Budget 2024: protecting public services in difficult times
We are once again setting our budget for the borough and whether you live, work, or travel into Oldham, we want to give you the opportunity to have your say. Government cuts to council funding mean that budgets get smaller every year but demand for our services from local residents who desperately need our support continues to increase year on year.
This means that money gets tighter and we are being forced to take £30m out of our budget over the next two financial years. Setting a budget is never easy and at the core of our decision making is protecting the vital services for our most vulnerable residents, like ensuring your elderly parents or grandparents have the right package of support available to them or protecting some of our most vulnerable young people. All the while ensuring we are able to continue delivering the day-to-day necessities that keep our streets clean and the borough safe for all.
Leader of Oldham Council, Cllr Arooj Shah, said: “Times are tough and we’re feeling the same pressures as our residents.
“Price rises, like fuel and energy, have affected the Council, just as they have affected your household budget too, and like you, we have to make ends meet and balance our budget.
“We’re having to pick up the costs of national crises in housing and social care and unfortunately that cost has to be taken from current budgets and services.
“No one comes into local government to cut services, quite the opposite, but as you’d expect, more and more local people need our help and we have to find ways to do that and prioritise those that need us the most.”
That’s why we’re asking our residents and businesses two key questions:
Where should the Council save money?
What areas should receive Council spending?
The consultation will run until Friday 9 February 2024.
Councillors will then make a final decision on next year's budget proposals at Budget Council on the 28 February 2024.
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Learn more about our seven new Family Hubs in Oldham
Join our special webinar and find out the answers to your questions about our exciting plans for seven new family hubs across Oldham.
We are building a better, brighter future for children and families, spending millions on new Family Hubs across the borough, and we want you to be involved.
We've been asking Oldhamers to let us know what they think in our survey which runs until the 29 January - and this is your chance to hear more about the exciting changes and to have your questions answered.
These hubs are one-stop shops for families, offering a wide range of support and activities including midwifery and development clinics, Stay and Play sessions, and breastfeeding support.
As part of the plans, existing children’s centres will transformed into seven Family Hubs across the borough to support parents-to-be, parents of children aged 0-19, and young people up to the age of 25 with SEND – but there will be no reduction in services.
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Waste and recycling collections during Yellow Weather Warning for Snow and Ice
Today (Friday 19 January), our teams are currently out emptying your waste and recycling bins so please put them out as normal.
We’re doing our best to get through the rounds, but the current snow and icy conditions mean our bin lorries won’t be able to access some streets and roads, even if other vehicles can.
If your street or part of your street does not get collected today, the team will record it electronically. We will not be collecting missed green bins (organic waste) for any area so please put them out on your next collection date.
If your street or part of your street has not been collected as scheduled this week:
3-weekly collected bins (Grey, Blue, Brown) - we aim to collect as soon as possible. Although, we will not be collecting bins on Sunday.
We will not be collecting missed green bins (organic waste). Please put them out on your next collection date.
Revised collection plan for Business waste customers.
The few remaining outstanding collections not done by 5pm on Friday 19 January, will be collected by 5pm on Mon 22 January.
A further update will be provided on Monday 22 January.
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Councillors and staff join Operation Avro
Earlier this week, Councillors, council workers, and the police teamed up for Operation Avro in Oldham. They checked six places for illegal vapes and cigarettes, seizing over 1,300 vapes and 310 packs of illegal cigarettes worth £20,411. Early morning searches resulted in drug seizures, arrests, and the discovery of a cannabis farm. They also found a shop linked to car thefts and made 40 arrests.
Bad weather affected traffic operations, but they still issued 19 traffic offense reports, seized three vehicles, and arrested someone for a public order offense. Young people, through the Youth Independent Scrutiny Panel met with officers to watch police footage and discuss how officers handled the situation.
A youth conference was also held with young people, in partnership with Oldham Council, earlier in the day at Oldham Athletic Football Club.
Operation Avro is an ongoing effort deploying extra resources for policing across different areas in Greater Manchester each month.
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Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 February
Save the dates as ILLUMINATE, the annual celebration of light, returns for 2024.
The event opens on Saturday 24 February from 6pm, with the magical Illuminate Parade from Oldham Civic Centre to the Old Town Hall.
Watch in awe and witness the streets come alive with light, sound, and illuminated performances.
The magical event continues into the night with a range of awe-inspiring light art installations and performances across the town centre for you to discover.
The fun continues on Sunday 25 February for ‘By the Light of the Moon’, an exciting free family event celebrating the magical world of Moths at Northern Roots, just near Alexandra Park.
Meet the moonlight pollinators in our magical forest, help the moths carry out their nocturnal work, and join the Moonlight Moth Ball!
We’re still putting together the final touches to the events; more information will be available soon on our webpage
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You need photo ID to vote in person for the May Elections
To vote in person for the May Elections, you'll need a photo ID. Accepted forms include a UK passport, driving licence, blue badge, certain travel cards, PASS-marked identity cards, biometric immigration documents, and more. For more details about what ID you can use, check the Electoral Commission website
If you don't have the required ID, you can apply for a free voter ID, also known as Voter Authority Certificate, on the GOV.uk website
To apply for the free voter ID, you'll need your name, address, national insurance number, and a digital photo like a passport photo.
If you can't do it online, call our staff at 0161 770 4718 for help. Or visit one of our libraries, and our staff will assist you with online registration.
If you're voting by mail, you don't need extra ID. But make sure to register by 17 April 2024. Get more info on our webpage |
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Join our Local Plan drop-in sessions
We're working on a new plan for how Oldham will grow and develop until 2039, and we want your input. This plan will guide decisions on things like where we build new homes and what facilities we need, such as transport, education, and health services. Right now, we're in a six-week consultation phase for our Draft Local Plan.
To make it easy for you to get involved, we're hosting drop-in sessions where you can learn more in person or ask any questions you may have. If you prefer, you can also participate online through the Big Oldham Convo consultation website
Here are the details for the drop-in sessions:
Monday 29 January: 3-7pm at Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre, High Street, Shaw, OL2 8TB and Wellbeing Centre, Burnley Street, Chadderton, OL9 0JW
Wednesday 31 January:10am-7pm at Performance Space, Gallery Oldham, Greaves Street, Oldham, OL1 1AL
Thursday 1 February: 3-7pm at Whitekirk Hall, Failsworth Town Hall, Oldham Road, Failsworth, M35 0FJ, and Uppermill Civic Hall, Lee Street, Uppermill, OL3 6AE.
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Have your say on improving road safety
We're putting cameras at certain busy intersections in Oldham to cut down on traffic jams and make the roads safer. We've started using ANPR cameras, which can read license plates, and we plan to use them more to improve road safety and ease traffic in the whole area.
Right now, we're exploring where to use these cameras and what rules to enforce. We want your input, so we're asking for your thoughts through a consultation process.
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Oldham Council ‘Safe Space Social’
Join Oldham Pride at Billingtons Oldham in the town centre for their Safe Space Social on Tuesday 23 January from 2-4pm. Whether you need a friendly chat, a comforting brew, or just something to do, they’ve got you covered. It's free, so just show up, and let’s make it a memorable afternoon.
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