Find out this week's news from Oldham Council

View this email in your browser ([link removed])
Have your say on our budget plans...

We're setting our budget for 2023/24, and we want residents our communities to help us balance the books.

We are currently finalising our spending plans – the budget - and over the next two financial years, Oldham Council is looking to find £42.55m worth of savings.

That’s a huge amount and means that councillors will need to agree on a range of proposals to cut expenditure, increase income and change the way we work.

Work is going on throughout the organisation to find savings and will continue for the next two years.

Setting a budget is never easy and this year we have faced added financial pressures. Rising fuel and energy costs, an increase in the Real Living Wage, greater demand for services following Covid and now the Cost of Living crisis, have all had a significant impact on our budget planning.

However, we still need to protect and carry on delivering vital services we know you all rely on, such as looking after children and the elderly; keeping our streets clean, and emptying bins.

At the same time, we want to invest in the things that are the most important to us all, to build a better Oldham for the future. This means putting more money into children’s social care; tackling the Cost of Living crisis head-on with one of the country’s biggest support packages for those of you who need our help; and driving forward developments that will boost the local economy, create jobs and support local businesses.

So please tell us:
* How do you think we can save money?
* What do you think are the most important things to spend money on?

You can take part in the consultation by visiting www.oldham.gov.uk/budget23-25 ([link removed])

The consultation will run from today, Wednesday 11 January, until Friday 10 February 2023.

Councillors will then make a final decision on next year's budget proposals at Budget Council on March 1.

[link removed]

Oldham Way – overnight closures

Overnight lane closures for resurfacing work will be taking place on Oldham Way at the junction with Southlink.

To minimise disruption work will take place between 8pm and 5am. Please take alternative routes.
* Jan 16 – West bound fully closed with one lane on the East bound side open
* Jan 18 – West bound fully closed with one lane on the East bound side open
* Jan 19 – East bound fully closed with one lane on the West bound side open

The Prince Street junction will remain closed until January 27.

[link removed]
Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre update

The redevelopment of Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre is now well underway, with plans to turn the existing retail-only site into a multi-purpose centre of leisure, retail, office space for hybrid working and a new business enterprise centre for the borough.

The regeneration is a vital part of our Creating a Better Place programme – we’re creating a town centre for the future where people will want to live, work, visit and socialise.

To keep our plan to schedule, temporary road closures and other changes are needed around the Spindles and Town Square car parks while some works are completed this week.

These temporary changes and closures are now in place.

Further details are below and we thank for your ongoing support and patience while we carry out this important work to Oldham town centre.

What will the changes be?

Town Square car park

The Town Square car park closed on Wednesday 4 January 2023 and will be closed for around 10 days.

Spindles car park

The two exits on to George Street from Spindles car park closed on Wednesday 4 January, for about two weeks. The pedestrian gate from level 2 of the car park will be closed as well. People will need to use the pedestrian gate on to Silver Street and then walk up George Street to access the Civic and that area.

Surrounding roads

Clegg Street will be closed from its junction with Firth Street. The closure will continue around into Ashcroft Street (meaning the Town Square car park needs to be closed).

The section of Firth Street below Parliament Square will be opened up and access to Printer Street and Harrison Street will be via Greaves Street, Firth Street and Clegg Street. One-way flows will be made two-way.

Temporary traffic lights will be put at the junction of Silver Street and Peter Street to allow access for Town Square servicing (such as deliveries) and the New Bridge College and P&D car park access. The two loading bays on Silver Street will be suspended during these works to allow the best flow of traffic possible.


[link removed]

Consider fostering in Oldham…

Are you thinking about taking on a second job or a way to top up your income? Have you thought about fostering?

After a 10% pay rise we announced, our foster carers are in the top paid in the country. You can earn up to £29,000 a year being a foster carer in Oldham and the first £10k is tax free.

You also get an additional tax free allowance of £200-£250 a week (depending on age of child) on top of this - meaning up to £23,000 of this additional income is tax free.

While fostering, like parenting, is not a job that should be considered lightly, if you can offer a loving and supportive home to children who really need a safe place to stay, then this could be a great way to earn money doing something truly rewarding.

If you want to positively steer the path of our young people then request an information pack today and see if fostering is a career for you

Download an information pack ([link removed])

[link removed]
Will your children be going to primary school in Oldham?

If they were born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019, you have until 5pm on 15 January to apply for their primary school place

It's really important that you apply on time. To do this you will need to complete the online application. ([link removed])

It’s quick and easy and ensures school offers can be made efficiently via e-mail.

Please note, there is only one application. No matter where you wish your child to attend school, if you live in Oldham, you will apply to Oldham Council.

For more information visit the School Admissions web page ([link removed])

You can also contact the School Admissions Team on 0161 770 4213 if you need any help or advice.
[link removed]

Health Celebration Event
26 January 2023, 1 – 6pm

Early Break is hosting a health celebration event to highlight the support that is available for children, young people and families living in Oldham. As we know the New Year can be a time of making changes so learning more about what we offer may help you and your colleagues.

Early Break a specialist service that can offer help in the following areas:
• Integrated substance use and sexual health support for young people (under 19 years old)
• Families affected by parental substance misuse
• Homeless prevention (18-25 year olds)
• Emotional Health and Wellbeing support for Children Looked After (5-25 year olds)
• Support to find employment, education and/or training (18-24 year olds)

This event is open to children, young people and families as well as professionals in the Oldham borough who can come along anytime between 1pm -6pm on Thursday 26th January 2023 at Chambers Business Centre, Chapel Road, OL8 4QQ to speak to staff, look at our bespoke designed centre where sessions take place, ask questions and share feedback.

If you would like further information please contact Rachel Gilbert on 07783768532 or email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
[link removed]
Healthy New Year Festival 2023

Shake off the January blues and see what’s taking place as part of Oldham Libraries Healthy New Year Festival 2023.

From Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 January, 10am – 2pm, there’s a range of activities to get you in a good mood for the rest of 2023.

Some of the highlights include exercise classes, a baby fair, author talks and heath checks.

Find out more on Facebook. ([link removed])

[link removed]

Live@thelibrary: Unnatural Cycles – a Ghost Story

There’s a growing dark cloud above the Rosenberg house. Two women need to reconcile their differences to remove it an let in a new life…

Don’t miss this gripping show about the exploration of infertility, faith and what it means to bear weight of inherited generational trauma.

The show has been organised to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

The event takes place on Thursday 18 January, 7pm, at Oldham Library. Tickets are £6.Book your place. ([link removed] )

[link removed]
Connect with us on Social Media
Oldham Council is on Twitter ([link removed]) , Facebook ([link removed]) , Instagram, ([link removed]) TikTok ([link removed]) and LinkedIn ([link removed]) . Join our followers and get the latest news, events, alerts from across the borough, business, regeneration, employment opportunities and much more.

============================================================
Image credit: [1]Shia vector created by starline - www.freepik.com

Follow us on:
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** LinkedIn ([link removed])
** LinkedIn ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])

For more information and advice about council services, visit
** www.oldham.gov.uk ([link removed])

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
Oldham Council . Civic Centre . West Street . Oldham, OL1 1UT . United Kingdom

References

1. [link removed]