for second year running. He has won the Hollins & Hollinwood section for 10 years. He grows all his plants from seeds, except one which he buys from Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. his garden is magnificent.